The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving

Most Americans know the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. They know all about how the Indians and Pilgrims shared food that day and thanked God for all He had done for them. Some people know that Lincoln was the person who proclaimed a day for giving God thanks and that Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared that Thanksgiving be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every November.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a day that is for most people just a day to get together with family, stuff themselves with turkey, and watch football. For me it is much more than that. It is a chance to remember Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for me. It is a chance to remember God's authority and sovereignty even when I can't understand why He does what He does. It is a chance to thank Him for everything He does for me. "O, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good..." But like most religious holidays, Thanksgiving has been transformed into just another holiday when the family gets together and celebrates. What are they celebrating? They don't even think about it-- or want to think about it. The only purpose for Thanksgiving, according to them, is to eat turkey and be merry with friends and family. Some other people may actually give God thanks for what He has done, but it is the only day of the whole year that they actually take the time to do so.

Hopefully for you Thanksgiving is more than all this. Hopefully you, too, understand what a great opportunity it is to be able to give thanks for everything. But hopefully it's not the only day you give thanks to God. Many times we get so caught up in our lives that we forget to thank God for what He does in our lives. We forget to tell the Giver of All Good Gifts that we are thankful for what He has bestowed upon us. May we never forget what Thanksgiving is really for--and may we never forget to thank God every day, and not just on this special holiday set aside for thanksgiving.

The Way Out

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13, NASB

I read this in my devotions today, and what a wonderful reminder. So often I fall so short of what God asks of me. So often I fail Him, and fall into temptation. I allow my desires to overcome me. But there is always a way out. No matter what temptation I face, God will always be watching me, and He gives me the strength to get out of it. Even when I do fail Him, I can come to Him and ask forgiveness. He is so faithful to forgive me when I have sinned against Him, and how amazing it is that He completely FORGETS our sin! If we take time to think about this, it's very odd. How could God forget something? He knows ALL. He never forgets anything. He knows every little detail about us, even how many hairs we have on our head! He knows our deepest, darkest secrets. And yet He FORGETS our sins! He knows and remembers so much, and yet he CHOOSES to forget. What a mighty, wonderful God I serve! What amazing love He shows me every day!