November 24, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, November 24. And we continue today our Thanksgiving series, with a look at a Bible character who was thankful.
The Apostle Paul wrote just about half of the New Testament - 12 books out of 27 - 13 if you believe that he wrote Hebrews. I do not. I like to believe, as do some theologians, that Paul’s fellow missionary, Priscilla, wrote Hebrews. Out of the 66 books in the Bible, it would be nice if at least one of them was written by a woman.
But I digress. Our focus this morning is thankfulness, and in almost every one of Paul’s books, or letters, he takes the opportunity to express his thankfulness for the churches to whom he was writing. Here are just a few examples.
- Romans 1:8 - I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you
- I Corinthians 1:4 - I give thanks always for you
- Ephesians 1:16 - I do not cease to give thanks for you
- Philippians 1:3 - I thank my God in all my remembrances of you
- Colossians 1:3 - We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you
- Philemon 1:4 - I thank God always when I remember you in my prayers
Well, you may say, those thank you notes all appear at the beginning of the letters, and that was something Paul included simply out of habit, like Dear Sir or Sincerely Yours. Even if that was true, and I don’t believe it was, Paul would still be making a choice to express thankfulness. And, when it comes down to it, isn’t that what every relationship is built upon - making the right choice? Making the choice to be encouraging, making the choice to be forgiving, making the choice to love.
I encourage you to make the choice this week to reach out to someone in thankfulness - what better time! Maybe a family member or friend, maybe a Sunday School teacher or your pastor, maybe someone from your past who made a difference in your life. What a blessing it would be for them to receive your message of thankfulness. What a blessing it would be for you to send it.
One last word from Paul, in I Thessalonians 5:18 - Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
