“Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.”
In the Bible, the manner in which ‘thanksgiving’ was expressed by those who feared God was most unique. It was by means of a sacrifice, by praising God, by a prayer, or through songs. While it was to be done willingly, and not out of constraint, it was always as God ordained in the language of the covenant between Himself and His covenant people. Thus, we see that thanksgiving is expressed both by words and by certain authorized acts.
Sadly, what has happened with love has happened with thanksgiving. How often do we hear (and say) the phrase, ‘I love you’? Does saying ‘I love you’ equate to loving someone? So also, saying your thankful does not necessarily mean you are thankful. The uniqueness of the thanksgiving of a Christian is that their deeds prove their words true. That is being Christ-like. In John 3:16, 1 John 4:19, and Revelations 1:5 the apostle John speaks of the love that God and Christ had. Is there any doubt that God and Jesus loves us? How do we know? We know because of how it was shown (John 15:13; Romans 5:8).
The uniqueness of the thanksgiving of the Christian is seen from 2 Corinthians 6:4. It is done “in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in difficulties…”. God has foreordained this. We are no more at liberty to determine HOW we will thank God any more than we are at liberty to worship God as we deem right. God has not left us “in the dark” as to how to ‘thank’ Him anymore than He has left it up to us as to how to worship Him. Worship is unacceptable when offered with heartless lip service and when the traditions we observe are contrary to what God has commanded (Matthew 15:8-9; John 4:24). Our worship is not to be unrestrained for we have divine guidance as to what to do. Likewise godly living is not an unrestrained life. Without divine guidance, people will become unrestrained (Proverbs 29:18). Likewise, the thanksgiving of a Christian is expressed by denying ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:11-12).
The apostle Peter affirmed that God has given all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Christians are to add these ‘things’ to their faith, that they might not live unrestrained (2 Peter 1:5-9). Through this ‘adding’, the Christian expresses his thanksgiving. Worship and godly living are only acceptable when exercised in obedience. This is also true in regard to thanksgiving by the child of God. Thankfulness is a discipline that needs to be valued, for its spiritual benefits. But like anything that is of value, it needs to be exercised (i.e., nurtured AND expressed). That it is to be expressed, is seen from such passages as, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!” (Psalm 118:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). But God has declared that our zeal must be “according to knowledge” (Romans 10:1-3). Thus, the ‘nurtured’ aspect of giving thanks must be by this knowledge. Being truly thankful begins with recognizing how entirely dependent we are upon God’s mercy and His ability to provide. Thankfulness is expressed out of confidence that He will (James 1:17ff). When our thanks is expressed in obedience, an ‘on-going’ benefit is that pride will be rooted out of our life. If not, pride will dominate in our life (James 4:6).
Thanksgiving and obedience are inseparable,
for TRUE thanksgiving is ONLY in obedience to God’s will. This is seen from the 50th Psalm. In
condemning His own people Israel, God said: “Offer…a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the
Most High; call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” But to the wicked
God said, “What right have you to tell of My statutes and to take My covenant in
your mouth? “ For you hate discipline, and you cast
My words behind you.” The only acceptable expression of
thanks is in giving God what God most desires, and that, by His own declaration
is our hearts (Psalm 51:17; Joel 2:13).
Let us return to Him in obedience, and
recognize His rightful authority to rule over us. What He promised (and did for) Judah, He will
do for all who will ‘trust and obey’.
God said He, “let them find Him”
(2 Chronicles 15:15). Jesus gave the same assurance (John 7:17). Thanksgiving will always be
blessed of God when it does as Jesus spoke:
“If anyone loves Me, he will follow My word; and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him.” (John 14:23).
11/30/2020
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