Are You Thankful?

FOR every action in the physical world there is an equal instantaneous reaction. This in turn may set up inter­actions with consequences be­yond our imagination. But nature works that way to keep the physical world in balance. Constant receiving without reciprocal giv­ing is foreign to the natural order. Should not we as Christians keep a balance in our spiritual nature by the same process? Shall our devotions consist in asking and receiv­ing and thinking always of our wants with­out the instantaneous reaction of thanks­giving so natural in everything about us? Said David as he reviewed every good and perfect gift, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his won­derful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8). If those who take the name of Christ uttered thanksgiving consonant with their blessings, the spiritual impact upon unbelievers would be beyond our im­agination.

Why Give Thanks

God has bestowed upon us a love un­fathomable. Let us think of this love as manifested in the sacrifice of Jesus: How He bore our sins; how He was bruised for us; how He paid the penalty for us that we might be joint heirs with Him, sons and daughters of God; how He opened to us a new and a living way, saving us from eternal separation which is eternal death. "We cannot measure how much deeper our afflictions would have been, how much greater our woes, had not Jesus encircled us with His human arm of sympathy and love, and lifted us up."—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 316. Even now as our divine Advocate He pleads for us. As we meditate upon this unmerited favor our soul should leap in gratitude. Whether we praise Him demon­strably through shouts of gladness and testi­mony to others, or silently by renewed vows, further support of His work, or just a silent tear—this is thanksgiving. Thanksgiving should be the breath of the Christian's soul and as natural as breathing the air around us. Wave lengths of gratitude, bounding and rebounding from the hills and valleys of human existence and a needy world, should be tuned to God.

Negligence of God's People

Many of God's people do not really sense the need of giving thanks. But the word itself, thanksgiving, with a present-partici­ple ending, is suggestive of present contin­uous action. This, true thanksgiving is and should be. How easy it is to push into the inner recesses of the mind the wonderful blessings of God; indeed, take them for granted! Health is a blessing often forgot­ten until sickness comes. Then it is remem­bered that good health is a gift from the Lord and that daily we should thank Him for it

If God's people would raise their voices in praise for His many blessings, worldlings would be more aware of God's goodness and protective care and more inclined to glorify Him. But "because the Lord's pro­fessed servants are not in co-operation with Him, the love of God, which should flow forth from them, is in great degree cut off from their fellow men. And a large revenue of praise and thanksgiving from human hearts and human lips is prevented from flowing back to God. He is robbed of the glory due to His holy name. He is robbed of the souls for whom Christ died, souls whom He longs to bring into His kingdom to dwell in His presence through endless ages."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 383. We, through neglecting to be thankful, disrupt the cycle of salvation and kill the spiritual interactions whose results would have been beyond our imagination.

Thanksgiving in Adversity

Thanksgiving may come from the heights of bountifulness or the depths of adversity. In the latter we are mindful of a blind song writer singing, "Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!" and of a disaster-struck person saying, "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, 'It is well, it is well with my soul.' "

If we were more thankful our lives would be more spiritual; we would triumph more easily over affliction; and the darkest of our defeats could be used as a basis for greater strength. Rather than robbing God of praise, trials should add thereto.

Neglected Areas of Thanksgiving

A thankful, praiseful attitude should be reflected in our prayers. "If the loving-kindness of God called forth more thanks­giving and praise, we would have far more power in prayer. We would abound more and more in the love of God and have more bestowed to praise Him for. You who com­plain that God does not hear your prayers, change your present order and mingle praise with your petitions. When you con­sider His goodness and mercies you will find that He will consider your wants. Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget the praise."—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 317.

There should be more giving of thanks in our church services. Said the psalmist:

"Let them exalt him also in the congrega­tion of the people" (Ps. 107:32). Israel was instructed: "And all the people shall say, Amen" (Deut. 27:26). "There is too much formality in our religious services. The Lord would have His ministers who preach the word energized by His Holy Spirit; and the people who hear should not sit in drowsy indifference, or stare vacantly about, making no responses to what is said. The impression that is thus given to the unbe­liever is anything but favorable for the re­ligion of Christ. . . . There should be wide-awake, active churches to encourage and uphold the ministers of Christ and to aid them in the work of saving souls. Where the church is walking in the light, there will ever be cheerful, hearty responses and words of joyful praise."—Ibid., p. 318.

God is Mindful of Our Thanksgiving

Is God mindful of the thanksgiving and praise rendered Him? Yes! And even more so if it comes through tears of affliction and distress. "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it pa­tiently, this is acceptable with God" (1 Pe­ter 2:19, 20).

I am reminded of the difficult chore my father had in administering a certain dis­tasteful medicine to me. Worried over my physical condition, believing the unpleas­ant-tasting medicine to be the cure, yet knowing my abhorrence for it, he never failed to thank me when I took it. And so it is with God. He is ever mindful of our spir­itual health, even though we do not see the need for the experience or that we merit the bitter cup. If in patience we suffer, still thankful for His care, God will surely bless us.

At the close of earth's history, when all the redeemed shall gather around the great white throne, a wonderful anthem of thanksgiving will be sung—"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, . . . and glory, and blessing" (Rev. 5:12), and this will be the theme of the saints through­out eternity.

.