Happy Thanksgiving!
The Old Testament mandates many celebrations. God instituted the Feast of Passover to commemorate God’s deliverance of the Jews from Egypt. The Feast of Pentecost was an annual festival to celebrate the harvest. The Feast of Trumpets celebrates the beginning of the Jewish new year. The Jews participate in the Feast of Purim that commemorates God’s deliverance of the Jews from Haman in the Book of Esther. Hanukkah celebrates the Jews’ victory over Antiochus Epiphanies IV and the rededication of the temples.
Christmas of course, recalls the day that Christ was born, and Easter is the highest Christian holiday, the day we remember Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. What each of these days has in common is that they recall and revel over a specific event. Today we celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not a Biblical holiday. That is, there is no command in the Bible that we celebrate a specific day of the year called Thanksgiving. It’s actually an American holiday, rather than a Biblical feast.
But the Bible does command us to always be thankful. Psalm 106:1: Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 86:12: I give thanks to you , O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 1 Thess. 5:18: Give thanks to the Lord in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
On Thanksgiving, we don’t give thanks for one specific thing, we give thanks for everything. Thanksgiving is a perfect day to take time to praise God for all that He has done. He has blessed us in material ways, giving us shelter, food, clothes, and all that we need to live. He has blessed us eternally if we have received Jesus as our Savior. Give thanks for Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins so that we will live forever.
This year, just like every year, I am so grateful for my family, immediate and extended. God has been so good to fill our house with love. I’m also grateful for my church family too. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself when I think back about how God changed my life and gave me a congregation of people to lead who love Him and have also loved my family so well. I pray that you enjoy the day. I hope you are celebrating with lots of family, food, and football. I praise God for you all and thank you for your ministry to us. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
