The Sacrifice of Thanks

God has called us to be a thankful people. Choosing to be grateful as a life response will unleash God’s power to redeem our circumstance, good or bad, which in turn unleashes divine potential to fundamentally change us in every dimension of our lives.

The Journey // Focus: Leviticus 7:12

If you present your peace offering as an expression of thanksgiving, the usual animal sacrifice must be accompanied by various kinds of bread made without yeast—thin cakes mixed with olive oil, wafers spread with oil, and cakes made of choice flour mixed with olive oil.

It would be easy to get overwhelmed in the details of these sacrifices, but don’t miss the bigger point of this particular verse: an express of thanksgiving. Three times between Leviticus 7:11-15, the theme of gratitude was said to be an essential part of the peace offering.

Do you realize the power of our thanksgiving to God? I don’t think you really do? Nor do I—not really. We get it to a degree, but I doubt that we really grasp the transformative power that God has built into the sacrifice of our thanksgiving unto him. The habit of giving thanks is a fundamental sign of our awareness of God, his loving rule over our lives, our spiritual adoption into his family, and his constant presence in our circumstances. That’s why Ambrose, a 4th century bishop said, “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.”

For reasons far beyond our ability to totally comprehend, God has called us to offer thanks to him—early and often. Let me suggest a few reasons why this is not only important to God, but self–benefiting to us:

1. 1. 1. Thanksgiving will prevent the disease of self-centeredness. Becoming self-focused is pretty easy in our selfish, narcissistic, entitlement culture. Gratitude forces us to recognize that God is at the center of the universe—not us—and that it’s only by his generosity we can even take in oxygen. Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:22-23, “It’s only his mercy keeping us from utter destruction. His loving-kindness begins afresh each day” Giving thanks forces us into a perspective that sees every second of life as a gift from God. Today you got a new day because he said, “Wake up; I’m loaning you the breath of life again today.” Expressing that kind of fundamental gratitude daily keeps you focused on God’s goodness and not you —it keeps God at the center and self in check.
      2. Thanksgiving will prevent the disease of self-pity. Practicing gratitude forces us into an awareness that sees God’s hand and God’s plan even in times of unfairness, disappointment and loss. King David sang in Psalm 30:11-12, “You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. I will give you thanks forever!” Thankfulness releases God’s perspective when you’d otherwise see only emotional pain behind you and hardship on the path ahead. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; pray about it—with a thankful heart. Then God will bless you with peace that no one can completely explain—peace that will control the way you think and feel.” Bonhoeffer wrote, “Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy.” A heart of gratitude will keep the spigot open to an uneven flow: my pain for God’s perspective—and the surpassing peace that floods my soul through grateful prayer.
      3. Thanksgiving will prevent the disease of low self-esteem. It forces me to see how blessed I truly am: for what I have, not what I don’t, who I am, not who I ain’t, where I’m going, not where I’m stuck. What do we have? Salvation! That’s why Paul ended 2 Corinthians 9 with this outburst of gratitude: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” Who are we? James says, “Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens…He chose to give new birth to us. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” (James 1:17-18) Where we headed? Peter says, “How fortunate we are to have this Father! He has given new life and everything to live for, including a future in heaven! And God is keeping careful watch over both us and our future.” (2 Peter 1:3-5) No matter how down you get about your life, on your worst day you’re still an eternally-saved, heaven-bound, cherished-child of God! Gratitude anchors your self-esteem and eternal worth in that Divine reality!
      4. Thanksgiving will prevent the disease of self-perpetuating poverty. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:12-13, “You show gratitude through your generosity, and moved by God’s extravagance through you, those you help will respond by praying for your need.” Gratitude forces generosity. And the more you give thanks, the more God will give you to be thankful for. Andrew Murray said, “To be thankful for what we’ve received is the surest way to receive more.” God is serious about blessing our gratitude! As A.W. Tozer said, it’s, “an offering precious in the sight of God, and its one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it.”

Here is the deal: God has called us to be a thankful people. Choosing to be grateful as a life response will unleash God’s power to redeem our circumstance, good or bad, which in turn unleashes divine potential to fundamentally change us in every dimension of our lives. Sarah Ban Breathnach offered this profound thought:

You simply won’t be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.

Are you grateful? Then tell God…and don’t stop!