"Thanksliving" Part 9 "The Thankful Christ"

(Friends: during the next few weeks, as we approach the observance of thanksgiving in the United States, many (perhaps all) of the messages will address the theme of thanksgiving and gratitude.  Thanks, Glen)

"Thanksliving"

Part 9 - "The Thankful Christ"

      

    

   

    "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes" (Matthew 11:25).

    The most thankful human being who ever lived was the Lord Jesus Christ.  We can be sure of this because without relinquishing His divinity,  He nevertheless became human as His Father designed humanity to be.  "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).  On numerous occasions, the writers of the Gospels depict the Lord Jesus offering gratitude to His Father.  He well knew His complete dependence - "The Son can do nothing of Himself" - and He well knew His Father's complete faithfulness - "The Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works" (John 15:9; John 14:9).  Thus, He was the thankful Christ.

    "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).

    The Spirit of this grateful One now dwells within every believer.  As the character and nature of the Lord Jesus is progressively revealed in us, thanksgiving will fill our hearts with gratitude.  We "give thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colossians 3:17).  When we sincerely give thanks, the Lord Jesus serves as the very heart and motivating influence of our offering.  His gratitude to the Father is revealed in us, albeit characterized and fragranced by our particular personality, history, and relationship with God.  No one can thank the Lord like you and I can, as led and enabled by the Spirit of Christ.  The light we receive, assimilate, and then reflect back to God glimmers with rays of illumination that shine only through the unique vessel He made and redeemed each of us to be.  His thankful heart, as revealed through our thankful hearts - this is the Thanksliving made possible by the Christ who is the Life of our lives.

    I love thinking of a thankful Lord Jesus.  In the mystery of the Trinity and of God "made flesh," such a beauty of holiness reveals so very much about both Divinity and humanity (John 1:14).  It reveals the heart of a faithful Father, a trusting Son, and a Spirit who moves in and among both Persons in a love that "passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19).  He moves in and among us as well in that same love, and in the wonder - the thankful wonder - of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

He paved a path so long ago,

a way of thankfulness we know

as we remember a grateful Son 

and the faithful Father who loved Him so.

The Spirit calls us to this way,

for in this moment, hour, and day

a thankful Christ leads us to pray,

 in loving gratitude and praise.

He paved a path so long ago...

"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

(Mark 1:35)

"He ever liveth to make intercession for us."

(Hebrews 7:25)

Weekly Memory Verse

   "For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:10).