Jesus and Thanksgiving

Paul wrote many letters in the Bible but none of them are more positive and filled with thankfulness than the letter he wrote to the church in Phillippi.  This is intereresting, because he wrote it while he was in prison.  At the very time when he had the most reason to complain and be depressed, Paul was his most thankful and joyful.

The reason seems to be obvious. The letter is four chapters long, and contains one hundred and four verses, yet he uses the name “Christ” thirty-eight times.  He thanks Christ or to God at least twenty-five times,  as well as thanking the Philippians on numerous occasions.  The letter is sprinkled with the most hopeful and thankful statements in the New Testament. “I am confident that he who began a good work in you will perfect it in Christ.”  “For me to live is Christ,” I can do all things through Christ,”  “My God will supply all my needs. “The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ”  “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!”  Paul practiced what he preached. He was constantly thanking God in Christ.

Paul was lived in Christ. He was obsessed with Christ.  Christ all to Him. Pleasing him was his greatest joy. Displeasing Him was his greatest fear.  Honoring Him was his work in life. Thanking Him was the totality of his being. 

Yet He never met Christ in the flesh. He was not there when Jesus died.  When the apostles started preaching he opposed them.  He was a better Jew than all of Jesus’ twelve disciples put together. He know the Law better than all of them put together.  Yet he considered it all dung (to use a polite term) in comparison with what Christ did for Him.

What did Christ do for us? Many things, but one thing mainly—He died for our sins.  It is difficult for us to keep this one, central focus in our minds. But it is the core of Christianity. God loved us so much that He became a man an died for us.  Nothing else that has ever or will ever be done for us can match it for its sheer, awe-inspiring loveliness.  God’s sacrifice in Christ proves to us that He cared for us, and how much.  It is the proof that we live in a universe run by a friendly God. 

Thanking God would not be possible without Christ. Without Him we may think ourselves unworthy of God’s favor, or we may think that God does not care for us. But Christ proves once and for all that God’s favor is ours, and that He is looking out for us.  

Today, thank God for what he has done for us through Jesus. 

Song of Thanksgiving

Fairest Lord Jesus Music 

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,

O thou of God and man the Son,

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,

thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,

robed in the blooming garb of spring: 

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer

who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,

and all the twinkling starry host: 

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer

than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior!  Lord of all the nations! 

Son of God and Son of Man! 

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,

now and forevermore be thine.

Father, I thank you for your amazing love, which you showed us in Jesus.  Help me today to realize what a good and loving God you are.  Thanking your for becoming human and giving Your life for me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen