Long story short - I got food poisoning one Thanksgiving as a kid. For some reason, whenever I looked at the pumpkin pie, I would get sick again. I'm scarred for life. Pumpkin Pie - R.I.P
Obviously, we celebrate Thanksgiving this week. Really, there is so much to be thankful for. But more than that, there is a principle tucked away in the Bible that once we embrace has the ability to change our lives.
I call it the 'Offering of Thanks'
It's simple and it's found in Jeremiah 33:1-11
Jeremiah is 'confined to the courtyard of the guard' - in prison, probably wondering, 'how do I get out'? What am I going to do to get myself out of here?
God tells him, "Listen - call out to me and I will answer you. OH, and when you do...I will tell you GREAT and UNSEARCHABLE things you DO NOT KNOW."
So, what are the things that are 'unsearchable' and 'unknown'? (*hint...they are listed in verse 6)
Here they are:
Health Peace Security Freedom Sounds like a good deal huh? Yeah I thought so too. So basically, God is telling Jeremiah, "Dude, you are confined in this prison and you are trying to figure out how you are gonna get out on your own. Well, you aren't gonna get out........on your own." BUT.. "When you pray to me - I will make things happen. Because, Jeremiah, when you pray to me - it shows me you are completely dependent upon me." Did you know that God delights in your dependence upon Him? But even more, he wants YOU to recognize that you are completely dependent upon Him. See, being dependent on someone means they have something you need. And when someone gives you something you do not have, what is the appropriate response? Yeah, you guessed it: 'THANKS' We thank those who give us what we do not have! And that is what dependence upon God requires! 'an offering of thanks' (vs. 11) "...the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring an offering of thanks to the house of the Lord saying, 'give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever." Quick Breakdown: Jeremiah is in a bad spot - the city is completely destroyed and nothing is going right - when he looks around, all he sees is hopelessness. But God says this - 'when you bring me an offering of thanksgiving, I will respond in a way that that restores your situation. I will renovate the brokenness in your life, I will refine that which is necessary and I will establish a new kingdom for you." Pretty amazing that even though, this city didn't deserve restoration, God's grace was so great that he chose to make it new again. Hmmm....reminds me of another story regarding his son Jesus. Determine to bring a 'thanks offering' to God - see what areas of your life He will restore. Stretch yourself Jesse
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