THANKSGIVING

Just Thinking About – THANKSGIVING.

The day almost seems to be ignored in the shopping centers. Most places of business have been displaying Christmas items for several days. An exception may be the increased number of Turkeys available in the Meat Departments, along with additional Hams being available.

It causes me to think about whether or not the Church and Nation has forgotten how to express Thanksgiving. There are some traditions that are conducted in churches – combined services with other churches in the community; special thanksgiving Covered Dish Meals; singing of Hymns appropriate to the day.

My wonderment pertains to what does all of this mean in terms of a life that should be described as Thanks-Living. For instance, Philippians 4:6 instructs: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Does this verse describe the life-style of the professing Christian on a daily basis? Does it characterize you and your lifestyle?  How seriously does God take these words? How seriously does God take your response? Romans 1:21 should be a wake-up call. The verse addresses why God judged people harshly and the reason is clearly states: “although they knew God (or knew about Him), they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

The Worship Services in our churches will sing appropriate hymns such as: Now Thank We All Our God; With Grateful Hearts, O Lord We Bring; Great Is Thy Faithfulness; Come, Ye Thankful People, Come; etc. There are numerous Contemporary Worship Choruses and several churches will echo the words: Give Thanks, With A Grateful Heart… Are these Hymns just traditional words that are repeated year after year or do they have present meaning for events that have unfolded inn your life throughout the year?

If you were called upon to list ten things for which you are thankful, how specific would your list be? Would it be a subjective or objective listing? Would it be general or particular? When our family gathered together for Thanksgiving Dinner, there would be a card with appropriate Scripture verses at each place at the Table. After the verse was read, young and old alike were asked to state one thing for which they were/are thankful.

When I was a boy, there were two choruses that were often sung. The older chorus was: "Thank you Lord for saving my soul; Thank you Lord for making me whole…" The newer chorus was similar: "Thank you Jesus for what you’ve done; O thank you – Lord; Thank you Jesus for victories won…”

I will have the privilege of sharing the Word of God this Lord’s Day. The Sermon title is: “To Thank Or Not To Thank!” It is influenced by the question in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “To Be or Not To Be, That is the Question…” The Hamlet oratory closes with: “And lose the name of action.” The Sermon Question will ask: "To Obey Scripture or Not To Obey Scripture - That Is Our Question."

Complacency and procrastination are two of the spiritual detriments. It allows one to become matter-of-fact about matters that should have priority status in one’s life. Why should you be one who gives thanks in and for everything  that you experience in life? Let Psalm 100:4-5 describe you and the way you respond to the Faithful Lord: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.