Thanksgiving Eve - November 23, 2011

The Church Season of Trinity
Thanksgiving Eve, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (November 23, 2011)

Readings:   
    Psalm 67
    Deuteronomy  8:1-10
    1 Timothy 2:1-4
    Luke 17:11-19

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Epistle Lesson from the 2nd chapter of 1st Timothy especially the following verses:

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (ESV)

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

It's very easy to give thanks for the things going our way.  But, when the "going gets tough," the tough seem to turn against God, where is He now?  The concept of actually thanking God tends to get more and more distant from our minds as the "going" gets tougher and tougher.  It's very easy to forget about all that we have, and instead get hung up on what we've lost or don't have.  It's far easier to blame God in these difficult circumstances than it is to offer Him thanks and praise. 

Think about that for a moment.  We understand what it means to give thanks to God for all that we have.  It should be a real "no-brainer" for tomorrow.  We should understand what it means to give thanks to God for all that we don't have, like the “bad" things such as terrible sickness, homelessness, bankruptcy, violence, etc.  At least we remember to give thanks to God when He spares us from these terrible tragedies.  We give thanks for those absences in our lives, and we need to be careful in doing so.  Such "thanksgiving" can be a real slippery slope into sin.  Remember: A certain Pharisee gave thanks for the absences in his life too, giving thanks that he wasn't like the tax collector.  But what about those other absences?  What about those things we really do want and ask for and don't receive?  Have you ever given thanks to God for Him saying "no" to you?  I have never heard anyone give thanks for not winning the lottery. 

This leads to another question: Why?  Why should we give thanks to the Lord, especially when the chips are down in life?  Think about the lesson again, we’re not told to give thanks unto the Lord because He has really given all we want.  There's nothing in here at all about putting our thanksgiving on some sort of sliding scale that works makes us pray more if we have more. 

It would be easy to ask how many of us here this night are thankful for "everything" God has given you.  Be truthful, and if you are you know that you’d be more thankful if you didn't have those bills coming in, or those aches and pains, or the fear and uncertainty of not knowing whether or not you're going to get a paycheck next week? 

So why do we give thanks unto the Lord?  Because, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”(v, 3-4)  It is what God desires, not what you desire that is the reason for the season, as the old saying goes. 

Jesus has seen fit to bless you with all that you have in this life.  Don’t forget to share that bountiful grace with someone else tomorrow.  Share the wonderful Gospel message of life and salvation with those who don't yet know it or believe it so that they, too, can share in our redemptive, Christ-centered joy.  God desires the death of no man.  He desires that all may believe and have life in Him, which is why He sent His one and only Son to die for the sins of the entire world.  Take a little time out of each day and simply say "thank you" to your Lord and Savior for all that you have and all that you are, from all you have received through free and unmerited gifts from Him. 

Sometime between the time you fight over the turkey leg or eat that second piece of pie, or turn on the Lions game and pull the handle back on the bark-o-lounger, remember not only to give thanks for the abundance of daily bread you have this one day per year called Thanksgiving.  Remember to also return thanks to God for Jesus Christ, because of His giving we are able to endure this life, to laugh to cry, to stuff our faces with the most awesome foods from years of family tradition.  And as the family grows the seeds and stories of tradition seem to grow too. And you know the best family traditions are the ones that are easily shared. Share your blessings from God, for you have been given much. 

Tomorrow most of us will stop at nothing to put on a feast that will satisfy us for a day.  Everyday God in Christ Jesus provides you with the feast of victory that will satisfy you for eternal life.  For you, it may appear like a simple recipe, a baptism wherein water is combined with God’s Word, a Holy Communion where bread and wine are combined with the very Words of God.  In fact, it would be simpleton’s to think these are recipes.  For these gifts did not come easily, they came from Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again.  Jesus Christ gave His life so that we may have the assurance of eternal life in His Name, more than just tradition, or any great recipe, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.” Thanks be to God. Amen.

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