... always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
In yesterday's mail I received a letter from a listener who told me about a conversation he had with his son.
It started out with the father believing his teenage son was getting spoiled and soft. When the boy asked to drive the family car to school on a sunny morning, dad decided enough was enough. "Son," he scolded, "the school is only six blocks away. You don't really have to take the car for that short a distance, do you? After all, why do you think the Lord gave you two feet?"
Without missing a beat, the teenager calmly replied, "One foot is to put on the brake, and the other foot is to put on the accelerator."
Well, from that cute letter, I began to wonder why has the Lord given us the things we have?
Understand, we're not just speaking about things like legs that can be used for walking or controlling a couple tons of car. This thanksgiving it goes deeper.
Why has He given us anything?
You know -- our minds, our families, our jobs, health and friends. Luther said it this way: "All we need to support this body and life."
The only answer I can come up with is that God has given us so much because He loves us and trusts us.
It certainly isn't because we're such wonderful persons. We're not. None of us are.
It's something within the Lord that caused Him to send His Son to seek and save the lost: grace, mercy, love, compassion and pity. All of those things motivated the Lord to allow His Son to die for our redemption.
This is why, today, I invite you to join me in giving thanks to the Lord for legs, arms and for life in general. Although it's not fashionable and it may be difficult at first, give thanks.
That's why we're here: to thank God for this wonderful life.
From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"
THE PRAYER: Gracious Father, we give You thanks and praise for supplying all our daily needs. As good stewards, help us keep our wants in check and recognize that even the simplest things we have comes from You. We especially thank You for the forgiveness You have given us through the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. It is in His Name we pray and in His Name we give thanks. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 30-32 1 Peter 4
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