Your Daily Devotional for November 11, 2007

 

November 11,  2007

 

 

When Jesus Gave Thanks…

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"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."

 

1 Corinthians 11:24

 

 

The Cross was before Him, and He gave thanks. The people were hungry, and He gave thanks. God heard His prayer, and He gave thanks. Jesus Christ expressed gratitude and praise by giving thanks. If the Creator of this world would offer thanks, should we not follow in His footsteps?

 

Sitting around a table, Jesus was surrounded by His disciples. In just a short time, He would be nailed to the Cross and separated from His Father. Knowing such suffering was about to take place, He stood before those whom He loved and ministered, and He praised God by giving thanks (1 Corinthians 11:24).

 

A crowd of people gathered to hear from the one who healed the sick and had compassion on the sinner. Jesus began to minister to the crowd by comforting them and healing their illnesses. They were in a desert place, and the evening time quickly came upon them. No villages were close enough to prepare food for the large crowd. Seeing this need, Jesus gave thanks and used a boy's lunch to feed thousands (John 6:11).

 

Because Lazarus was such a close friend to Jesus and was a dear brother to Mary and Martha, when he died, they all deeply mourned His death. Four days after he passed away, Jesus stood before the cave which held his body and gave thanks to His Father for hearing His prayer. He then commanded Lazarus to come forth. Miraculously, Lazarus rose from his grave (John 11:41).

 

When Jesus gave thanks, great things followed—salvation, the feeding of five thousand, and the renewed life of a friend. Are you willing to give thanks before a time of testing or when you need a miracle? Someone once said, "Giving thanks is not a small prayer you chant before receiving a meal, it is the way you live." The life of Christ stands in equality with this principle. He lived a life of giving thanks by surrounding every moment with thankfulness and praise. Today, may we "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations" (Psalm 100:4-5).

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Jeremiah 50 • Hebrews 8

 

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