Thanksgiving Day Devotion: A Child's Last Wish
Scripture NKJV 1 John 3:16," By this we know love, because He laid down his life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
I just read on the news of one child's last wish. If only we all would have a heart like this. The young man had leukemia and was only 11 years old. The doctors gave him two weeks to live. He was asked what was his last wish before dying.
When I read this I am thinking to myself," This is so sad." But yet this child did not look sad. He looked content. Then when he said what his last wish was I was floored. He said his last wish was to feed the homeless. WOW. He did not ask for a Nintendo Wii. He did not ask to go anywhere. He simply wanted to feed as many people as he could who were less fortunate.
I felt rather guilty when I read this because that I am not sure that would have been my last wish. I probably would have been asking them to get some faith healers to me to lay hands on me and heal me. But this young boy showed so much courage and strength. But the thing I was most impressed with was his heart.
Today is Thanksgiving Day and most of us will be with family and friends, eating turkey and macaroni, while we enjoy fellowship with one another. We will pray and thank God for our lives and thank him for what he has done for us and our loved ones. This is wonderful. But the thing that touched me about this young boy was that he had such a grateful heart for just being alive that he felt compelled to give to someone less fortunate than him. Although he was on his death bed he realized that to give with a grateful heart is the best thanksgiving possible.
Often we do not think this way. We often see thanksgiving being about thanking God for what we have and how he has blessed us! But what is even more wonderful is when we can go further and say I thank God not just for what I have, but I have to help someone else because God has been so good to me that I have to pour some of the blessing on to others.
The Bible says in Matthew 25: 35, 40 that when you give to God's children you give to Christ. God also requires us to be merciful and give to the poor(Proverbs 19:17). But what this young boy did goes beyond that. It goes to the condition of his heart. His heart was in the right place.
What is the condition of your heart this Thanksgiving? As you eat your meal and spend time with family and loved ones, do you pray for those who are less fortunate? Do you reach out to those who have nowhere to go or no food to eat?
Here are some tips below to help you keep the right perspective this Thanksgiving Day:
A) BE THANKFUL: Always give thanks in everything. Thank God for your family, your health, and the ability and resources to get things done. Being thankful makes more room for God to operate in your life. Everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving for a child of God.
B) CHECK YOUR HEART CONDITION: What is in your heart will eventually come out. If your heart is focused on you, selfishness will eventually reveal itself. But if your heart is focused on humility and love, it will produce fruit in your life.
C) BE GRATEFUL AND BE A GIVER: When you truly have a grateful heart, God will open doors for you to share the love of Christ with the world. Whether you go through that open door or not is up to you.
The young man who I spoke about earlier has since passed away. I do not know whether he was saved, but his legacy lives on. Because he spoke of his last wish and had a generous heart, there are now homeless food drives all over America. These homeless food drives started with one, but once people found out his last wish they continued to do them. In addition, he raised tens of thousands of dollars to help those in need. He did more in a few weeks than some do in a lifetime. What legacy will you leave this Thanksgiving Day?
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for using a young child to inspire many across the country to reach out those less fortunate. Bless his family and if they have not received salvation, touch their hearts to do so now Lord. Lord please continue to work on my heart that I may walk in love and share your love with the world. I am so blessed and grateful this Thanksgiving Day to be your child. Thank you Lord for your unconditional love for me in Jesus name, Amen.
The best and most important decision you can make in your life is to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. If you would like to do that today please pray with me:" Heavenly Father, I thank you for sending your only begotten Son to die on the cross for my sins. Jesus I repent of all my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart. I make you Lord of my life. In Jesus name, Amen." If you have just prayed this prayer, congratulations! You are saved and apart of the Family Of God! The next step is to get into a good bible based church where the
Word of God is proclaimed. Please email me at: [email protected] so I can assist you in your new beginning!
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