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Thanks, the Greatest Gift…Jesus!

Thanks

The greatest gift you can give is…Jesus!

In giving thanks we are following the example of Jesus in saying to the Father, ‘Father I thank you.’ 

Jesus always said ‘thanks’ before eating or drinking and also at other times. This is an example of love in honoring the person who gave. 

The Bible says God so loved the world that He gave…Jesus that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Ten times Jesus said ‘thanks’ in the Gospels. 

We as followers of Jesus should express our ‘thanks’ to Jesus who has saved us. With a grateful heart and humble heart we give thanks to God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Oh, rejoice and be glad. Let us give ‘thanks’ to the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. May we live with Him and walk with Him in joy and peace. 

It is very important to have a heart full of ‘thanks’. A beautiful person is a thankful person. That person you want to be around. 

Jesus considered it very important to say ‘thanks’. Jesus tells us the story of the ten lepers who came to Him asking for mercy. He told them to go to the priests. On the way they were all healed. One man returned and with a loud voice gave glory to God, he fell down on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Jesus asked him, ‘Were there not ten who were cleansed? Where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory (thanks) to God except this foreigner?’ “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well (whole, saved you).” Luke 17:11-19 All ten were healed but only the thankful man was saved or made whole. This shows clearly how important ‘thanks’ is to God. 

I remember as a child at our table my dad always said a prayer of ‘thanks’ to God before we ate our breakfast, diner and supper. Many times he would ask me or my sister or mother to say the prayer of ‘thanks’. For me on the cross walk around the world I would often be invited to have a meal in a family’s house. Often they did not pray before the meal. I would always, say, I am going to say a short prayer to God thanking Him for this food. “I can pray aloud or silently.” Almost all the time they would say, ‘please, go ahead and pray.’ I would thank God for the food and also pray blessings on the family. This would often lead to a conversation about prayer and I would lead the entire family to Jesus! Glory!

When a person does anything for me I always say ‘thanks’. Over and over people respond to me saying ‘thanks’. This opens the way for a powerful witness as I share Jesus with them.

Many of you right now feel in your heart the desire to talk to God and thank Him for what He did in sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. You can pray this suggested prayer. “Dear God I thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins and save me. I invite You Jesus to forgive me of my sins and save my soul and bring me into Your Family. I put my trust in Jesus. Thank you for saving me and making my home in Heaven. In Jesus Name I pray! Amen.” 

The following are a few of the many scriptures that speaks of ‘thanks’.

Please read them slowly and think about each one. You can ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to understand the full meaning of each verse. 

From my childhood to my old age I have lived my life saying ‘thanks’ to God. I praise Him in all things. I believe I have a thankful heart to Jesus. Even when everything seems to be going wrong I praise the Lord and give thanks. 

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34

“Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the peoples!” 1 Chronicles 16:8

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Colossians 3:17

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”

Psalm 150:6

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

Ephesians 1:16

“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” Psalm 100:4

“I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the Name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:17

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 

“Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!” Psalm 95:2

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise; the fruit of lips that openly profess His Name.” Hebrews 13:15 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

“At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous laws.”     Psalm 119:62

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.” Revelation 11:17

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.” Job 1:21 

“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is well pleasing in Your sight.” Luke 10:21

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 16:36

God bless you. Thanks for your prayers for us and your comments here. You are a wonderful part of this witness for Jesus in our world today.

Peace, love, blessings and thanks in Jesus Holy and Glorious Name. May Jesus bless your going our and your coming in this day and forever more. 

“The Lord will watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth, and forevermore.” Psalm 121:8

Pilgrim/Evangelists followers of Jesus, 

Arthur and Denise Blessitt, Luke 18:1 www.blessitt.com 

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