“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”—Psalm 107:8
On December 4, 1619, a group of 38 English settlers arrived on the north bank of the James River about 20 miles upstream from Jamestown, where the first permanent settlement of the Colony of Virginia was established on May 14, 1607. The group’s charter required that “the day of arrival be observed yearly, and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.” On that first day, Captain John Woodleaf held the service of thanksgiving and all the people knelt down and gave thanks to God for their safe arrival. This was the beginning of Thanksgiving Day.
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Today is Thanksgiving Day 2020, and across our nation people will gather with loved ones and sit down before a table loaded with an abundance of food. But many of them will not give one thought to thanking the God of the Bible for giving them such abundance. Giving thanks to God is the furthest thing from their mind, and this is exactly what the Scripture says about the unbeliever. We read in Romans 1:21, “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Unthankfulness is the very essence of the unbelieving heart.
We expect the unbeliever to be unthankful, but what is even more tragic is that many people who profess to be Christians will also celebrate Thanksgiving Day without once giving thought to praising and thanking God for His goodness. And so, the psalmist declared, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8). For many, Thanksgiving Day is only known as “turkey day” and people will greet one another with the words, “Have a great gobble, gobble day!” rather than a day set aside to specifically praise the God of the Bible, who created heaven and earth and all things.
What does Thanksgiving Day mean to you? Is it a day when you think only of time off work to gather with family and friends to eat turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and watch the football games? Or is Thanksgiving a day you set aside specifically to remember that your whole life is to be dedicated to continually praising and thanking God for the multitude of blessings He has poured out upon you, your church, your family, and your friends? Do you begin Thanksgiving Day with Worship Service in your church in order to praise God from whom all blessings flow, or do you forget all about worshiping God and just run off to grandma’s house for turkey? Far too often we come to God with the words “give me, bless me, help me, protect me” etc. rather than praises and giving of thanks for who He is. But Scripture continually exhorts Christians to give thanks to God for everything and in everything. Ephesians 5:20 reads, “give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We read in Psalm 95, “Let us come before His presence, with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” And the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Therefore, a failure to give thanks to God at all times and in every situation is sin. And so, the question for each of us as we gather together on Thanksgiving Day is, “Are we truly thankful to God in everything”, and not only when times are good, but also when times are tough? Do we really recognize that God has given us everything we possess? Answer 27 of the Heidelberg Catechism reads, “All things come not by chance but by His fatherly hand.” The Apostle Paul tells believers in 1 Timothy 6:17 that it is God “who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” When we consider the goodness, grace, mercy, majesty, sovereignty, love, and holiness of our God it ought to leave every one of us in wonder, love and praise to the God of Scripture who holds the breath of all creatures in His hand. How will you celebrate Thanksgiving Day? May the exhortation of the writer to the Hebrews be demonstrated in the life of every believer not only on Thanksgiving Day but every day the Lord gives us breath “Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).
Thanksgiving Day Devotional: November 26, 2020
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry