More American As Apple Pie

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to Him and praise His name." 

Psalm 100:4

     A friend's daughter who's studying abroad recently commented on her Facebook wall that it felt strange to have no Thanksgiving Day before the Christmas season hit full force the day after Halloween. I would have to agree.     Thanksgiving Day is an exclusively American holiday I hope we never skip or relocate to another month since our gratitude is the prelude and benediction to the miracles God offers us at Christmas. Notice how thanksgiving ties into both glorifying God and our salvation in Psalm 50:23 and the story of the Ten Lepers.   

"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;  

to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Psalm 50:23

 

"And it came to pass, as they were on their way to Jerusalem, that He was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off: [humility of separation from people]

and they lifted up their voices, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.' [humility of need and desperation]


And when He saw them, He said unto them, 'Go and show yourselves unto the priests.' And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed. [humility of obedience]

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God; [humility of recognizing God alone could heal].

and he fell upon his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. [humility of recognizing Jesus as God, Jesus as the source of his healing - in SPITE of his race and previous "outcast" status; humility of worship and thanksgiving]

And Jesus answering said, 'Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger?' And He said unto him, 'Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.'"  (Luke 17:11-19, American Standard Version)

     Ten were healed but only the thankful one was made whole from skin to soul. He recognized Jesus as God the Giver and himself as the humble recipient. The one who gives thanks as a sacrifice both glorifies and receives God. Come before God with thanksgiving and be made whole.

Father, thank You for a season of thanksgiving to remind of from Whom all our blessings flow.  Thank You for time to reflect on Who You are and how You give and heal and make whole.  We're broken and shattered, but sacrificing thanks to You in our brokenness  leads to wholeness. Strengthen us to praise You with a loud voice.  Open our eyes to see the many ways You give and provide.  May we be the ones who fall at Your feet in praise, worship and thanksgiving.

Inspired by One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp