Thank the Lord

Pentecost 13 – August 18, 2924

Proverbs 9:1-6
Psalm 34:9-14
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

Paul, in our reading from Ephesians today, reminds us to always give thanks to God the Father. Our answer is, “Of course we will.” Giving thanks should be easy and natural when we think about our lives and what God has given us – as our offertory prayer says. “Our selves, our time, and our possessions.” Yet we do not always do so. We often find ourselves on the other side of thanks. We convince ourselves of what we should have and how our lives should be and when our desires do not happen we get angry and even blame God. I am not telling you anything that you do not already know. We confessed that at the beginning of our worship. We are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We are no different than the people of God throughout the ages. If you remember the Israelites after Moses rescued them from Egypt. All they seemed to do was complain about their condition and how it would have been better to stay in Egypt than die in the wilderness. Jesus reminds us of that time. In answer to their complaint God gave them manna to eat. A reminder to us that God provided what we needed. Remember how God provided for Elijah in our lesson from last week. God gave him just what he needed, not what he wanted. 

That is just where we get into trouble. Instead of being content with the gifts God has given us we want more. Sometimes we try to bargain with God to give us more. Other times we get angry and blame God for not giving us what we desire. Jesus’ promise was never to give us what we want or to make life easier. His promise was to be with us to the end of the world no matter what happens. Just as God was with the Israelites when they traveled through the wilderness to the promised land, Jesus walks with us through the wilderness of this world. A promise that was made through his life, death, and resurrection. We received that promise in the waters of Baptism and are sustained in it through the bread of life prepared at this table. It is God’s promise and for it we always give thanks.

While we know that it is here in this place where we give thanks to God, Paul encourages us to give thanks by our whole life. He calls us to make our lives a living sacrifice. We do that by how we treat each other and all of God’s creation. We give thanks by giving up some of what God has given us for others. We give thanks by a kind word and an uplifting spirit to those who are struggling. We give thanks always so that when people see and experience our kindness and care, they will have a taste of Jesus in their life. We are able to do this because Jesus walks with us and makes us whole despite our misgivings and mistakes. So while we are gathered here let us praise God and give thanks. For it is here when we gather that we are made whole, strengthened for the work of giving thanks in the world around us.