I am taking this month’s article to step away from our journey through God’s word to speak about gratefulness. Yes, this coincides with the month of Thanksgiving, the day coming on Thursday November 24th.
Back in the year 1621, 401 years ago, the first Pilgrims set aside a day of feasting and prayer to show their gratitude to God in His gracious hand of providence. Also called Saints, and known as Separatists for their desire to separate themselves completely from the established church in England that would not allow them to freely worship. These Pilgrims, seeking religious freedom and opportunity in the New World, gave thanks to God for His provision in helping them find 20 acres of cleared land, that there were no hostile Native Americans in that area, for their newfound religious freedom, and for God’s provision of an interpreter to the Native Americans in Squanto. Along with the feasting and games involving the colonists and more than 80 Native Americans (who added to the feast by bringing wild turkeys and venison), prayers, sermons, and songs of praise were important in the celebration. Three days were spent in feasting and prayer. This was a time when people of different backgrounds collectively came together to rejoice in the Creator and give thanks. From that time forward, Thanksgiving has been celebrated as a day to give thanks to God for His gracious and sufficient provision. President Abraham Lincoln officially set aside the last Thursday of November, in 1863, “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father.” In 1941, Congress ruled that the fourth Thursday of November be observed as Thanksgiving Day and be a legal holiday.
Now, here we are in 2022, and I have found myself asking, “Do we slow down enough to give thanks to God who has provided for all of our needs – physically, but more importantly, spiritually?” I understand that we can reflect on loss, trials, and need, bringing those requests to God to ask for His help. Yet, we are called, like the Pilgrims, to see through the hardship of this broken world to the glorious hand of a Loving Father. Our prayers should be fervent in requests, but joyous in thanksgiving. Charles Spurgeon said it well, “We ought not to leap in prayer, and limp in praise.” So, this month may we recognize the gracious hand of God in our lives, let us gives thanks! Let us recite to our weary and fickle hearts the words of Psalm 100: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Amen.
There is never a day in the year, or a moment in the day—in which the Christian ought not to be grateful. Of all of God’s gifts, the greatest one He has given is the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. On the cross of Calvary, Jesus paid our sin debt, so a holy and just Judge could forgive us our sins and give us eternal life as a free gift. This gift is available to those who will call on Christ to save them from their sin in simple but sincere faith (Romans 3:19-26; Romans 10:13; Ephesians 2:8-10). For this gift of His Son, the gift which meets our greatest need, the Apostle Paul says, "Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15).
We, like the Pilgrims, have a choice. In life there will always be those things that we can complain about. The Pilgrims had lost many loved ones, left their homes, and possessions, but there will also be much to be thankful for. As our country continues to shift towards ungratefulness and hopelessness, the people of God must rise up with the shouts of giving of thanks to God, during our annual Thanksgiving holiday and throughout the year. May God stir in our hearts to be grateful every day for all His gifts, spiritual and material. God is good, and every good gift comes from Him (James 1:17). For those who know Christ, God also works everything together for good, even events we would not necessarily consider good (Romans 8:28-30). Hug your spouse, put your arm around your children or grandchildren and tell them you love them, pray with a coworker, encourage the weary friend to look to God through Jesus Christ, smile at the person stocking shelves at the grocery store. May He find us to be His grateful children. May God continue to graciously give you your daily bread as you give thanks with a grateful heart. Happy Thanksgiving, friends!
