Title: Let's Give Thanks Like Jesus
Content Title: Let's Give Thanks Like Jesus
Bible: Matthew 11:25-30
There is a story of miracles in American history. Minnesota - 1874 - 1977 A three-year drought and severe locust swarms wiped out crops and plunged into a great economic depression. On April 27, 1877, Governor Pillsbury declared a day of thanksgiving to all the Lords. “The crops were wiped out, but let’s first thank God for being alive and giving us a chance in the future.” The entire prayer of thanksgiving covered the sky. What is really hard to believe is that the locusts that covered the field all died within a few days.
There are four records of Jesus giving thanks to God in the Gospels.
First. He gave thanks even in the midst of failure.25-
In verse 20 and below, the villages Jesus preached did not repent. Jesus' lamentation is poured out on Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. In the midst of these failures and frustrations, Jesus (25) is a child of disciples. Even though the smart people rejected God, they thanked God for silently expanding the kingdom of God through the ignorant and naive disciples. In 1863, President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday and appealed to the people to give thanks, in the midst of the fiercest Civil War. In the proclamation message, "A tree bears fruit when the time is right, and grain ripens in the open field. This clear sky and air, God who endures and forgives our sins, how grateful we are even in suffering.
Second, he gave thanks for the child's barley bread lunch.
This is the miracle event of the 5 sick ears in John 6. It is a time when you are running out of food, money, and places to live in an empty field. He tells the disciples to find something to eat, but Philip says it is impossible. Andre brought a child's lunch box with him. At this time, Jesus takes a lunch box containing five barley loaves and two fish and gives thanks (congratulations). Then, after giving them away, they ate and had 12 baskets left.
This was a thank you for being extremely ordinary and humble. If we are grateful for this level of appreciation, then everything around us is the material to be grateful for.
Third. Thank you for hearing my prayers.
He gave thanks in front of the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:41).
“Father, I thank you for hearing me.”
Faithful God When we first gave thanks to God for hearing our prayers, an amazing and unprecedented miracle happened when Lazarus was resurrected.
Fourth, thank you at the Last Supper.
At the Last Supper, He lifted the cup and spoon and offered a prayer of thanksgiving (Luke 22:17-19). You can see the example of giving specific thanks for even the mundane and small things. It is also a thanksgiving before death. It has a special meaning because it is a thanksgiving offered in front of the cross. If you have a certain hope for eternal life, you can give thanks.
Blessings given to those who give thanks to God, more are given to those who give thanks to God. Gratitude makes a person worthwhile. "Where are the nine?" is a lament for worthless men. These are the words of judgment against the unthankful. The Samaritan was a disrespectful Gentile, but through thanksgiving he was valued.
Gratitude opens the channel of prayer, the channel of blessing.
I hope that you and I will enjoy the life of the Lord's miracles, victory, and blessings through a life of gratitude. Amen.