Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving

By Tim Sullivan

 

There are things in the Old Testament that every Christian should know.

Romans 15:4:
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

There is a vast amount of spiritual insight to be gained from studying the Old Testament. There are truths in the Ten Commandments that are universal to all people and times. It is important, however, to bear in mind that we are not Jews living in the days before Christ, and so not everything is applicable today.

Today we live in an age of abounding grace. This doesn't mean that the commandments of God are a thing of the past. This is an age of grace, not an age in which it is acceptable to fashion one's own religion according to personal preference. It is not given to a Christian to pick-and-choose the ordinances he will heed or ignore. The commandments given to us today are to be written upon our hearts:

2 Corinthians 3:2-3:
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

In the spirit of the season, I'd like to set forth Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving. But let me point out that these are not THE ten commandments of thanksgiving. Such a list does not exist in the Scriptures. But there are many verses that show us that giving thanks is more than a good idea for Christians. It is a commandment of the Lord.

1) As Christians, we should give thanks to God for our victory in Christ over sin, death and the devil.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2) We should give thanks for our triumphs over life’s adversities.

2 Corinthians 2:14  
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

3) We are commanded to give thanks in every situation.

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

4) We are commanded to give thanks for all situations we face.

Ephesians 5:20: 
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

5) We should express our thankfulness through our words and deeds.

Colossians 3:17:  
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

6) We must remember to give thanks in our prayers for ourselves.

Philippians 4:6-7:
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

7) We should give thanks in our prayers for others.

2 Thessalonians 2:13:
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

8) We should give thanks in your prayers for our society.

1 Timothy 2:1-2:
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

9) We should be thankful that we've been called into the church of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:15  
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

10) We are commanded to abound in thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7  
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

This is by no means a complete list of God's commandments to Christians about being thankful. But surely this list is sufficient to remind us all that for a Christian, being thankful is not an option. It is a command from God.

We are called to be living sacrifices.

Romans 12:1 
I beseech you therefore, brethren,, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Let our sacrifice by one of praise.

Hebrews 13:15 
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

 

 

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Presented November 21, 2015