Spiritual vs. Carnal Thanksgiving

"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." (Hebrews 13:15)

Unique to the United States is the national holiday Thanksgiving. We are encouraged to recognize the bounty and wonder of our land, and express gratitude in some formal way.

In many homes, however, thanks have become a vague expression of happiness for prosperity rather than a "sacrifice of praise" to our El Shaddai.

This is the carnal man’s character and is temporal, oft times self-centered.

Unique to the Christian Church however, we are reminded to:

"…cry out with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of your wonderful works." Psalm 26:7

We offer our voice of thanksgiving in word and in song too:

"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

When we come before our God of Grace to offer our thanks to Him, we must remember that we are spiritually approaching the very One who sustains us in the day to day and for eternity through the death, resurrection and promise of salvation wrought by God the Son Himself, Jesus Christ.

Unlike our national tradition of thanksgiving, the church of our Christ, celebrates thanksgiving toward Him every moment, of every hour, of every day until we see Him face to face!

This is the spiritual man’s new character and is from everlasting to everlasting!

We offer Him praise of thanksgiving in all places and in all situations too – whether while residing here on earth or the heavenlies where Jesus sits in authority and power and might and holiness and judgment!

"After these things I looked, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palms in their hands. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb. And all the angels stood around the throne, and the elders, and the four living creatures, and they fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God, saying, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen!" Revelation 7:9-12

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