Distinguished by A Certain Mark

It's the day after Thanksgiving.  A day that many know as Black Friday.  For those who run family finances, it might also be known as: "Yikes!"  For me, Thanksgiving has historically been my favorite holiday.  I'm not totally sure why that is, other than the fact that the food is great, the Dallas Cowboys play on this day, and it is a holiday that is not cluttered so much with all the commercialization.  Thanksgiving always stirs up in me a sobering thought.  I'm confident that those who originated the concept of Thanksgiving were most likely thankful at other times of the year, other than just the one particular day.  But it has challenged me anew to ponder the issue of thankfulness, for there is a striking contrast between the person who does not know Christ and the one who is smack dab in the middle of God's will.  For example, in Paul's description of the unbeliever in Romans 1, he writes, "...because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools..."(v.21).  The context makes it clear that all of mankind is without excuse for their rejection of the God of the Bible, for God has made Himself evident in Creation.  One of the clearest marks of the one who rejects the God who has made Himself known is that he/she refuses to glorify God and give thanks.  Once a person has rejected the God of the Bible, he/she has set themselves or some lesser-than-the-true-God created thing as god.  Once this happens, we will see a decrease in thankfulness.
  On the other hand, the same guy who wrote the letter in our Bible known as Romans, also wrote a letter to a church in the city of Thessalonica.  In this letter Paul opens the window and lets us see what God's will is for us.  In I Thessalonians 5:18 he writes, "In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  Students and other Christians will often wrestle with the question:  How can I know God's will for my life? One very clear way (among numerous others stated in Scripture) is to give thanks in everything.  Now that is a tall order, huh?  Give thanks when my car breaks down? Give thanks when I have to stand in line?  Give thanks when my kid disobeys? Give thanks when my kid is mistreated by a teacher or coach?  Give thanks when.... (you fill in the lines).  My friends, this is a distinguishing mark of one who knows Jesus Christ:  Thankfulness.
  Let us work hard at being grateful-thankful people.  Let's learn together to be more thankful, not just when the last Thursday of November rolls around, but every day.  Here's a simple assignment:  Make it a point to thank someone everyday for some thing.  Who knows, it might be infectious and we might see God's people become more in line with His will.
  Let me start by saying: "Thank you for reading this blog."