Thank U
Thanksgiving University: Graduate with Honors!
by David Jeremiah

"Calculus is a killer, Dad!" "History is hopeless, Mom!" "My foreign language is . . . well, it's all Greek to me!" November at college-mid-term grades and students realize they better hit the books.

But "Thank U-niversity" is different. It's permanent (lasts a lifetime), mandatory (every Christian has to enroll), and pre-planned (one major and God chooses the courses). While available to all ("whosoever will, let him come"), only those committed to Christ will be accepted.

Life at "Thank U" is similar in some ways to college-but very different in others. There is a major (Giving Thanks), numerous courses (see below), lessons (from Scripture and wise counselors), tests (that tempt us to grumble and not give thanks), a primary text (the Bible) and supporting materials (biographies of saints), and grades (rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ).

Clear snapshots of "Thank U" are in the New Testament-Jesus mentoring the disciples. Jesus was like a student Himself, learning "obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). He "aced" all His exams and now represents us before the throne of God (Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus taught the disciples to give thanks to God, expressed gratitude to others for their actions, gave thanks when His body was about to be broken and His blood shed (Matthew 15:36; Luke 7:36-50; 22:17, 19).

In their three years with Jesus, the disciples learned how to be thankful while giving up everything, to be thankful in the wake of their own human frailty, to be thankful when their dreams seemed crushed on a cruel Roman cross (Luke 18:28-29; Matthew 26:75; Luke 24:13-18). Multiply their experiences by infinity and you have the myriad lessons and tests in thankfulness that we face daily.

"Thank U" has a lifetime curriculum with three major courses. Our prerequisite for all courses is "Giving Thanks to God"-an attitude of gratitude toward God. "So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us . . ." (Romans 12:1). John Baillie echoed Paul's thought, "Gratitude is ... the dominant motive of Christian action in the world. Such gratitude is for the grace that has been shown to us."

Raising funds for the construction of the temple-and giving generously of his own wealth-David prayed: "Now, our God, we give You thanks, and we praise Your glorious name. Yet my people and I cannot really give You anything, because everything is a gift from You, and we have only given back what is Yours already" (1 Chronicles 29:13-14). The person who fails to give thanks to God for everything he has-life, health, possessions-has failed the first course at "Thank U."

The next lifetime course you will take is "Giving Thanks to Others." Thanksgiving is the key to all relationships-with God or with others. In one of Paul's most tender writings-his personal greetings to friends in the church at Rome (Romans 16)-he thanks Priscilla and Aquila "who risked their own necks for [his] life" (verses 3-4). A spouse, a friend, a mentor, even a child-look and see who needs to be thanked for what they've done or meant to you.

Finally, "Giving Thanks in All Circumstances." Note that the catalog course description doesn't say "for all things," it says "in all things." Some Christians think the height of spirituality is saying, "Thank You, Lord, for our house burning down!" Nobody in their right mind would give thanks for that. But every Christian with the mind of Christ can say, "Thank You, Lord, that in the midst of this tragedy, You are in control. Your purposes and plans still stand, and You will cause this tragedy to work together for good because of our love for You."

Russian novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was thrown into a terrible Siberian gulag (prison) for criticizing Joseph Stalin. Later he said, "Thank you, prison, for having been in my life." It was his terrible years in prison which re-awakened his faith in God. Receive gratefully every learning experience God sends your way.

Your most important prayer is only two words long: "Thank You!"

This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah's devotional magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your complimentary copy of Turning Points.

Thursday, November 15, 2007