The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
Thanksgiving Day, 2025
"The Most Thankful Person"
Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America, a time in which we do well to gratefully remember the most thankful Person who ever lived.
"Jesus answered and said, "I thank Thee, o Father" (Matthew 11:25).
In a lifetime of complete dependence on His Father, the Lord Jesus Christ modeled what it means realize and respond to the Giver of "every good gift and every perfect gift" (James 1:17).
"The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands… I can do nothing of Myself… the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works" (13:3; John 5:19; 14:10).
God the Son became the son of man (without relinquishing His divinity) to live an earthly lifetime such as we live, including complete dependence on His Father. Thereby, He identified with us, living by faith in God's leading and provision. This life involves persistent gratitude as the firstfruits of faith whereby we acknowledge all things as our Father's gifts of grace (Acts 17:25). "Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks" (I Thessalonians 5:17:18). One can only imagine the thankfulness witnessed by the disciples during their time with the Lord Jesus, including both the attitude of gratitude and the countless prayers that ensued from the Son to the Father. Little wonder they voiced one of the wisest of all requests, "Lord, teach us to pray," a plea that surely included the Savior's counsel on gratitude (Luke 11:1).
The Apostle Paul reveals the Lord's primary answer to the disciples' request:
"Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).
The thankful Christ dwells in born again believers. His "Abba Father" works in us to motivate and empower a life of continual thanksgiving. Indeed, every genuine expression of gratitude, from the briefest "Thank You" to more lengthy offerings, approaches our Father as the fruit of Christ's grateful presence within our hearts. In this sense, we may rightly give thanks for the capacity to give thanks, as led and enabled by the most thankful One of all. Indeed, our Lord exemplified a grateful life. Even more, He empowers our eternally ongoing journey of thankfulness. "I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me" declared Paul of the grace to live in faithfulness to God that surely includes thanksgiving (Philippians 4:13).
In this day, and in all days, we give thanks for the Lord Jesus and His innumerable provisions in all things. The capacity for giving thanks and the power to live accordingly must surely be included in our grateful prayer. The most thankful One of all lives in the hearts of believers. He does so actively, ever working by the Holy Spirit to lead us in gratitude. As in this moment, wherein we do well to give thanks for the Christ-empowered grace of giving thanks.
"To live is Christ."
(Philippians 1:21)
Weekly Memory Verse
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."
(II John 1:3)
7647
No comments:
Post a Comment