David's Daily Devotion for November 23

November 23, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, November 23, Thanksgiving Eve.

In 1896, Charles Sheldon, a pastor in Topeka, Kansas, gave a series of sermons that grew into the famous book "In His Steps", a best seller that was subtitled "What Would Jesus Do". A hundred years later, Janie Tinklinberg, a youth leader at a church in Michigan, read Sheldon's book and got an idea. She designed a wristband with the letters WWJD for her teenagers to wear. This little idea spread around the world - you probably had one of those bracelets. As we think on that, and as we focus on thankfulness, we're reminded of I John 2:6 - Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.

There are 30 recorded prayers of Jesus in the Gospels. Twelve are prayers of thanksgiving. Only one of these is found in all four gospels. It's in the story of the miracle that Jesus performed with the little boy's lunch of five loaves and two fishes. I loved that story growing up - I imagine you did, too. I shared it not long ago with the three year-olds in our daycare and, as I did, their little fidgeting bodies grew still and their little eyes opened wide. It was my own little miracle that morning.

In John 6:11 we read - Jesus took the bread, and when He had given thanks, he distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

In Mark 14:22 we see a beautiful parallel - Jesus took the bread, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to His disciples saying, take it, this is my body.

And when He had given thanks... that's what Jesus would do.

I'm thankful this morning for all our faithful readers.

God's blessings to you and yours. Have a Happy Thanksgiving,

Meet you back here on Monday,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org