But Are You Thankful

Bible Reading: Proverbs 10:22-32

Key Verse: Verse 22 - “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”

Key Words: The blessing of the Lord, it maketh   rich 

Are you genuinely thankful for the blessings of God?  Dr. Robert Hill, author of over forty books, tells of visiting Bangkok, Thailand, where he was invited to a special celebration given by the king and queen.  His Thai guide, a young man named Joseph, asked several questions as he drove them to the Pavilion.  He knew a little English and was delighted to carry on a conversation. 

When he asked where the Hills lived, they told him Richmond, Virginia. 

“Oh, you are a rich man,” responded the boy. 

Bob laughed and told him, “No,” he wasn’t rich. 

“Then,” he asked, “do you own an automobile?”  He told him that they had two cars in their family.  His next question was about the house where they lived.  He told him that it was a simple home with ten rooms.  He was amazed at the size, especially when he related that he and his family lived in two small rooms.

When he again asked about their family, they told the guide that they had four healthy children, two of which were in college and two still at home.

Joseph was silent for a moment or so, then he replied, “You are a rich man.”  They laughed, but deep in their hearts, they knew he was right, though they had never thought of it in those terms. 

Mr. Hill reports, “We were rich, but were we thankful?”

                                                                                    Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

            ✞ Ask yourself the question, “Am I thankful?”

            ✞ Have the family list all the reasons they have to be thankful.*

*This would be a great time to teach your children to be thankful for such things as:  Jesus, salvation, their church, pastor and staff, the Bible, etc.

I Forgot to Say Thank You

Bible Reading: Luke 23:32-43

Key Verse: Verse 34- – “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And  they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

Key Words: Father, forgive them 

A few years back I preached a series of messages on the sayings of Jesus from the cross.  These sayings are as follows:

·          Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  (Luke 23:34)

·          Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.  

            (Luke 23:43)

·          Woman, behold thy son!  Behold thy mother!  (John 19:26-27)

·          Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?  (Matthew 27:46)

·          I thirst.  (John 19:28)

·          It is finished.  (John 19:30)

·          Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.  (Luke 23:46)

Thinking of what Jesus did for me reminds me of the following story I read.

In her classic autobiography, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells of the time she and her sister were forced to take off all their clothes during Nazi inspections at a death camp.  Miss Ten Boom stood in line feeling forsaken and defiled.  Suddenly, she remembered that Jesus hung naked on the cross.  Struck with wonder and worship during that seemingly forsaken moment, Ten Boom leaned forward and whispered to her sister, “Betsie, they took His clothes off, too.” 

Betsie gasped and said, “Oh, Corrie, and I never said thank you!”  Thanksgiving does not require bounty, just recognition of what Jesus has done and is doing for you.

                                                                                    Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do: 

            ✞ Write down a list of all Jesus has done for you and today, rather than ask for things, simply thank the Lord for all He has done for you.