THANKSGIVING
by Elaine Long
What does the word Thanksgiving mean?
Thanksgiving expresses gratitude for blessings, such as family being together, reflecting on life and celebrating a bountiful harvest. Here in the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November every year. This day was set aside to commemorate the harvest feast between the Pilgrims and the Indians (the Wampanoag people) in 1621.
Thanksgiving has since evolved into family gatherings and being thankful for blessings, giving thanks for the good things in life. For many of us, we gather together with family and friends, usually around a large meal.
Thanksgiving is also a time for giving back to others. Many people donate their time, money or food to help those in need.
In the Bible, thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude to God. Thanksgiving is a way to worship Him and acknowledge His goodness for all He has done for us. He is the source of all good gifts. The Bible tells us that we are to offer up a sacrifice of praise.
We no longer have to offer blood sacrifices of animals, because Jesus was the spotless lamb who sacrificed His life for us. Now we can give God a steady stream of praise from our lips.
Hebrews 13:15 (CJB)
15 Through him, therefore, let us offer God
a sacrifice of praise continually. For this is the natural product of lips that acknowledge his name.
I really like the way the Complete Jewish Bible says “this is the natural product of lips that acknowledge His name”. You might ask, why is it called a “sacrifice of praise”. The reason it is a sacrifice is because, unlike the one day that is set aside for Thanksgiving here in this country, we are to continually offer up our praises to our Father, ALL THE TIME.
In last month’s newsletter, I mentioned that when Praise goes up, God’s presence comes down. Giving thanks to our Father continually allows His presence to be with us constantly, no matter what we are going through. That is also, why it is called a sacrifice of Praise. Sometimes we go through things in this life that are far from pleasant, and that is when praise can be a sacrifice.
But the more we continually praise Him, no matter what, we will come out victorious. Praising our Father keeps us from being down and depressed.
Here are some other scriptures that talk about keeping His praise continually in your mouth:
Psalm 34:1 (NKJV)
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Ephesians 5:20 (AMP)
20 At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Notice that these verses both say, “AT ALL TIMES”. This is the same thing that Hebrews 13:15 is talking about when it says, CONTINUALLY.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NASB)
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Thessalonians tells us that we are to pray without ceasing and give thanks in everything. But there is something else I want you to see in these verses. We are to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and verse 18 tells us that we are to give thanks in everything, FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL for you in Christ Jesus.
Now this does not mean that you are to thank God when bad things happen. The bad things are not from our Father, they come from the devil who hates us and is always trying to take us out.
John 10:10 tells us that the thief (the devil) has come to kill, steal and destroy. But the last part of that verse says that Jesus has come to give us life…
John 10:10 (NASB)
10 “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
One final thought, be thankful in all situations because we have a heavenly Father who loves us so much that He will always make a way for us. Our part is to continually (at all times) thank Him, praise Him and honor Him.
Hebrews 13 tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He will NEVER desert us or abandon us.
Psalm 107:1 (NASB)
1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
So remember, no matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, whether it is with family, helping others, or spending it alone, always praise and thank our heavenly Father. This is all He requires of us.