For what are you giving thanks this Thanksgiving? Here’s a lesson from our late, great yellow lab.

Our lab Corrie knew the boundaries we’d set for her. No climbing on the furniture. She also knew our schedules. Sunday mornings the house emptied while we were at church. One Sunday my son stayed home. After we left, he skipped downstairs to find Corrie stretched out on the living room sofa. Brant froze and stared. Corrie stared back with the same frozen incredulity. Neither knew what to do.

Another time, I walked into our living room and found Corrie resting on the floor, arms crossed, head up. Her brown eyes looked so sweet and innocent. Yet, unknown to her, mischief marked her forehead. She’d gotten into a can of red paint.

We’re a lot like Corrie. Romans 1:18-23 says even though we humans know better, we choose sin over God (Romans 3:23). Sin leaves a scarlet stain that our Maker can see even if we can’t. No amount of soap and water, good deeds, or religious activities can erase this stain. But God has provided a way to remove it.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV).

The moment we turn from our sins and turn to Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we become right with God. We go from being God’s enemy to being His beloved child (John 1:12). His red blood removes the scarlet stain of sin and leaves us whiter than snow.

“Come now, let’s settle this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NLT).

An Unchanging Reason for Giving Thanks

It’s easy to let pain and sorrow distract us from the marvel of the riches we have in Christ Jesus. When we remember what God has provided us, it becomes easy to follow His admonition to give thanks.

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB 1995).

This life is a blip on the screen of eternity. Anything we suffer now lasts a nanosecond compared to the glory we’ll enjoy throughout eternity. And God doesn’t waste our suffering. He’s promised to use every pain and challenge for our eternal good (Romans 8:18). Because Jesus died, we can enjoy a higher quality of life now and Paradise after physical death (Romans 8:28-30).

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32 NASB 1995).

This Thanksgiving, may we remember God is for us and thank Him for the greatest gift—Jesus.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NASB 1995).

Strength Finder

“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again” (Isaiah 43:15 NLT).

Have you received God’s gracious gift of forgiveness? If so, how do you see yourself? Do you relate to Him as a dirty sinner or as His beloved child? For His “own sake” He removed our sins so that nothing will ever come between us and Him again.

Closing Prayer

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for washing away my sins and making me righteous in Your sight, for taking the hell I deserve so I can share Your heaven. Thank You for Your promise to finish the work You began in making me perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4; Hebrews 12:23; 1 John 3:2). May I live each day with thanksgiving and hope.

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Blessings,

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