Sabbath Thought - Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is next Thursday here in the U.S. The leaves are off of the trees, there is snow on the ground, and we are hovering around freezing temperatures daily.  In Addition to the changes in the natural world around us, winter also brings the thrust of this world's religious holidays. The day after Halloween, merchants were already setting out the Christmas displays in the stores.  Some homes have already put up and turned on their Christmas lights.  Thanksgiving has become, in too many instances, an afterthought for most of this country.

Here are some interesting facts connected to Thanksgiving:

• The average American's spending over the five-day Thanksgiving period is $321 (a paltry sum compared to Halloween and Christmas).
• It would take ten hours of time on a treadmill for the average American male to burn off the 4,500 calories consumed at the average Thanksgiving meal.
• Americans spend approximately $1.2 billion on Thanksgiving turkeys each year (46 million turkeys).
• 61% of people celebrating Thanksgiving try to avoid having to talk about politics.
• Each year there is approximately $26 million in property loss from residential fires on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving should be a timely reminder of all that we have to be thankful for.  We, of all people, should be thankful for God's calling, blessings, and desire to bring us into His family.  What are we thankful for in this past year?  What has God given to us that made our lives richer?  Here are some things to consider in being thankful to God:

Are we thankful for being part of God's plan of salvation?  The vision, faith and endurance we have does not come from us.  God helps us with those traits so that we will trust Him more and more. 

Are we thankful that there is a plan of salvation?  God didn't need to have us be a part of His family, but He wanted to share His love and life. 

Do we appreciate God's mercy and the grace He gives to us? 

Are we thankful for our covered sins?  Christ died for mankind even though most of mankind rebels to God's instruction. Are we thankful that we can go before God whenever necessary to ask for forgiveness for our sin?

Are we grateful that in our walk before God we have others of like-mind to be there with us - and for us?  How successful would we be if we could never fellowship before God with brethren?  As much as we appreciate our fellowship with brethren, God is never not there for us - teaching, leading, strengthening, and caring for us. 

We should not forget that Thanksgiving is a feast of giving thanks, not only for receiving God's blessings today, but also for the spiritual blessings starting now and lasting into eternity.  Read Psalm 103 this coming week. We live in a land of such great blessings, and it is truly sad that we - as a nation - have drifted so far from God. But you and I have been blessed even more than our fellow countrymen - you and I have been called by God to be a part of His family now. 

We must never forget to thank God for what He is doing for us and through us (Ephesians 5:20).  We must never forget to say to our Father - Thank You Lord.

I wish you a very thankful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

23 November, 2024