It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, & draw up a list of resolutions for New Years. But there is another list we often overlook a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. Let me read a part of the list that several housewives compiled. They wrote that they were especially thankful:
For automatic dishwashers because they make it possible for us to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back in for their after dinner snacks.
For husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals.
For children who put away their things & clean up after themselves. They’re such a joy you hate to see them go home to their own parents
For teenagers because they give parents an opportunity to learn a second language.
For Smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey’s done.
Now our list might not be the same as theirs, but I’m convinced that if we began to make a list, we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.
Like you, I’m sure, my list would include the major things life, health, family, friends, & the nation we live in, despite all its flaws.
But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, our church family, & the mercy that God showers upon us each day. With Jesus we have so much for which to celebrate on Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Day is a distinctive holiday. It doesn’t commemorate a battle or anyone’s birthday or anniversary. It is simply a day set aside to express our nation’s thanks to our nation’s God. The Pilgrim fathers who landed at Plymouth Rock almost 400 years ago knew nothing of the affluent times which you and I enjoy today in this great country of ours. During that first long winter at Plymouth Colony, seven times as many graves were made for the dead as home for the living.
The Pilgrims didn’t have much, but they possessed a great gratitude and it was upon this very thing that America was built.
In Psalm 103 David makes no requests. All he does is praise the Lord for three wonderful blessings, which he names in verses 3-5 and then explains in the rest of the psalm.
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1-5)
Forgiveness (v. 3)
The word translated ‘forgives’ is used in Scripture only of God’s forgiveness of sinners. The word of ‘iniquity’ pictures sin as something twisted and distorted. Those who have trusted Christ have experienced God’s forgiveness. David knew something about God’s gracious forgiveness.
Tony Campolo tells a story about being in a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Campolo prayed boldly for the man’s healing. That next week he got a telephone call from the man’s wife. She said, “You prayed for my husband. He had cancer.” Campolo thought when he heard her use the past tense verb that his cancer had been eradicated! But before he could think much about it she said, “He died.” Compolo felt terrible. But she continued, “Don’t feel bad. When he came into that church that Sunday he was filled with anger. He knew he was going to be dead in a short period of time, and he hated God. He was 58 years old, and he wanted to see his children and grandchildren grow up. He was angry that this all-powerful God didn’t take away his sickness and heal him. He would lie in bed and curse God. The more his anger grew towards God, the more miserable he was to everybody around him. It was an awful thing to be in his presence. But the lady told Compolo, “After you prayed for him, a peace had come over him and a joy had come into him. Tony, the last three days have been the best days of our lives. We’ve sung. We’ve laughed. We’ve read Scripture. We prayed. Oh, they’ve been wonderful days. And I called to thank you for laying your hands on him and praying for healing.” And then she said something incredibly profound. She said, “He wasn’t cured, but he was healed.”
Forgiveness is like:
healing when you’re sick (v. 3)
relief when you are burdened (v. 11,12)
reconciliation when you have hurt someone (v. 13-14)
Redemption (v. 4)
God redeemed Israel from bondage and from difficulties they faced on their journey to Canaan. ‘Redeem’ pictures God rescuing someone about to fall into a pit. He frees us that He might be our Master and care for us forever.
There is a story of a young man who lovingly built a little sailboat. Having finished it, he took it to a stream behind his house and put it in the water. The little boat sailed perfectly! But the wind blew hard and his boat was taken away and he could not find it. After he searched for a long time he sadly returned home. One day he was walking downtown and saw his boat in a store window. Having found out from the store-owner how much the boat would cost he returned home and got all the money he had. After paying for the boat, he was walking home and said to his boat, “you are twice mine, I made you and I bought you”.
This beautiful little story teaches a very valuable lesson for us.
- Jesus Christ lovingly created or made us in the beginning (John 1:1-2).
- Then we sinned and separated ourselves from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2)
- However God loved us so much that He gave His only son, His greatest gift, and bought us back (John 3: 16).
- Jesus, on the other hand, gave His life freely in order to buy us back (John 10:1`5-18).
Peace – Satisfaction (v. 5)
Life can be a struggle. But God gives peace and spiritual renewal. David compares it to the eagle that looks old but still soars upward with new strength (Is. 40:31).
There’s a great paradox here. We’re satisfied but never satisfied. We’re filled and the filling is so sweet and so rich and full that we want more.
Fanny Crosby, the great writer of gospel songs, was blinded when only 6 weeks old by a country doctor who thought he was treating her with eyedrops. Yet her attitude soon manifested itself. At age 8, she wrote this little poem:
O, what a happy child I am – Although I cannot see!
I am resolved that in this world, Contented I will be.
As you sit down to your Thanksgiving meal Thursday, take time to thank God for these blessings.