by Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship
I love Thanksgiving, the family, the fun, the football and the food.
It's a wonderful time of relaxing - giving thanks - for our many blessings. But who are you thankful to? The early Americans were thankful to God. They were thankful for what God had done in helping them to survive a very harsh land. But they were also thankful to God for his grace and the gift of Jesus Christ his son. For the believer, thanking God should be more than one day a year. In fact the Bible tells us to - always - have an attitude of thanksgiving in our hearts.
What do you have to be thankful for? Can you thank God for his blessings, or his provision? Can you be thankful for your job, home and family? Sure there are problems in life and in our nation, but troubles are just part of life. We live in bodies that are prone to fail, and in a world where evil exists. But the Bible gives us some very pointed instructions in thanksgiving.
1 Chronicles 16:8-12: "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced."
A couple of thoughts about a heart-felt thanksgiving.
n Thanksgiving is tied to calling upon the Lord, and telling others about Him. For a Christian, Jesus is our Lord who purchases us from the bondage of sin and separation from God. When anyone calls upon His name, the Bible says, "You shall be saved unto eternal life." When you tell others about Him, your faith is firmed up, because you are obeying His commission.
n Thanksgiving is tied to worship. Whenever life is overwhelming, I have found when I worship the Lord in song and with my life the result is always joy. I find my spirit is rejoicing no matter what my circumstances.
n Thanksgiving is tied to where I am focused. The Bible tells us to keep our minds fixed on things above, and our eyes focused on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2-3: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Are you losing heart because there is little to be thankful for? Look to Jesus, consider Him, and the promise from scripture is, "You will not grow weary in faith or loose heart."
Thanksgiving is an everyday event for followers of Jesus. We are thankful not because life is a "bed of roses," but for God's grace and mercy.
Thanksgiving Day is a time to be thankful for our blessings, but also thankful for God's love.
Psalm 107:1: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."
