Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day

November 24, 2005

Luke 17:1-19

“Giving Thanks in all things”

INTRODUCTION: The story of the Pilgrims. They remembered both the gifts they received and the Giver. True gratitude always does.

A GREATFUL HEART

I.                    Counts his blessings

A.     What a blessing to be cured of leprosy.

1.      Release from a death sentence; leprosy was incurable.

2.      Chance to return to society, to family and friends.

3.      No wonder the one came back to give thanks.

B.     But only one came back; ingratitude is quick to forget.

1.      The nine.

2.      Too many today forget; they spend their time complaining or getting heart attacks trying to get more. Remember,

a.       Ahab;

b.      The children of Israel in the wilderness;

c.       The man who complained that he had no shoes until he saw a cripple who had no feet.

Application: Count your blessings; material and spiritual. What an incentive to live with a grateful heart.

II.                 Remember the Giver.

A.     The one did. How could he forget!

1.      There is no physician like Jesus

2.      He was a man of faith. A Samaritan at that!

B.     Nine forgot.

1.      They were quick to pray and quick to forget

2.      People are like that even today

a.       There are no atheists in foxholes; but men still forget

b.      Even on the human level it is east to forget; children and parents, husbands and wives.

c.       Much more…

1.      The Protestant ethic; hard work brings results

2.      The American ideal; the self made man

3.      And still God is forgotten

C.     But faith remembers that God is the Giver God.

1.      He supplies our physical needs.

a.       Behind the loaf is the field of grain; behold the field is God.

b.      Shakespeare: “If we have any ill escaped or good attained, still Heaven chalked the course that brought us thither.”

2.      God supplies our spiritual needs.

a.       God loves us, the unlovely

b.      God gave His Son

c.       Christ gave Himself an offering for sin and sinners

d.      For Jesus’ sake God gives life and salvation

e.       How rich God has made us all

CONCLUSION: Remember the Giver. Give thanks at meals, at the end of the day, in success and failure, too. And show how grateful you are by giving cups of water in His name.