Your Daily Devotional for March 14, 2006

March 14, 2006

 

Giving Thanks to a Wonderful Saviour

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-25

 

The Scripture tells us that in the last days one of the characteristics of culture and society will be an unthankful spirit. Romans 1:18-21 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” 

 

In this passage we see the indictment of God against the human race. When God describes the sinful condition of man, He describes many specific sins, one of which is unthankfulness. In reality, an unthankful spirit has often been the way that God has viewed us as His creation.

 

The amazing truth presented in 1 Corinthians 11 is that the Lord Jesus Christ on the eve of His crucifixion was thankful. As He gathered His disciples around for the Lord’s Supper, the Bible says that Jesus Christ, the Creator of the world, gave thanks knowing that the crown of thorns would crush His skull and that He would bear the sins of this world.

 

It is important for us to understand that as the Lord gave thanks, each and every one of us have great reason to be thankful. Sometimes when we get busy and we feel that the world has not treated us fairly, it is easy to focus on these situations and not give thanks like we should. Just as Jesus was thankful when He was facing a painful death on the cross, we can be grateful no matter what we face.

 

As Christians, we should be thankful for God’s grace. Someone defined grace as “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.” Jesus gave thanks knowing that mankind would continue to sin. Romans 5:8 states, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” You see, when Jesus died on the cross, every sin that you and I would ever commit was future tensed. Jesus Christ knew that we would sin and fall short of God’s glory, and yet God commended His love toward us.

 

How I thank God for the privilege of proclaiming the fact that salvation is a free gift, that it was paid for by the blood of Christ, and that we are saved by the grace of a loving Saviour! As you go about your day, take a few moments to thank Jesus Christ for His grace and with a grateful heart share His message of salvation with others.

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