Sunday Soaking: Giving Thanks

When you sacrifice a thank offering to the LORD,
sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf.
Leviticus 22:29

This month’s Write the WORD is devoted to GIVING THANKS.  

A “thank offering” that we find in scripture is a type of fellowship offering. My research reveals that these offerings were made as a grateful expression of thanks for: 

1. Trouble averted – sickness, death, etc. 
2. Blessings received 

When a sacrifice was made in Old Testament times, blood was involved. An animal had to die. As the animal was slaughtered, surely the thought would come, “I am here to honor God because He has blessed me — either taken away the bad or provided the good — and an animal has to die for me to be blessed.”  

As that thought works its way into the heart and mind, the realization comes that every good gift comes from God. The ultimate gift is His Son, Jesus. Jesus had to die to take away the bad (our sin) and to provide the good (eternal life later, and blessing upon blessing now).  

Leviticus 22:29-30 reveals the offering was to be eaten the same day – none was to be left until morning. We may not call it a “Thank Offering” today, but we certainly do celebrate with food: anniversaries, birthdays, banquets to mark special events or achievements, and holiday dinners. As the holiday season approaches and we begin to plan Thanksgiving dinner, let’s not overlook the giving of thanks part of the holiday.  

Though we won’t be slaughtering an animal to present at the Temple, let’s choose to intentionally offer up thanks to God for our own trouble averted and blessings received during 2024. Let’s acknowledge and praise Him as the deliverer and the provider of it all. 

As the thanks in our heart are shared on our tongue, they make an impact. A declaration is made for others to hear. And if your Thanksgiving dinner table — or family wiener roast or soccer team awards banquet — includes those who do not know or acknowledge God, then your words of praise are a sacrifice to Him. You share that praise, take that risk, and honor the One who provided every good gift.  

Let’s commit to making that sacrifice of praise this holiday season, and in the coming year!

In this week’s devotional video, we share the teaching lecture from Laura’s latest Bible study. With the walls rebuilt and the gates in place, the focus of Nehemiah 8 shifts to rebuilding the lives of the God’s chosen people spiritually. As they come together and ask for the Word of God, their reverence for it is clear as they mourn their sin and worship the Lord. We invite you to listen to Friday’s thoughts from Laura, then prayerfully consider your own response to God’s Word.

Have you begun writing along with us this month? Our Write the WORD topic for November is GIVING THANKS. Won’t you visit our Downloads page today to get your own copy of this month’s bookmark, and join us as we prepare our hearts for the holiday season by digging deep into what the scriptures tell us about thankfulness?