Eucharistia
From Him, through Him, and to Him are all things (Rom 11:36). We, of course, are alluding to the God the Holy Bible, Yahweh, the Lord God of Israel. He is the Creator of all things (Col 1:16; Heb 1:2), being their architect and builder (Heb 3:4; 11:10). He is also the sustainer of all things; and whatever comes to pass has Him as its primary cause (Heb 1:1–3).
Whether God directly deals with us or whether He employes secondary causes, we are informed that He causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purposes (Rom 8:28).
God’s eternal purpose is to bring glory to Himself by every means. In this, we worship God in alignment with the degree to which we find Him worthy. For this we rely on His revelation to us. The Bible teaches us that He is worthy of our entire and exclusive worship (Dt 6:13; Mt 4:10; Lk 4:8). Man, because of his sin nature (Eph 2:3), holds too low a view of God. As Christians, we would see Jesus exalted to the highest point-of-view (Ps 8:1; 148:13; Eph 1:21; 2:9). We owe everything to Him.
One aspect of our worship, in Spirit and truth (Jn 4:23–24), is the ever-present need to give thanks to God. We are taught to give thanks in everything (1 Thess 5:18). We need to remember to do so; for in failing to give our thanksgiving to God, our gratitude becomes misplaced. How easy it is to give one-self or other people thanks and forget God.
We give thanks to God among the nations (2 Sam 22:50). We make His deeds known among the peoples (1 Chron 16:8); for He is good (1 Chron 16:34; Ezra 3:11). He saves His people from oppressors for the sake of His great name. His lovingkindness toward His people is everlasting (1 Chron 16:41; 2 Chron 20:21).
The Bible is filled with the stories of Yahweh’s faithfulness to our fathers in the faith. They sang praises and gave thanks, even as we do, today. Those in Sheol will not give thanks (Ps 6:5). They did not value God’s righteousness; nor did they seek Him for the purpose of reconciliation (Rom 5:10–12); but David wrote, “I will give thanks with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders (Ps 9:1).” It is right to give Him thanks and praise; to give thanks to His holy name (Ps 30:4).
In the great congregation (Ps 35:8), with the harp and lyre (Ps 33:2), we will give thanks, forever. We will boast in the name of the Lord our God (Ps 44:8), in the presence of His godly ones (Ps 52:9). We must be faithful to tell of His wondrous works in our generation. For soon we will enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (Ps 100:4).
It is our God who has made everything (Col 1:18; Heb 1:2; 3:4); and who has become our salvation (Ps 118:21). The necessity of so great a salvation is because we have fallen so far away from God (Gen 3). God’s judgments are righteous (Ps 119:7). He delivers His people from the wrath of God (1 Thess 1:10), to come on the Day of the Lord, the Judgment Day (Is 13:6; Dan 7:22; Rom 2:5; 2 Pet 2:9; 3:7; 1 Jn 4:17; Jude 6).
It is God’s people, the righteous, who give thanks to God and who will dwell in His presence, forever (Ps 97:12; 140:13). We give thanks when we rise up, when we eat (Mt 15:36; Rom 14:6), when we celebrate communion (Mt 26:27), when we experience providence and miracles, and we lie down.
It is the wicked who do not give thanks to God, nor honor Him (Rom 1:21). The ungodly have not the Spirit of God (Jn 14:17; 1 Cor 2:14); therefore, they do not seek after God (Rom 3:10–12). Giving thanks abounds to the glory of God because of the grace of God, which is spreading to more and more people…but not to all (2 Thess 3:2).
Foremost in giving thanks is the victory God gives us through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:57; 1 Jn 5:4). The Christian’s position is a lifestyle of giving thanks (Eph 5:4). It is a mindset and a heart attitude. We are always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father (Eph 5:20).
This victory secured on the cross by Jesus is applied to God’s elect, redeemed, regenerate, believing people who have been qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (Col 1:12). For this, the redeemed give thanks through Christ to God the Father; for Christ is our Mediator (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24), who ever lives to make intercession for the saints (Heb 7:25). Hence, we too, always pray for one another in Christ (Jas 5:16). For we are one body, having one Lord, who has given us His Spirit, who has granted us faith…one faith (Eph 4:4–6).
We are not alone in giving thanks, along with glory and honor to Him who sits on the throne of God (Rev 5:13; 6:16; 7:9, 17; 22:1, 3), to Him who lives forever and ever…and who reigns.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
December 21, 2024
Thanksgiving (Eucharistia)
