Last week the United States celebrated Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful time for most as they gathered with their loved ones to have a great feast and enjoy being together as family.

This day began as a day to celebrate the harvest and, as was noted last week, became a federal holiday in the United States in 1863. In the time of a terrible thing – civil war – President Lincoln wanted people to celebrate the blessings God had given.

It would be great if all leaders wanted mankind to remember how many blessings God has given to man. Leaders should understand that it is God who has blessed them with being in power and he controls all, not the other way around.

God wants his people to understand the need for civil authority and to pray for them. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (1 Tim. 2:1-3).

Man should be thankful for this blessing of God.

When one contemplates the thing for which one should be thankful, it is almost beyond comprehension. God made this great beautiful world with all its majesty. The joy of friends and family, health, jobs, opportunities and the list could go on.

However, the greatest thing man should be thankful for is that God has made it possible for all men to be saved. He sent his Son to give himself as the ransom for man’s sins.

God knew the agony and pain that would come to Jesus, but he knew a perfect sacrifice ad to be given, so he allowed it to happen.

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17, 18).

Man should be thankful enough for this blessing to be obedient to what God says he wants.

Another blessing from God is that he has given man his word so that one can know what is expected . “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).

Some fail to read and study for themselves and only listen to what others tell them. Jesus himself implored those of his day to, “search the scriptures… and they are they which testify of me (John 5:39).

Knowing that the Bible comes from God (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) should make one curious enough to read it for themselves. God wants man to believe on Jesus as his Son (John 8:24), to repent of sins (Luke 13:3), be willing to confess the name of Jesus before men (Matt. 10:32, 33) and then be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

Thanksgiving is a great day, but everyone should remember to be thankful every day. God does exist, and he blesses all more than is deserved.