Thank you

[PATrobas]

Reminders - Thank you

            The English words translated as grace, gift, thanks, and thanksgiving, are all derivatives of the one Greek word “Charis,” and are inter-related. Thirty-seven times in the New Testament we see expressions of thanksgiving, and all but once it is directed towards God, thanking Him for His provision. The ratio of 36 to 1 is notable, but that one instance used of personal appreciation to individuals makes it stand out as being that much more important, even to being recorded in scripture.

            Jesus always thanked God for the provision of food before eating it, and we see Him doing that at the last supper. We would say that He had said “grace” before the meal. “He took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: do this in remembrance of me.” ^{1 Corinthians 11:24} Paul also expressed his thankfulness to God for His provision and resources. In 2 Corinthians 4:15 he thanked God for the abundant grace given, which caused many others to thank Him too. In 2 Corinthians 9:11, for the riches of His abundant provision. In Philippians 4:6, for answered prayer before receiving the requested thing. In 1 Timothy 4:3-4, for all food and meats that were now acceptable to be eaten with no dietary restrictions. Then, Paul encouraged us to give thanks for all things and in all situations. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ^{Ephesians 5:20} (and) “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” ^{1 Thessalonians 5:18}

            Final Thoughts: Only once in the New Testament is thanksgiving expressed to people. That verse is Romans 16:3-4 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” Our mindset should always be to thank God first for what He gives and does for us. However, it is equally important to express appreciation to those whom God uses to bless us, and to graciously receive thanks from those who are blessed by us. We should be mindful to thank not only those obvious ministers who labor in the Word such as pastors, elders, and teachers, but also to those lesser seen or known members of the body who are working behind the scenes. Those who make sure the meeting room is clean and set up and taken down for our use. The audiovisual technicians. The computer and web site geeks. The prayer list keepers and pray-ers. The music and song leaders. The event organizers. The encouragers, the edifiers, the visitors, the greeters, the young people, and the old people. So, we should not only be thankful to God that saved us and provides for us, but also to those He used to make that happen and to those He is using along the way. Take a moment this week and from now on to tell Him and them, Thank You. “For the body is not one member, but many… But now God has set the members, every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him…[and] the members of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary, and those of the body we think to be less honorable, to them we give more abundant honor…” ^{1 Corinthians 12:14, 18, 22, 23}

[AdHoc]

16 minutes ago, PATrobas said:

Reminders - Thank you

            The English words translated as grace, gift, thanks, and thanksgiving, are all derivatives of the one Greek word “Charis,” and are inter-related. Thirty-seven times in the New Testament we see expressions of thanksgiving, and all but once it is directed towards God, thanking Him for His provision. The ratio of 36 to 1 is notable, but that one instance used of personal appreciation to individuals makes it stand out as being that much more important, even to being recorded in scripture.

            Jesus always thanked God for the provision of food before eating it, and we see Him doing that at the last supper. We would say that He had said “grace” before the meal. “He took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: do this in remembrance of me.” ^{1 Corinthians 11:24} Paul also expressed his thankfulness to God for His provision and resources. In 2 Corinthians 4:15 he thanked God for the abundant grace given, which caused many others to thank Him too. In 2 Corinthians 9:11, for the riches of His abundant provision. In Philippians 4:6, for answered prayer before receiving the requested thing. In 1 Timothy 4:3-4, for all food and meats that were now acceptable to be eaten with no dietary restrictions. Then, Paul encouraged us to give thanks for all things and in all situations. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ^{Ephesians 5:20} (and) “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” ^{1 Thessalonians 5:18}

            Final Thoughts: Only once in the New Testament is thanksgiving expressed to people. That verse is Romans 16:3-4 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” Our mindset should always be to thank God first for what He gives and does for us. However, it is equally important to express appreciation to those whom God uses to bless us, and to graciously receive thanks from those who are blessed by us. We should be mindful to thank not only those obvious ministers who labor in the Word such as pastors, elders, and teachers, but also to those lesser seen or known members of the body who are working behind the scenes. Those who make sure the meeting room is clean and set up and taken down for our use. The audiovisual technicians. The computer and web site geeks. The prayer list keepers and pray-ers. The music and song leaders. The event organizers. The encouragers, the edifiers, the visitors, the greeters, the young people, and the old people. So, we should not only be thankful to God that saved us and provides for us, but also to those He used to make that happen and to those He is using along the way. Take a moment this week and from now on to tell Him and them, Thank You. “For the body is not one member, but many… But now God has set the members, every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him…[and] the members of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary, and those of the body we think to be less honorable, to them we give more abundant honor…” ^{1 Corinthians 12:14, 18, 22, 23}

 

Great message. Sometimes the simplest things get forgotten. Let's make a point of thanking God for two things a day for the next week - in private, OR, we can go public with the regular posters. I thank our Lord tonight that after more than 72 years I've never not had food before me. I also thank him for being able to afford my wife's car to be serviced. Today, they discovered that her battery was about to fail.