Thanks Living
Theme: Sharing God's blessings with others - Proper 29 (34)
Object: A thank you card
Scripture: "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
When someone does something nice for you, what do you do? You say, "Thank you," don't you? Sometimes that just doesn't seem to be enough. Has someone ever done something for you that was so nice that you wanted to do more than just say, "Thank You." I have. When that happens, I sometimes send them a "Thank You" card. Everyone enjoys receiving a "Thank You" card.
Another way you can show your thanks when someone does something really nice for you is by doing something nice for them in return. For example, if someone invites you to spend the night and you have a really good time, you should return their kindness by inviting them to come and spend the night with you.
It is always important to show our appreciation when someone does something for us, isn't it?
Well, I don't know anyone who has done more for us than God has. God provides food when we are hungry and water when we are thirsty. He heals us when we are sick and he comforts us when we are sad. The Bible tells us that he is an ever-present helper in times of trouble.
Because of all God has done for us, we say, "Thank you." But somehow that doesn't seem to be enough. We could write him a "Thank You" card, but I don't think the Post Office could deliver it, do you? I have a good idea, why don't we do something nice for him in return? But how?
Jesus told us how to do it. Jesus, said, "Whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you do it for me." That means when we feed someone who is hungry, it is the same as doing it for Jesus. When we visit someone who is sick, it is the same as doing it for Jesus. When we give clothes to those who are in need, it is the same as doing it for Jesus.
There is a very special name for this way of saying, "Thank you." I call it "thanks living." "Thanks living" is when we show our thanks by the way we live. "Thanks living" is when we look at the many ways God has blessed us, and we thank him by being a blessing to others.
Let's pray and ask God to help us to offer our thanksgiving by "thanks living."
Our Father, we come into your presence with thanksgiving. Help us to turn our thanksgiving into "thanks living." Amen.
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6 comments:
Very nice, Bev...reminds me of the days when I taught the 4 and 5 year olds in Sunday school and helped in Children's church!
Keep being a blessing.
Great Post Beverly, thank-you so much for the comments on my blog, Asia kept the barnyard safe for us and was a companion for our Jack Russel Maxx, now he will not go out without me, he does not feel safe without her here.
What a wonderful post!! I love the thanks living is the way we should all live.
Cece
Thanks for sharing. I think everyone needs to be reminded to be Thankful every now and then.
That is very sweet and holds such truth. We in North America are very blessed, we have so much and have so many opportunities at our finger tips. God has been so extremely good to North America, "Thanksliving" is the only way to live. God bless you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Hugs, Cindy S.
Very precious, indeed! And good for EVERYONE to hear!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
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