I recently asked my Bible Software program how often the phrase, “Give thanks to the Lord” appeared in the Bible.  I was amazed to find that it appeared 21 times.  And of course, that doesn’t take into account phrases like, “Praise the Lord”, or “worship the Lord”.  Some commands to give thanks to the Lord appear as a command for singing.  Psalm 33:2 (ESV) says,

“Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!”

Other passages command us to do so in reflection of God’s character.  Psalm 118:1 says,

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Still other occasions include adoration of God along with our requests and the command to declare God’s greatness among the people.

The tradition of Thanksgiving is founded on this biblical mandate.  Romans 1 reminds us that failure to thank God is the starting place for spiritual darkness.  And so, Thanksgiving has been a time when local churches often display pumpkins and corn cobs, apples, and bread.  We want to remember that the basics of life come from God’s generous and gracious hand.  He causes the sun to shine on the just and on the unjust.  He has been far more gracious than any of us deserve.

It is equally necessary for followers of Christ to make a practice of thanking God for the rich resources that are available to us in our salvation.  But this is often missing from believers.  Yes, it is true that many of us do thank God that we have been saved, but we neglect thanking God for all the various aspects of our salvation.  Even more tragic is the truth that some believers are not aware of all that is provided for them in their salvation.  And because of this they are hardly in a place to even begin to thank God for what has been provided.

A few years ago, I wrote a book entitled, “Making the Most of Your Salvation”.  The book was not meant to be an exhaustive treatment of what was given to all who are saved, but it was an attempt to whet the appetite of the reader.  Using the outline of my book as a guideline, let me suggest, on this Thanksgiving celebration, that we give thanks to the Lord for what has been provided for us in our redemption.

1. First, let’s start with our election.  Thank God that He has chosen you in eternity past.  Before you were born, indeed even before the foundations of the world, God chose you to be holy and blameless in His sight.  Let this glorious truth fill your mouth with praise.
2. Second, thank God for the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, which has been credited to your account.  When you stand before the judgment, you will be judged on the merits of Christ’s righteous life, and not the unrighteousness of your own.
3. Third, thank God for your regeneration.  Your heart of stone, your heart which was unresponsive to God has been replaced by a heart of flesh, so that now, your heart is made to respond to the one who made you and redeemed you.
4. Fourth, rejoice in your justification.  Your sins were nailed to Christ’s cross, and consequently your debt is now paid in full.
5. Fifth, thank Him that He has adopted you into His family.
6. Sixth, thank Him for your union with Christ.  Right now, Christ’s eternal future, and yours, are bound together.
7. Seventh, thank God that the Holy Spirit resides in you.  And while you are at it, thank Him for the church He has provided.
8. Finally, thank Him that the salvation He has given is an eternal salvation.  It will never run out and become old like an outdated jug of milk.

All of that should just whet the appetite.  This Thanksgiving, do thank God for the physical resources He has provided.  But know that Thanksgiving is incomplete until we express in words, song and thought, the profound gratefulness we owe to our Saviour.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Want to dive deeper into the riches of your salvation? Order Dr. John Neufeld’s book Making the Most of Your Salvation today at backtothebible.ca — or download the eBook for free!