《感恩節靈修默想》:「我拿什麼報答耶和華向我所賜的一切厚恩?我要舉起救恩的杯,稱揚耶和華的名。」(詩116:12-13)

默想一:為什麼今天的人不知道要感謝神?因為他們當一切習以為常,以為是理所當然。就如我們有水可喝,能呼吸新鮮的空氣,卻不知感恩。若加上人本性中的驕傲、挑剔、好比較、嫉妒心、不滿足,那就更難感恩了。我們應當為已經擁有的而感謝上帝,而不是為還沒有的發愁。當我們存著感恩的心領受神的恩典,並存著感恩順服神的旨意,必然就向神報恩。

默想二:基督徒報答神恩最具體的行動是什麼?就是不僅要「舉起救恩的杯」獻上感恩祭,還要「稱揚耶和華的名」,向人傳講基督的福音,見證神的榮耀。你的感恩多少,就代表你的信心多少。你相信你的上帝有多大,你的心就有多少感恩。

禱告:感謝神,袮的恩典何等浩大。感恩節期間,當人們熱衷於火雞大餐或者渡假時,我要與家人一起數算袮一切的恩惠。求袮幫助我,不只是要知恩、感恩,我要進一步以行動來報恩。讓我在感恩季節裡,樂於與人分享袮的福音。奉耶穌基督的名禱告,阿們!

 《Thanksgiving Season Meditation》:  “What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” (Psa 116: 12-13)

Meditation one: Why people today do not thank God? It is because they view all things as norm and take them for granted. It’s just like we have water to drink and fresh air to breathe, but not knowing the needs of being grateful. It is even harder to be thankful if one mingles in one’s human natures such as pride, fussiness, competition, jealousy, and dissatisfaction. We should thank God for what we have, and not be anxious about what we do not possess. When we receive the grace of God with a grateful heart and obey God’s will with a thankful mind, we are bound to repay God.

Meditation two: What is the most specific action for a Christian to repay God’s grace? It is not only to “lift the cup of salvation” to offer a thanksgiving sacrifice, but also “to call on the name of the Lord” to preach the gospel of Christ to others, and to witness the glory of God. How much you are grateful indicates how much your faith is. How much you trust in your God then that much of gratitude your heart will have.

Prayer: Thank God, how great Your grace is. During Thanksgiving season, when people are passionate about turkey dinners or vacations, I will count all Your blessings with my family. Please help me, not just to be gracious and grateful, I will take action to repay Your grace. Let me be joyful to share your gospel with others in the season of thanksgiving. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

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