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Devotional | Don Peslis | Nov 13, 2022
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103 ESV)
The leaves are turning. There’s a bit of crispness in the air. We find ourselves, much like the turning of the seasons, making our way to one of my favorite times of the year: Thanksgiving.
A Little history of giving and gratitude. Gift-giving and gratitude have a long and storied history. Probably as long as we’ve had history as mankind and a people. John Ortberg, in his recent daily podcast titled, The Gratitude Challenge, gives some interesting and insightful context into the history of giving and gratitude.
In ancient Roman culture, the giving of gifts had many ties to social class and much to do with those that “had” giving to those that “had not.” The gift was often given by someone of a higher social status/class to a person of lesser status/class and often tied with obligation to the gift—obligation to not only pay back, but to tout the giver of the gift with honor, praise and prestige.
It was known as the circle of reciprocity. It brought division. Obligation. Separation. Therefore, people with lots, had lots. And people who didn’t have lots, didn’t. So, in a way, gratitude could always be seen as having a few strings attached.
Jesus changed all that.
An ancient Hebrew proverb says, “When you give to the poor, you’re actually giving back to God.” This ties beautifully to the New Testament passage in James that says, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens” (James 1:17).
Jesus overturned many of the social mores of the day—and giving and gratitude were at the top of the list. Jesus taught in Matthew 6, “Don’t be like the Benefactors of the present day who gave gifts in public, expecting praise and the blowing of—rather give in private, knowing your Heavenly Father who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6).
Jesus established a circle of generosity. “Freely you have received, now freely give” (Matthew 10). This new way of thinking turned gratitude right-side-up. Knowing every good and perfect gift comes from our Heavenly Father; therefore now, we can give out of an abundance of gratitude, and thus the circle of gratitude returns to our Heavenly Father.
In the Psalms, David writes:
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103 ESV)
What if we could start this year’s season of Thanksgiving with a renewed sense of gratitude? If I may, I’d like to lift up two questions and one suggestion.
Let’s join John Ortberg in his daily Gratitude Challenge: There are two ways to join:
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for being the giver of every good and perfect gift. Thank you for all the seen and even unseen gifts that daily point us back to you. From our hearts, thank you. May we operate from a deeper sense of gratitude this thanksgiving season. For we have received freely, let us also give freely. Help us to grow in gratitude as we walk together in the light of your love. Amen.
As John Ortberg closes each session of the Gratitude Challenge with the phrase, “We have so much to be grateful for.”
Don Peslis
Pastor of Chapel Worship
Explore other devotions like this one any time at crossings.church/devotions.