Nothing to be thankful for (Part Two)

NOTHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR (Part Two)

I know that this is a difficult time of the year for some people. It seems that the subject of every conversation includes something about the Thanksgiving holiday. It's difficult for some people, because they really don't feel that they have anything for which to be thankful. For most it is a time of gathering and celebration with family, yet for some they have no family or perhaps they are separated by great distances from their family. It may be that you have just lost a loved one, a spouse or a parent and this holiday is not something to which they are looking forward to celebrating. In fact it may be difficult for them to try to find anything for which to be thankful.

“Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, "Certainly the preacher won't think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this." Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, "We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this.'" (Daily Bread, 1989.)

Don't you wish that you could have that kind of spirit, that kind of faith? Wouldn't it be great if you had the kind of relationship to God that would allow you to look for the positive, to see the hope for the future and His power in the present? You see that's what it takes to be able to truly celebrate and give thanks not just at this holiday season, but also throughout all of the year.

Let me suggest that rather than dwelling upon all of the bad things in your life that you start offering the prayer of Alexander Whyte and say, "We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this!"

Notice a couple of scriptures that give us an idea of how we can find the strength to be thankful. First in Romans 6:3-5 Paul writes, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."

Notice especially that Paul said we have been "planted together" with Christ (some translations say 'united". Now notice another scripture (and I love this translation), Colossians 2:7, the apostle Paul says, "Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done." (NLT)

So how about it, is it time for a change in your life and relationship to Christ? How about taking a look at your life, today and always, letting it " overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done." But, there is a catch to doing that, first you have to be planted with Christ before you can let your roots grow down and draw up nourishment form him.

Russ Lawson