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 when we left for 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 me, to make 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.
For what are you giving thanks this #Thanksgiving? Here's a lesson from our late, great yellow lab. #GivingThanks Share on XClick here to comment.
Blessings,
Sometimes I link with these great sites:
#MondayLinkUp #InstaEncouragements, #TellHisStory, #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Grace&Truth
We have many reasons to be thankful, but the most important one, as you pointed out, is for the blood of Jesus to wipe away our sin. Happy Thanksgiving, Debbie!
Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Barbara!
I miss getting life lessons from our sweet old dog. These are rich!
Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours!
God has used our pets to illustrate many truths. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Debbie, amen. Jesus – our best reason for life and love and gratitude and every good thing. Thank You, God, for the gift of Your precious Son.
Amen! Thank you, Linda.
Great blog! I love your Corrie stories and analogy!
Thanks, Kim. They are great teachers. 🙂
So much to be thankful for, first and foremost for our Savior and Lord. Thankful for your uplifting blogs. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Thank you, Ann. I appreciate you so much!
Corrie is an excellent portrayal of our antics, Debbie. I’m thankful the Lord forgives us! May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration.
Thank you, Lisa. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Thank you for sharing this Debbie. I’m thankful for your teaching and discipleship. I appreciate all that you share.
Thank you, CJ! God bless.
I love the lessons our animals can teach us. There is so much to be thankful for, and, like you said, Jesus is at the top of that list. Excellent reminder today, Debbie!
I’m so thankful God gave us animals! Thanks, Ashely. God bless.
I enjoyed your story about Corrie. You make some excellent points here.
I’m working to receive God’s love and forgiveness as His beloved child rather than an unworthy sinner. I hold on to 1 John 3:20 – “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts.”
Candyce, some aspects of the Christian life summon our faith more than others. I love the verse you highlight. What sin could be greater than crucifying God’s Son. And we’re all guilty of that. What amazing love and grace He has for us.
I was recently reading the testimony of Ciara Dierking, a young wife and mom who lost all four limbs after an infection went septic. She commented that God had given her plenty–anything else was extra. I think we’d all say that, but I can’t imagine being tested in that way. Yet this and your post are good reminders–God has given us so much in our salvation, and then piles provision and strength and grace for every day on top. And our trials will seem so light in eternity.
Barbara, I can’t imagine such a challenge. Those who trust God through such loss must have special crowns waiting for them in heaven.
I enjoyed your story about Corrie. We had a kitty who would sneak and do things she wasn’t supposed to do. I guess we animals have similar traits, no matter who or what we are. Thank yu for sharing this message of thanksgiving and mercy. We are blessed to have such a loving Father.
Katherine, they are great mirrors of ourselves in many ways. We are blessed. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Our pups have much to teach us. We have so much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!
I’ve learned a lot from my pets. Thanks, Nancy. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
This is a beautiful message we need to hear again and again. Thank you, Debbie.
Happy Thanksgiving, Annie!
I have so many blessings in my life that I am thankful for so hard to narrow down the list. But all my blessings come from God so I am most thankful for Jesus’ gift of salvation and grace.
That is certainly a wonderful outlook and gift! Happy Thanksgiving, Yvonne.
Wonderful analogy Corrie has brought to us all. I am most grateful for the gift of our Lord and His salvation. May you and your family have a most blessed Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Joanne. We love our pets. They are excellent teachers. 🙂
Your story really hits home – we have a new puppy who is a boundary pusher, even to the point she sends herself to her crate when she has broken a rule. I am so very glad that Jesus forgives our sins when we mess up – that He washes us white as snow. Wishing you a blessed Christmas season!
Maryleigh, how cute! They add so much to our lives. Merry Christmas season to you too!