Psalms 107:1-2 O GIVE thanks unto the LORD, for HE is good: for HIS mercy endureth forever.
[King James translation]
Luke 17:11-19 Now on HIS way to Jerusalem, JESUS traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As HE was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met HIM. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “JESUS, MASTER, have pity on us!” When HE saw them, HE said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising GOD in a loud voice. He threw himself at JESUS’ feet and thanked HIM—and he was a Samaritan. JESUS asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to GOD except this foreigner?” Then HE said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well. [New International Translation] [The King James translation of Luke 17:19 states “…thy faith hath made thee whole.]
Thanksgiving
On November 26th people across the nation will be celebrating “Thanksgiving,” a day that President Abraham Lincoln declared a national holiday by proclamation in 1863. Prior to Lincoln’s proclamation, each colony or state scheduled and celebrated its own individual day of Thanksgiving. In an attempt to bring a nation together that was torn by the civil war, Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November a national day of Thanksgiving. It was an attempt to create a custom or tradition that would be honored by Northern states and Southern states.
Once the national holiday of Thanksgiving was established, many American families created their own Thanksgiving customs and traditions. Some of those traditions included family and friend gatherings of multiple generations, makings special dishes, beautifully arranged table settings, starting with a big breakfast, watching football or a parade, visiting friends, sleepovers or travel, going to a place of worship, shopping the day after Thanksgiving, going to a movie or other engaging in other social activities. Because of COVID 19, many families will not be able to engage in many of these customs and traditions. However, that does not mean that COVID 19 needs to deprive us of “Giving Thanks” or our Thanksgiving.
According to these scriptures, “Giving Thanks” is about GOD.
Psalms 107:1-2, simply states that we should praise GOD and be thankful simply because GOD IS GOOD, and GOD IS MERCIFUL. We are to thank GOD for GOD’s unfailing love, for being a GOD we can come to in times of trouble, and for delivering us in times of distress. According to Psalms 107, if anyone is feeling troubled, distressed, poor, (or experiencing other problems because of COVID 19), this is a great time to simply “Thank GOD” for who GOD IS. Psalms 107 reminds us that GOD IS---our HELP, DELIVERER, HEALER, REDEEMER! (See Verses 2, 19, 20, 28)
In Luke 17:11-19, we are given an additional lesson on being thankful. According to Luke by giving thanks to GOD and praising HIM, we enter into the right relationship with GOD and are blessed even more. The nine leapers were just physically healed. But, the Samaritan was made whole. Only the Samaritan was spiritually in the right relationship with GOD, a relationship of gratitude when the Samaritan praised GOD with heartfelt thanks—threw himself at the feet of JESUS.
I believe the elders in the church understood what it meant to be grateful and give heartfelt thanks for every single thing when they prayed and thanked GOD:
- For waking us up this morning and not into eternity;
- For an articulation of speech and blood that still runs warm in our veins;
- For our last night laying down;
- That our bed was not our cooling board and that our covers were not our winding sheets;
- That we can come before GOD as wayward children and confess our sins and that HE gives us one more chance;
- For life and breath;
- That we can see and that we are not being seen;
- For everything---because YOU are just a MIGHTY GOOD GOD—and YOU are GOD all by YOURSELF!
Our elders were simply giving thanks to GOD for who GOD IS.
GIVE GOD THANKS
So, today, on this day before Thanksgiving, take time to remember who GOD IS. Take time to pray. Remember the elders who prayed for you. Take time to think about your many blessings.
On Wednesday, Thanksgiving Thursday, Friday, and every day---give thanks.
Let’s come together as a nation in giving GOD thanks.
Be well, be whole, and BE BLESSED.
