Count your blessings and be thankful

America celebrates Thanksgiving this week. With COVID-19 and all the unrest that’s taken place this year, many may feel they have little or nothing to be thankful for, especially because we’re discouraged from traveling and gathering with non-household members during this holiday season. Traveling and gathering might both actually be forbidden outright in the near future, if not before this article is published.

The greatest hope-giving book of all time, the Bible, gives us much to be thankful for, the most significant of which the world will celebrate somehow in about a month — the birth of Jesus, who gave his life so we could have peace with God and, therefore, peace within and among ourselves (Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-14; Matthew 1:18-25; Ephesians 2:14-22). Whatever our concerns, we’re to turn them over to God with thanksgiving because he has our best interests at heart (Philippians 4:4-9; 1 John 3:1-3, 21-24; 1 Peter 5:6-7). We’re even to be thankful and pray for our governmental leaders, even if we didn’t vote for them, because their authority from God is for our good (1 Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 13:1-4).

Many Bible passages encourage us to be thankful, but, sadly, we’re also told that in the last days, in which we live, times will be terrible, and people will become so self-focused they’ll be unthankful (Hebrews 1:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5). So, I thought I’d mention some of the things I’m continually thankful for, besides the fact God sent his son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world, meaning each individual person, could be saved if we come to an abiding, obedient faith in him (John 3:16-17; Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20; Revelation 2:10; 1 John 1:5-9; 5:13-21).

First, I’m thankful to be an American. Despite all our problems, we’re still the greatest country on Earth because our land is rich in resources and has a generally moderate, comfortable climate, especially compared to much of the rest of the world. Our country also is blessed because of the diversity of our people who brought not only their culture so we could enjoy many different kinds of food (even on Thanksgiving), but also a broad array of life experiences that enhance our creativity and, therefore, prosperity.

These factors are a reminder to me of God’s greatness, what the church is to be like and, most importantly, what heaven will be like (Romans 1:19-20; Revelation 5:9-10; 7:9-10; 22:1-5). That should cause us to want to obey and worship God as he says (Revelation 14:6-7; Ephesians 5:8-21). God’s greatness, demonstrated in America, reminds me of the great blessings Christians have by being in Jesus as part of his body, the church (Acts 19:1-5; Ephesians 1:3-14, 22-23; 2:11-18; 4:4-6; Galatians 3:26-29; 4:6-7).

Do you understand how blessed we are to live in the USA and even more so how blessed you can be as a Christian (Acts 3:19-20; 22:16; 2:38-39)?

Despite our present concerns, count your blessings and be thankful (John 1:16; Colossians 3:15-17; Hebrews 12:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)!

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]