9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:9-12)

Today our local newspaper was splattered with Thanksgiving messages, some mentioning God, but many with no mention of God. To whom are we thankful? Upon reflection, it is really odd to be thankful to…nothing, or no one. If you are really thankful for your family, who do you thank? Fate, nature?

Fast forward to eternity future and peek into this scene before God’s throne. The very ground of true thanksgiving is this, ““Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”. Until we acknowledge the majesty of God and that all that sovereign deity is on display in the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ…for us we can hardly be thankful as we ought.

All of the eternal attributes of God demand that his creatures be thankful. This self-sustaining God who needs nothing, who exists by Himself, the One who speaks and things leap into existence, this God loves sinners! He came with the announcement his name will be “God with us” and “He will save His people from their sins”. Each of us and all of us who have bowed the knee to the Lord Jesus Christ have firm ground for being thankful.

Today, on this official day in America of Thanksgiving, don’t neglect to reflect on our mighty God who alone is worthy of our thanksgiving and praise. The sum total of our manifold blessings come to us from His gracious hand, so be thankful to Him!