Thanks Giving

Daily Reading: 1 John 4

Scripture Focus: This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 John 4.13-14)

Devotional Thought: I love reading John’s writings. He says so much that is worth heeding, and 1 John 4 is not an exception. In this Thanksgiving season, we can be thankful for every word breathed by God and infused to man through the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving can be restated as Giving Thanks. Why do people give thanks? Because something has been given to them! It may be a bountiful harvest, or a loving family, or any of the thousands of blessings that have been given us. But the biggest gift we can be thankful for is listed in 1 John 4.13-14, and in so many other verses throughout the Bible.

What have we been given? God’s Spirit. What else? God’s Son. Why? To save the world. Who is saved? All who believe and profess that Jesus is the Son of God. How can we be sure? Because he has given us his Spirit. I’m not trying to draw a circle here, but certainly one does exist. You might call it the Circle of Life, that is, the Circle of Eternal Life. God has given us Eternal Life. We have not earned it, but we can accept the gift just the same. In fact, we must accept it, or else we will lose the blessing.

Recently there has been an advertisement on television that I’ve not completely zeroed in on, but its catch phrase is “Thanks for Giving”. We should give thanks every day for what has been given us. How much more so on a day we have traditionally set aside to give thanks. Be sure to thank God today for everything you have.

John Wade

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for blessings so many that I can’t even count them, and those are just the ones I know about. Give me a grateful heart every day for all your provisions. Especially thank you today for giving me your Son. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!" 2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem--built as a city that is bound firmly together, 4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. 5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David. (Psalms 122:1-5)