Monday, April 8, 2013 – Luke 17

Thanksgiving  (Luke 17:11-17)

   This section of verses is read each year as the Gospel Lesson for Thanksgiving Day.  It reminds us that God appreciates it when we notice and acknowledge His generosity and love.

    In my home, growing up, we did not express appreciation very much.  I don’t know why.  But as I think back on it, I feel badly for all the things my mom and dad did for us for which we failed to say a deliberate “thank you.”   Somehow we all thought that the relationship we had with one another didn’t require us the express it out loud.  Appreciation was assumed.

   Perhaps that is frequently our reaction toward God, too.  Since He can read our thoughts and minds, we figure He knows whether we appreciate what we have or not.

    But put yourself in the other shoes, for a moment.  Consider how great it feels when someone praises something you did – when he or she NOTICES that you did something to make his or her life easier, better.  Doesn’t it make your day when someone takes the time to send a thank you note or speaks a few words of appreciation?

   In truth, God doesn’t NEED our praise.  If He did, we would never have been blessed by Him, because biblical history shows a people who frequently disregarded His mercy and were apathetic to His kindness.  And God blessed the anyway.

  However, I think “thank you” shows a recognition that we are not just God’s playtoys, but rather that we are in a valuable relationship to Him.  It shows that we honor and cherish Him, not because we HAVE to, but because He deserves it.

   Take the time today to say thank you to God for some blessing that He brought into your life.  And, by the way, why not also take the time today to offer a word of praise to someone you care about?