Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalm 100:4 With all that we have to be thankful for in this life, I would be amiss not to focus upon the need to give thanks for the blessings of God Almighty, especially during our celebration of Thanksgiving this week. Thanksgiving, celebrated since 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the fourth Thursday in November to be a national holiday, represents the tremendous gratitude the Pilgrims felt toward the Lord for providing an opportunity to worship Him in a manner His precepts required from their new homes in a free land. From the Pilgrims who sailed across the sea in search of religious freedom to our founding fathers who fought and died to preserve that freedom, we in America should be thankful that we have been a part of such a rich and wonderful history. Moreover, as Christians, born again by the blood of Christ, we have the liberty to share the Gospel so that people all over the world may be assured of an eternal future with God in Heaven to be even more thankful for. In 1789, President George Washington stated, “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favors…Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these states to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country... and for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.” Beloved, the founding fathers of America openly recognized God, despite what the revisionists have proclaimed in their vile attempts to rewrite and pervert our nation's history in order to deceive and deny future generations of Americans the truth of our founding. These men were keenly aware of our desperate need for God if America was to survive as a nation. President Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” It is sad to say that times have changed and we must recognize that we may be the only country that openly acknowledges God in our constitution, currency and calendar while simultaneously refusing to allow God to be recognized in our schools and public institutions. Families fail today because they feel as if they can function and exist without God and the Bible. Strong, long-term marriages seem to be but a memory because men and women refuse to come under the ONLY authority that created this union, that being God and the Bible. People have become perverse and immoral because they have rebelled against God and the Bible. Beloved, I have no idea why we were chosen to be born and raised in the greatest and freest nation on earth, but for that reason alone, let us give thanks to God! It is without doubt or despair that when we give our thanks, we glorify Him. It is from a thankful soul that God receives glory and praise. Our thanksgiving is expressed toward God in our Consideration. The Apostle Paul penned by inspiration these words to the Philippian church: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6). Consideration is not simply coming to God during a crisis when we need Him, but rather recognizing that that we need Him in every moment of our lives. At any time, God could take away our breath and our lives would end. He could take away our thought and our minds would end, or He could deprive us of our strength and our work would end. David said, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” (Psalms 95:2). In our thanksgiving, we express our Consideration toward God as well as our Condition. Another admonition by Paul through the Holy Spirit is, “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;" (II Corinthians 9:10-12). We are to live with thanksgiving in our hearts and minds as we work for the Lord. The psalmist said, “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” (Psalm 26:7). Finally, a grateful and thankful heart, mind, soul and attitude brings to fruition Consecration. "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (1Timothy 4:4-5). It is Christ that has sanctified us through the shedding of His precious blood. It is said in Psalm 116:17 that “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.” Like no other nation in the world, we as a people, especially those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, should offer our thanksgiving toward heaven as it is the very least we can do. Many of us have been seated at tables this past week feasting on abundant plates of food which we must accept as a generous blessing! But let us also remember the men and women who suffered and died so that we could celebrate this holiday and enjoy our Thanksgiving meals together. Let us remember the families that lost mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, and brothers and sisters so that the precious Gospel could be carried around the world, enabling Christ’s richness too flourish. As we lift our glasses to quench our thirst, let us remember the multitudes of people who sacrificed all so we might drink our water freely. Beloved, as we awake each morning, let us come to Christ to remember the One who removed His robe of royalty to don the rags of the flesh. As we kneel to plead with Christ for His mercy and grace, let us be ever thankful to the One who shed His blood on the cross of Calvary so that we may pass from death to everlasting life. Today, let us recall those words spoken by our nation’s first president: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection, aid and favors…” We are fortunate to have been blessed with the gift of freedom and the gift of salvation which work together to permit the faithful to freely share the goodness and love of God and their relationship with Him with everyone. “…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48)
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