Thanksgiving
by Cecil Douthitt

Is to be offered before eating. As seen in the life of Christ: "And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude" (Matt. 15:36). Christ offered thanks to God when He fed the 5,000 with five barley loaves and two small fish in John 6:9-11. Paul gave thanks before he ate: "But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks" (1 Cor. 10:30; c.f. 1 Tim. 4:3-4).

A part of partaking of the Lord's Supper. Jesus left us an example of thanks being offered to God before eating of the bread and drinking the cup. "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it" (Mark 14:22-23). Paul repeats this teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.

It is to be offered to God. We need to be thankful to God for the victory we have in Christ. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57). This victory is only in Christ. "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place" (2 Cor. 2:14). We have been redeemed. "Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Col. 1:12).

It is not seasonal but continual. Paul offered continual prayers for his brethren. "Do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers" (Eph. 1:16). In Colossians 1:3 we read, "We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you." We know that prayers are to be offered continually, don't we? "Continue in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" (Col. 4:2).

It is done in the name of Christ. "Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:20). All we do is to be done in the name of Christ; that is - by His authority, including prayer to God (Col. 3:17).

- Good News, 11/4/2001