November 22, 2020
Morning Service

Thanksgiving was established as a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, though history reminds us that it was the pilgrims that began the celebration back in 1621.  We can actually trace the origin of setting aside time to be thankful to the time of Moses and the children of Israel in Leviticus 23. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays.  It is just family and friends getting together to enjoy a meal; no presents very little stress.  It really is a time that we can slow down and reflect on the many blessings God has bestowed upon us.

It is also a time of tradition.  We have eaten Thanksgiving dinner with Jerry’s side of the family for each of the 38 years we have been married.  This year will break that tradition.  How many of you are having to change your plans this year?  2020 and Covid 19 has certainly created unwanted changes in each of our lives.  Graduation, birthday parties, weddings, funerals, and now even our holiday traditions are not the same this year.  Instead of anticipating the holiday season with joyful expectation, I find myself feeling a bit cheated and even depressed with the uncertainty of what it will look like.  I find myself focusing upon the things that I am missing out on rather than focusing on the things that I have been blessed with.  That is the wrong perspective to have.  Let’s look at the definition of thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving-An acknowledging and confessing with gladness, the benefits and mercies, which God bestows either upon ourselves or others.

As a Jesus follower we should have a joyful, and thankful attitude every day of the year.  We have so much to be thankful for.  (Name some) When we humbly count, acknowledge and confess our many blessings that God has given us, not because we deserve them, we display a true attitude of thankfulness.  Notice our list did not include a lot of the “things” that we possess but it was mostly promises of God’s faithfulness to us.  Paul made this testimony that should be a goal for each of us.

Php 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: (12) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  (13)  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I know we quote this verse quite often, but as we see here in context it is written that we are able to be content, and thankful, in “whatever state I am.”  Our circumstances should not dictate our attitude.  We are complete and fulfilled in Christ.  Even in an odd year like 2020, we still need to focus more on what we do have rather than the things we don’t.  We can be thankful even in times that are different than our normal routines and traditions.  Look how Paul again described how we should live continually in a spirit of gratitude and contentment

Eph 5:18-21  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,  (19)  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,  (20)  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (21)  submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Just as someone drunk on wine can’t control his actions, we should let the Spirit take control of our lives and Paul shows us the result.  We will not be able to control ourselves; quoting scriptures, singing songs, giving thanks for everything, and submitting to one another.  It becomes who we are not what we do.  The joy in our heart, reflects into our attitude.  Our circumstances don’t dictate our attitude, but the Spirit that is within us does.  Our love for God and trust in Him changes us to be “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  It was James that reminded us where all good gifts and blessings come from.

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

God is the provider of all the good things in our lives.  Our health, jobs, relationships, good times, good food, beautiful sunsets, and the list could go on for a long time.  Those are things we are blessed with on physical side of our lives, but God does not stop there He goes deeper.  He gives us hope of a future that will never change, peace beyond understanding, love unconditional, and joy unspeakable.  He offers us His constant presence, a purpose to live for and a contentment that can be there no matter what our circumstances are.  How can we be so blessed yet not be thankful?  Our physical conditions do change and sometimes beyond our control, but these things hope, peace, love, joy, His presence, purpose, and contentment will not change.  They are constants in our lives if we allow the Spirit to control us as James states with God there is “no variation or shadow of turning.”  God is the same though our circumstances change.  So we are not only to be thankful during the good times but also the difficult ones.  Suffering, as we have found out this year, will be part of our journey and James again encourages us to be thankful and joyful even when we find ourselves in those trying, difficult situations.

Jas 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  (3)  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  (4)  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

We are not only to be thankful during our struggles, but raise it a level and be joyful as well!  How are you doing on that front?  We can rejoice that these struggles will lead us to a deeper faith, produce patience within us that we may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.  Isn’t that our goal; to be perfect?  To reach it we must be joyful and thankful during the good times as well as through the many trials of life knowing that God is in control and 2020 has certainly given us the opportunity to do that.   Our journey through this year of 2020 should reflect our love and thankfulness towards our Savoir, not reflect as if we have been victimized by this virus.  We should be living out what we believe.  Paul told this to the Colossian church.

Col 2:6-7  As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,  (7)  rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Paul encourages us to walk as we have been taught.  When we leave this building, we should be encouraged to remember what we have learned and apply it to our lives to get closer to the goal of perfection.  2020 grants us an excellent opportunity to do just that.  Hopefully the many issues you have faced this year have caused you to grow in Christ and be “rooted and built up in Him established in the faith.”  I am not trying to lessen the pain or troubles you have gone through this year, but I am proclaiming to you that God is greater than the pain and troubles and He is using them to draw you closer to Him!

  Life has slowed down for most of us and we all need to be “redeeming” this time by not focusing on what we have lost, but to be “abounding in it with thanksgiving.”  I will close with a reference back to where we started with the song “While I am waiting.”  As we seem to be on hold until this virus runs its course, continue to obey, serve, worship and run race without fainting.  As Paul says here walk the walk, dig your roots deeper into Him, build your faith stronger, and then you will abound in thanksgiving.  Use what is left of this year, not to focus on the virus, but focus on your Savior.

 

Heavenly Father renew within us a humble and thankful spirit that focuses on all You provide for us.