Article November 24, 1928 Issue

The True Thanksgiver

GERTRUDE L. HATCH

Thankfulness is an acknowledgment for something received. How it uplifts the affections to feel the spiritual grace of a truly thankful heart! Can the divine plan be other that that everyone should be a true thanksgiver? Surely, the command, "Be ye thanksful," should be obeyed as carefully as other Bible precepts.

In early Bible history, ceremonial thanksgiving was observed with burnt offerings. As thought became more spiritual, thanksgiving became less material. As the false concept of God as capable of both good and evil gave place to the understanding of God as changeless Love, "who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who health all thy diseases," thanksgiving was more clearly understood to be a spiritual quality.

Christ Jesus' example is reason for true thankfulness, because he taught and demonstrated more fully than any previous teacher that God's power is ever available, to be utilized by men in overcoming sin, sickness, and death. Paul's glorious experience of thanksgiving in prison worked his release, and demonstrated the power or true thanksgiving over evil. And he exhorted all to thanksgiving in the words, "Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God."

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