More than 150 times, the Bible either calls men to thank God or tells them how to give thanks. In Old Testament days, God designated a special offering of thanksgiving for His people. … God was insuring the people of Israel against the time when they would forget to be thankful to Him. …

More than 30 times in the Psalms, the psalmist speaks of giving thanks. The psalmist said, “Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name” (100:4). And again he said, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord” (92:1). …

Thanksgiving is a part of the most intimate relationship that exists between man and God. …

We should thank God for the spiritual blessings, beyond the power of human tongue to describe. … But more than any other spiritual or material blessing is the blessing of God’s offer of salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The same one who “gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16) is the giver of every other benefit. The Bible says, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

To all who have received the gift of His Son, He gives also the gifts of peace and joy, confidence, power, courage, and hope.

When I see Jesus Christ hanging on the cross, I see the nails in His hands, I see the spike in His feet, I see the spear in His side, I see the crown of thorns on His brow, and I remember that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16) to take my place on the cross, I must bow in front of that cross and say—especially on Thanksgiving Day—“Thank you, Lord, for not sparing your Son. Thank you, Lord, for sparing my soul.”

This Thanksgiving, I want you to receive the gift of God’s grace which is His Son, Jesus Christ. … Make it a day of real thanksgiving in which we fall on our knees and give humble and sincere thanks to God for all the spiritual and material blessings that He has poured down upon us as a people.

excerpted from “Time of Thanksgiving” by Billy Graham, Nov. 22, 2009