God’s Purpose to Bless
We can give thanks that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ “hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Eph. 1:44According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4)). For this we give thanks.
“Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified” (Rom. 8:29-3029For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:29‑30)).
We can thus look back into eternity and give thanks that our salvation is according to eternal purpose — yes, give thanks to Him “who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:9). What a theme for thanksgiving!
Redemption
“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law” (Gal. 4:44But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)). For this again we can surely give thanks. And what God purposed in eternity Jesus accomplished in the fullness of time.
And further, for the believer’s thanksgiving, redemption is not only accomplished, but we have it. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). Again, we have not to pray for redemption or the forgiveness of sins, when we have both, but surely to give thanks.
Justification and Peace
If we believe God, we have justification and peace. Believing God we are justified. It is written, “By Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)). We are reckoned righteous, believing God who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). All this is distinct cause for thanksgiving.
Our Shepherd
But now, as to the present journey through a world where everything is against Christ and therefore against us as believers, and we, like sheep, ever ready to turn aside, how can we, and for what can we, now give thanks? We can each one give thanks because “the Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psa. 23:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)). We don’t have to pray for a shepherd, but to give thanks. Oh to know Him and trust Him more! Think of what He does for us: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,” and so forth. Is not every verse in Psalm 23 a wondrous theme for thanksgiving?
Intercession
But in the midst of so much temptation and needing someone to sustain, succor and help us that we fail not, can we now give thanks? Yes, we can give thanks for our great High Priest. “In that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted” (Heb. 2:1818For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)). “We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without [apart from] sin” (Heb. 4:1515For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)). “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)).
Advocacy
But if we fail, can we, besides confessing our sins, also give thanks? Yes, we can give thanks because “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:11And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: (John 2:1)). What marvelous themes for thanksgiving!
Absent From — Present With
But if we are about to die, as to the body, can we give thanks, or is all uncertain in that crucial moment? We can surely give thanks, for we well know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Concerning this the Christian alone can say, “We are confident ... and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).
The Lord’s Coming
In the immediate prospect of the coming of the Lord, that which will so terrify the world, can we look forward to His coming and give thanks? Yes, with fullest joy, for come what may, Jesus has given divine assurance. He has said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-32In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2‑3)).
As Christians, we can give thanks for every one of these things. We might go on and add greatly to the list of matters for thanksgiving. Oh how blessed that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ!
C. H. Mackintosh (adapted)