Our precious verses of thanks for today come from 1 Corinthians 15:56-58. The words of thanks come in verse 57, but the reason Paul gives for the thanks is our victory over death through the work of Christ on the cross. His death communed our sentence from death for sin (Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.), to a life of forgiveness and eternal life. That is a huge reason to give THANKS to God! Here are Paul’s words to us: ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.“

Do you thank God for sending Jesus to die for your sins? Do you thank Jesus for going to the cross in your place? Only God could die for all our sins as He was the perfect sacrifice wholly acceptable to God as payment in full for our sins. Romans 6:9-11 puts this truth together for us:  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. ” Christ suffered and died so that I may live restored and in fellowship with God for eternity. This new life is to be abundant, full and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our lives are to have purpose as seek to bring glory to Him. What a wonderful gift from Jesus through faith.

This Thanksgiving spend some time thanking God for His grace, mercy and love towards you in sending Jesus. Thank God for calling you to live and work for Him and your gift of faith to believe in Him. Thank you Jesus!

Linda