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wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalms 107:8, 15, 21, 31). A day of giving thanks. (By: Pastor L.R. Simas, Sr.) 11-09-08 |
Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines Thanksgiving as follows:
THANKSGIV'ING, n. The act of rendering thanks or expressing
gratitude for favors or mercies.
Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if
received with thanksgiving. 1 Tim.4:4.
1. A public celebration of divine goodness; also, a day set apart
for religious services, specially to acknowledge the goodness of
God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or
danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties. The
practice of appointing an annual thanksgiving originated in New
England.
The origins of Thanksgiving Day has (at the least) two versions,
one has that the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts
and the other states it was Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
It really doesn't’t matter which is true what matters is why these
folks gave thanks or praise to God! This holiday was and
remains so important that year’s later President Lincoln would
address it with reverence.
Thanksgiving was made an annual holiday during the American
Civil War by President Abraham Lincoln with his 1863
Thanksgiving Proclamation. The proclamation began with the
following sentence:
"The year that is drawing to a close has been filled with the
blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties,
which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the
source from which they come, others have been added, which are
of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate
and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the
ever watchful providence of Almighty God." After listing many
national blessings while noting the great human loss and
destruction of war, he went on to say: "They are the gracious
gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger
for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy."
Now that we know what Thanksgiving Day held for the
Pilgrims and many others of yester year what does this holiday
mean to you??
The most usual answer is “It means being thankful for family
and good health and having a job”. Not everyone will answer in
that order nor use the exact wording seen here. However,
essentially that will be about it. Then it’s on to the food,
drinking, and (for the most part) sports! So when do we hear or
even read that someone is thankful for the Lord’s hand in their
lives?? Or when the Lord God even got spoken about??
The sad part is that in this day and age God has been thrown out
of almost everything! We only want to know God when things
are not going according to plan. Who’s plan?? Certainly not God’
s plan as that would mean doing things His way and being
obedient to God!
I don’t speak for anyone but myself here and I want to share
with you dear readers what I’m thankful for today and
everyday. I’m thankful for Jesus as it was He that rescued me
from hell!! Yes, there is a hell and no, it’s not the grave either,
although it can be referred to as such. I’m thankful for His
leading and guiding me to what it is (I believe) He wants me to
do. I’m thankful for the folks that He has caused me to be able to
help and or assist. Folks (like maybe you) who just desire an
answer to a question and or someone to speak to or with. You see
what I mean?? God is who I’m thankful to and for.
Nothing I do is without His knowledge and I usually ask or seek
His guidance when I’m not sure about something. The Pilgrims
were people who were thankful for the providence of God and
were rewarded for being faithful and dependant on God.
The most important thing I’m thankful for is found in the Bible.
It’s found in John’s gospel have a look and then I’ll share with
you why I truly believe it carries such importance.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be
saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).
Have you figured it out?? If not it’s okay, I’ll explain. First, God
gave! God told us we have a choice and what the results of our
choice will be. God sent Jesus to and for us. That alone is
something to be thankful for. Jesus did everything asked of God.
Can we say the same??
God allowed us choice. To either believe on Jesus or to reject Him.
If we choose to believe on the name of God’s only begotten then
we will have a home in heaven. On the other hand God tells us of
what will (not would or might or never) happen if we chose to
not believe in the name of His Son. The word is “condemned”!
That also is a choice and it is one that we, not God, make and
thus we reap what we have chosen. Hell! Remember we made the
choice not God.
Thanksgiving is then in effect the giving from God to us and we
are given a choice. Depending on that choice we are allowed to
experience the results. Let me say that God is thanksgiving and
everything that is good! I’ll pose the question again and take
your time to think about your answer. What are you thankful
for this thanksgiving??
In closing let me say as far as being thankful to God, I think
Joshua said it best as he said, “As for me and my house, we shall
serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).
The person to be thankful for is Jesus. Please remember, Jesus
died for you, will you live for Him??
Please feel free to e-mail or write at the address below. With love
in Christ, whose I am and yours,
Pastor Popeye,
pastorsimas@hyannisbaptistchurch.org
Or write snail mail at:
Hyannis Baptist Church
Po Box 34
West Hyannisport, Ma.
02672-0034
Psalms 12:6-7 and Ephesians 3:8
Join us now on the web!!
http//:www.hyannisbaptistchurch.org
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