So, let me ask you, “Are you thankful?” Well, let’s talk about what that really means.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 God says, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
“In everything give thanks….” Wow! That’s a tall order, isn’t it? Now you and I both know there are just times and situations where giving thanks is all but impossible. You might as well tell a fish to fly, or a dead mean to walk, or a bear to chirp like a bird. It’s against nature—it’s not natural.
Well, let’s look a little closer at this word, “give thanks.” It’s from the Greek verb, eukarasteo, and it means “to be grateful; to express gratitude; to be thankful.” Now it’s the noun form of this word—eukaristia, meaning “thankfulness.
It’s where we get the word “Eucharist”—the official word to describe the Lord’s Table, the bread and the wine of the communion celebration—a time when we give thanks to the Lord for His death on our behalf.
And therein is our path to the impossible. You see there is one thing I can give thanks for, no matter what is happening, and that is, the sacrificial death of Christ for my sin. Even in hard times I can say “thank you, Lord Jesus for being my Savior, and for giving me the hope of eternal life.” “In everything give thanks.” I guess that’s not impossible, after all.
Say—as you celebrate Thanksgiving, don’t forget the Eucharist. Thank Jesus for being your Savior.