“Thanksgiving is a time when the world gets to see just how blessed and how workable the Christian system is. The emphasis is not on giving or buying, but on being thankful and expressing that appreciation to God and to one another.” ~ John Clayton
Christianity truly is counter-cultural. The world tells us that success is everything. Our faith tells us that service is everything. The world tells us that superiority is important. Christianity tell us that humility is important. The world tells us that it is all right to use anyone in order to get ahead. Christianity tells us that we should never use another person for our own profit. I could go on and on; but, I think you get the picture.
Today is a day that some people might think is stupid. It is a day set aside to give thanks to God for all that He has done for us. People who are steeped in the world cannot stand Thanksgiving because it means that a lot of their favorite stores will probably be closed, that the mail will not be delivered, and that they cannot go to any government agency to transact business. They wonder why all of that should be shut down on a day that is meant to give thanks.
I, on the other hand, wonder why there is only one day set aside to give thanks to God. Think about it. How much has God done for us? Is one day sufficient to give Him thanks and praise? I think not. What I fear is that there will be many who give God the thanks and praise that is His due today. But, tomorrow, they will be back to “business as usual” and God will take a back seat — if He is even remembered at all.
As Christians, we remember that God should be thanked at all times. It is God who gave us the girt of life again today. It is God who blesses us abundantly. It is God who nourishes us, sustains us, and calls us to closer relationship with Him day by day. Ultimately, it is God who calls us to live with Him in eternity.
All the promises of the world cannot begin to meet that great prize. The world will tarnish and crumble. The Kingdom of Heaven will stand resplendent in glory for all the ages. We thank God the Father for the gift of His Son. We thank Jesus for dying on the cross and rising from the dead so that we could share in His resurrection. We thank the Holy Spirit for sanctifying our lives and giving us the grace and courage that we need to remain on the path that leads to the Kingdom.
We are thankful this day and ask God to help us extend our thankfulness to every day of our lives.
FAITH ACTION: Take time to thank the people who are a special part of your life. In addition, make sure that you take time to thank God today for all that He does for you.