Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines Thanksgiving as: A public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness; also, a day set apart for religious services, especially to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties.
As Christians, being thankful is at the very heart of our faith because we are formerly spiritual orphans who have been adopted by God. We have taken advantage of His offer to be joined with His Son, Jesus Christ, and in doing so, become sons and daughters in His family. Another benefit of our adoption for which we are thankful is freedom from sin. Sin is like a universal birth defect in the human species—a spiritual malignant tumor in our hearts that poisons us with cravings for a variety of ungodly pleasures and keeps our moral compass perpetually off course. Now that we are His children, we are free from sin. The scalpel has been laid to the roots! The tumor has been removed and for that we are very thankful.
Unfortunately, due to memories and phantom pains, even though we don’t want to be, we are still sometimes tempted by impulses to return to our fatherless sin-sick behaviors. We are thankful and confident, however, in our Father’s plan because He is the Great Physician. The surgery of His Word, the radiation therapy of His love and the chemotherapy of His Holy Spirit are zapping sin cells and renewing our minds to live with Him in sin/cancer-free bliss. And not only is sin eradicated, but we are also thankful because beyond the limitations of this life, awaits fullness of our adopted status as permanent residents of His eternal city. We are very thankful people!
The Scripture has quite a bit to say about Thanksgiving. Here are five examples:
- As believers, it is not only when things are good that we give thanks, but also when the chips are down. The most powerful thanksgiving can come when things are really bad. For example, Jonah gave thanks from the belly of a fish after intentionally running from obeying God: “But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving” (Jonah 2:9) Sometimes, when it really hurts, in the darkest night, in the deepest trouble, with literally no options, when destruction is seemingly certain… that is the time to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving!
- We should be living fire hydrants, gushing continually with thanksgiving especially when we see the grace of God increasingly affecting, not only our lives, but our family, community, country and the world. “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15)
- Thanksgiving is to prayer what peanut butter is to jelly. Here is the promised peace you’ve been looking for! “...be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
- Robust, hearty, overcoming Christian faith is full of thanksgiving. “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
- Christians must continue in watchful, attentive prayer, always remembering to keep an attitude of thanksgiving. “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2)
Happy Thanksgiving 2008
Pastor Bob Engelhardt
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