by J. Randal Matheny

Americans turn this week to one of their most celebrated holidays, Thanksgiving. Businesses and industries shut down, schools close, and people travel to be with loved ones. This holiday has been imitated and reproduced in a number of other countries as well, indicating the importance that even governments give to fostering the attitude in their national populations.

In 1909, Brazil's ambassador to the U.S., Joaquim Nabuco, attended an American Thanksgiving worship service. He was so impressed that he wrote: "Would that all humanity united on the same day for a universal thanksgiving to God." On 17 August 1949 then-president Eurico Dutra declared the National Day of Thanksgiving. Only in 1965 was the declaration made official by president Castelo Branco, and the fourth Thursday of November was set for its commemoration.

The Head Governor of the church has long nurtured gratitude in his own people. From his own prayers, to praising its appearance in those around him, Jesus showed the way of gratitude.

In its essence, the attitude of being thankful considers the character of God. Gratitude acknowledges that "God is great, God is good." And though Louw and Nida do it in the their Greek lexicon, it's hard to separate the attitude from its expression.

To express gratitude without the inner attitude would be, it seems, hypocrisy. On the other hand, it seems something of an impossibility to feel thankful without letting that inner warmth have its outer expression. When we fail to say thanks, we feel we have failed, and guilt often accuses us. And so it should.

It seems especially appropriate that Paul, in speaking of the church's praise through singing in Colossians 3:15-17, circles his discussion with themes of gratitude:

• "and be thankful" (v. 15). • "singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (v. 16). • "giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (v. 17).

That's why the instrument fails miserably in Christian worship, since it cannot put words to our deepest thoughts and feelings. As insufficient as they seem, the words of our songs do and can serve as adequate means of expressing the heart's overflow to God.

Thanksgiving is not a mere ritual or holiday. As worthy as a national day may be, the Christian daily acknowledges his unworthiness to receive what a gracious God has given.

Let us enjoy the holiday, as it reminds us that the attitude of gratitude and the expression of thanksgiving should be constant marks of God's special people.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thes. 5:16-18, NASU).

by J. Randal Matheny

Confession time. The daily devotion I send out in Portuguese isn't quite so ... uh, daily. With all the work to do, it sometimes gets scooted off to the side.

So the email I got Sunday made me stop and think.

I couldn't keep from sharing the gladness of the day, for I have an uncle with whom we've been studying some three years, and today he was immersed.

He attributed his decision to having read our weekly church bulletin. It is in this bulletin that I use the messages of [the daily devotional] "God with Us."

On November 2nd I didn't have any material, so I searched out one from 2000, "Biblical Baptism," by Tom Tarbet, which was the spark for my uncle's decision.

So I want to thank you for your work, which helps us greatly and pleases God. [Email was slightly edited for brevity.]

It was that article, not the devotional thoughts, that spurred his uncle's decision.

If you don't get the message, let me spell it out for you.

When I failed to come through with the devotional thought, God used my failure to bring blessing and decision to that man.

This is not a defense of laziness nor a justification for inconsistency in one's work.

Here's the point: If God can do such as this when we drop the ball, what can he do when we are zealous and consistent in the work of the Kingdom?

Such a thought bears a moment's meditation.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Eph. 3:20-21, NASU

by J. Randal Matheny Translated from the Portuguese-language meditation, DEUS Conosco (God with Us).

"So Abraham called the name of that place, "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided." --Gen. 22:14, ESV

"The Lord will provide." Abraham gave this name to the place God had indicated, in the land of Moriah, for him to sacrifice his promised son Isaac. When Abraham reached out his hand for the knife to slaughter his son, the Lord restrained him. He saw a ram, caught, by divine providence, in a thicket by its horns.

It is unlikely that Abraham, before arriving at the place, said anything to anyone about this frightful order from God. He took only Isaac with him on the last leg of the journey, and his purpose remained a secret.

Afterwards, however, that moment on the mountain became so famous that the name, "The Lord will provide," turned into a proverb, up to the day when Moses wrote the book of Genesis.

When you obey God without questioning, as did Abraham, "historic" moments will happen in your life that will furnish material for future generations.

by J. Randal Matheny

I hate pain. I definitely do not have a martyr complex nor am I a masochist. I do not go around inviting people to hit me. The idea of burning at the stake or some other morbid form of extinction does not excite me one bit.

Most of us avoid suffering, if we can help it. So we stumble at Jesus' words,

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt. 5:10-12, NASU).

We think we are being spiritual when we can say we rejoice in spite of suffering. Jesus, however, says to rejoice BECAUSE we are suffering for his sake.

There's a world of difference in those two perspectives.

Like the twelve apostles who, after being beaten, left the Jewish council "rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41).

Like Paul and Barnabas who prayed and sang hymns of praise to God after being imprisoned for having preached Jesus (Acts 16:25).

Like Paul who rejoiced in his sufferings for the body of Christ (Col. 1:24).

This is no high and holy attitude just for apostles. Again and again the New Testament tells us: Rejoice in your trials and sufferings (Jas. 1:2; 1 Pet. 4:13).

Why rejoice? Jesus gives us the key: participation in his suffering is part of kingdom living and necessary to enter heaven. And there's more:

• Suffering emphasizes the value of eternal glory (2 Cor. 4:1-18).

• Suffering discovers the power of God (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

• Suffering completes the afflictions of Christ (Col. 1:24-29).

Suffering for the name of Christ is a result (as well as a means) of preaching the name of Christ. Whoever shrinks from it is not worthy of the kingdom and does not know the price of salvation.

Above, all suffering makes us one with the Master (Matt. 10:24-25). If we preach that one must die with Christ in baptism, there will be a price to pay (Rom. 8:1-17). Thus, the latter half of Romans 8 is laced with our willingness to suffer with him and depend upon the power and grace of God.

We are "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him" (Rom. 8:17).

Pain is painful. But the greater pain is the thought of being separated eternally from God because we shrank from suffering shame and persecution for the name of Christ.

by J. Randal Matheny

"And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'My son, your sins are forgiven'" (Mark 2:5, ESV).

Jesus saw "their" faith, that of the paralytic and his friends. Perhaps the paralytic infected his friends with his faith, or they inflamed their sick friend with hope. The text does not say. But the man was certainly a full participant in getting to Jesus. The expectation and effort of the five brings the love of Jesus to bear on the one.

Aside from serving as an act of divine compassion, the miracle demonstrates Jesus' authority to forgive sins. It is Mark's opening demonstration that "miracles are confirmation of the word"¹ (see Mark 16:20). In this manner, the Lord focuses upon the more basic need of the soul rather than bodily sickness. The latter, if not in this specific case, results from the former.

When Jesus says, "Your sins are forgiven," he makes it happen as he says it. In his Greek grammar, Daniel Wallace calls the verb an instantaneous present. The act is completed at the moment of speaking. The speaking brings the fact into existence. He says it is so, and it becomes so. Similar to the minister who says, "I now pronounce you man and wife." The phrase not only states a fact, but produces it as well.

"My son," says Jesus. The Greek is teknon, "child." In a context like this, the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament calls it "an intimate address to those not related" (V:639). A special term of endearment for one who has overcome the obstacles to reaching Jesus. A badge of honor, the highest decoration, the most precious compliment.

Jesus is touched by their faith and, especially, that of the paralytic. He is moved by their effort as friends toward a most holy goal. His compassion is stirred by the man's sense of need.

Quickly, to dispell all doubt about the propriety of their action, he addresses the paralytic, "My son." Their deed was no interruption. For such a moment as this has Jesus come to speak the all-important words, "your sins are forgiven."

Jesus did all things well (Mark 7:37). His best was forgiving sins. In forgiving, he shows his tender heart. He expresses his love to one and to all. He folds us into his intimate communion.

And he smiles the joy of the Father over the determined penitent.

"My son, your sins are forgiven."

Welcome to the Kingdom.

¹Julius Schniewind, O evangelho segundo Marcos (Uniao Cristao, 1989), p. 44. My translation.