THANKSGIVING
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. The Thanksgiving holiday started in the small Plymouth Colony
in 1621 when the English Pilgrims feasted with members of the
Wampanoag (Wampanoag) Indians who brought gifts of food
as a gesture of goodwill. The custom grew in various colonies
as a means of celebrating the harvest. In 1777, over 100 years
later, the continental congress proclaimed a national day of
Thanksgiving (a single event) after the American Revolution
victory at the Battle of Saratoga. But, it was twelve years
later that George Washington proclaimed another national day of
thanksgiving in honor of the ratification of the Constitution,
and requested that the congress finally make it an annual
event. They declined, and it would be another 100 years before
President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, in order to bolster the
Union's moral, proclaimed the last Thursday in November of each
year to be a "Thanksgiving" holiday.
B. We sing, "Count your blessings, name them one by one."
1. Perhaps if we did count them, we, too, would be more apt to
remember how God has blessed us.
2. Like the early settlers, we should be grateful for our
blessings, being mindful of the One from whom they come.
I. LET US BE THANKFUL FOR THINGS OF A SPIRITUAL NATURE.
A. For Salvation.
1. We all would be lost if not for God's Grace.
a. We need to be thankful for the redemption which is
provided through Christ. 2 Cor. 9:15 Rom 6:17-18;
b. 2 Thess. 2:13-14 - Likewise, we can give thanks
because God chose us through believe of the truth, and
called us by the gospel.
c. 1 Cor. 15:56-57 - Let us be thankful for the victory that
is in Christ.
2. In every prayer to God, let us give thanks to God for
salvation given to us through His Son Jesus Christ.
B. For God's Care and Leadership.
1. Once we have obtained salvation, God continues to care for
us and provide us with leadership. 1 Pet 5:7; Phil. 4:6-7; 1
Cor 10:13; Heb. 13:5-6
2. God continues to show His care and leadership in our lives;
so, let us be thankful.
C. For the privilege of being able to call God our Father.
1. 1 John 3:1; Rom 8:14-15
D. For our brothers and sisters in Christ. Mark 10:28-30
1. Paul set the example in giving thanks for fellows saints.
Eph 1:15-16; Col 1:3; Phile. 4-6; 1 Thess. 1:2-3; Phil
1:3-5; 2 Thess. 1:3
2. We should be thankful for:
a. The tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
b. Those who set an example of godly lives.
c. Those who teach God's word.
d. Those who use their abilities to lead singing, read,
pray, clean the building, prepare the Lord's table, give
liberally of money, time, and energy, visit the sick,
encourage the weary, are ready to lend a kind word, and
who wear a warm smile to greet us.
II. LET US GIVE THANKS FOR THINGS OF A PHYSICAL NATURE.
A. For Food.
1. Many passages show giving thanks to God for food. John
6:11; Acts 27:33-36; 1 Tim. 4:1-5
2. With each meal we should be reminded of God's
lovingkindness and, thus, bow our heads in thanksgiving.
B. For Clothing. Matt 6:25-34
C. For Shelter.
1. A man interested in selling his house called a real estate
agent and asked him what to do. The agent said, "Write up a
list of the features and selling points." Several days went
by, and the agent hadn't heard from the fellow. Calling him,
he said, "I thought you wanted to sell your house." "I did,"
replied the man, "But when I made up the list of all that my
house has to offer, I decided it was the perfect place for
me!"
D. For our families.
1. For our children. Psalm 127:3-5
2. For our parents. Eph. 6:3-4
a. Think of all that parents have proved for their children.
Often, all their love, care, and provisions are taken for
granted.
b. Children should "repay" their parents. 1 Tim. 5:4
E. For All Things. Eph. 5:20; 1 Thess. 5:16-18
1. Remember, all things come from God. James 1:17
a. We should have an "attitude of gratitude."
b. An old question, "Are you humbly grateful or are you
grumblely hateful?"
F. Someone wrote this to show what would happen to the average
American family if they were suddenly reduced to the annual
income category of over 1/2 of the world's population.
1. He said, "Take away the furniture, saving a few old
blankets, kitchen table, and one chair; take away all the
clothing except for the oldest dress or suit, a shirt,
blouse, and one pair of shoes for the head of the family;
empty the cupboards of food with the exception of a small
bag of flour, some sugar, salt, a few molded potatoes, a
handful of onions, and a dish of fried beans; dismantle the
bathroom, shut off the water and remove the electrical
wiring; exchange all automobiles for one bicycle, take away
the house itself, and move the family into a tool shed;
cancel all subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, and book
clubs; put the nearest clinic or hospital 100 miles away,
and put a midwife in charge instead of a doctor; discard the
bank account, stock certificates, pension plans, insurance
policies, and leave the family $5 in cash; give the head of
the family a few acres to cultivate to grow food for his
family one-third of which goes to the landlord."
G. Let us truly be thankful for the ways we are blessed in this
country.
Concl.
A. We close with this poem by L. B. Strawn entitled, "Thank You."
Thank you for your mercy, Lord,
And thank you for your love.
Thank you for your holy word
Which came from heaven, above.
Thank you for the Savior
Who came to earth and died
That we might truly savor
Your grace, to us, implied.
Thank you for each blessing, good,
For health and strength and life.
Thank you for our daily food
And, even Godly strife.
Thank you for each family
And thank you for each home.
Thank you for eternity
Which, someday soon, will come.
Give us strength, Oh Lord, to cope
With problems which we face,
That we may keep that promised hope
To live with you through grace.
Grant to us that you'll forgive
As we repent from every sin,
That, in eternity we'll live,
In Jesus' blessed name, amen.