The Spirit of Thanksgiving
Psalm 9:1, Leviticus 19:9-10
Acts 2:42-47 - sell possessions and giving away the purse to those in need - description
Luke 18:32 - sell your things, give to the poor and follow Christ - Rx
Prescription vs description. Rx is a command, so we should do it. Desc. is an account of what happened in someone’s life and circumstances. Draw the spirit of what they did to learn from their example.
Spirit of the scripture: care for the poor, and don’t make money your master.
Psalm 9:1 - desc. Leviticus 19:9-10 - Rx
What spirit of thanksgiving can we learn from these?
Remember the grace that you have received from the Lord and give thanks to Him.
Remember the poor and give what you have to them.
Applications:
Write 10 things you’re thankful for this year. Actively declare how God has blessed you. So take time over this month to list in your journal. You also need to tell those in your life and family the good news. Then try to make a list of 10 things as a family, your spouse, with your children. Both biological family and spiritual family. Share in house church with your family! So create something to showcase what you as your house church are thankful for. 31.5x21.5 frame with probably 1in border to account for.
Give a special thanksgiving offering to the poor. In the spirit of Leviticus 19:10, 23:22, Deuteronomy 15:7, 11. This is a command to us. The spirit of thanksgiving is not only to reflect on how God has blessed us, but to also share what we have received to those who need it. Through this offering, we help the refugees of our various missions around the world. Helping the poor is an obvious teaching that we are called to follow. How can we do it? Give 1% of your annual income for this special offering for the poor. In the spirit of how God has blessed us to share to others. Or, you can calculate how much you would spend for travel, lodging, food, and maybe even other spending on a trip and give 10% of that total. This fund will be separate from our church operating budget and set aside for these special ministries.
Esther 4:13-14 - maybe it is God’s plan to save those who need saving through you, Queen Esther. God wants us to be the channels of His blessings to His people.
Ask God to give you a heart of Thanksgiving to give joyfully and without a reluctant heart. If your heart says, “I don’t care. I don’t have money,” cry out to God to hear what He wants to share with you. What He is speaking to our hearts.
“Father God, this is who I am and this is what I think. Please change my heart if that is your will.”
Reflection Questions:
What is God telling you in your heart?
What do you think you can practically do to obey God’s message?
