Thanksgiving banquet devo

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. I have a lot of fond memories surrounding this holiday; family and food and games. One of my family traditions is to play the board game risk every thanksgiving after dinner. My family is very competitive and it is by God’s grace that we haven’t been driven apart by it.

I think back to the origins of this holiday. Pilgrims journeying to America seeking religious freedom, or promise of prosperity, or both. Half of them died in the first winter. Widows, orphans, parent who lost their children. I can’t imagine how difficult life must have been. The probably often wondered if they would make it another winter. They would have asked God to save them, to provide for them…and he did. The settlers found friendship with the Native Americans in that area and were taught how to survive in the new world.

In November 1621, after a plentiful harvest, a celebratory feast was organized that we now recognize as the first thanksgiving.

Now every year families and friends come together to eat, fellowship, and express the ways in which we are thankful. It truly is a wonderful time of the year with an important meaning.

As Christians we are called to give thanks, not just one day of the year, but in all circumstances.

Paul tells the church in Thesalonika 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Why? Why is Gods will for those in Christ to give thanks? Because it reminds of the bigger picture. As Christians we can give thanks to God in the good, the bad, and the ugly because we are promised that God is working all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

When we have plenty, we can be thankful for the plenty because God is working through it for our good. If we have nothing but Jesus, we can be thankful because God is working through it for our good. In our joy and in our pain, our hurt and our healing, loss and gain, Christ is still our source of life, and we can’t help but be thankful for that.

There will come a day when this thanksgiving celebration will be done. When difficulties arise, and it will seem that there isn’t anything to be thankful for. But for those who’s hope is in Christ, we can be thankful for the good that we know God is working.

Thanksgiving is a beautiful celebration. I’m glad we have a day specifically to dwell on God’s good providence. But Church, we are blessed because our thanksgiving is every day.

Psalm 100 “A psalm of thanksgiving. Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Acknowledge that Yahweh is God. He made us, and we are His — His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For Yahweh is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.”