Thanksgiving - one of those secular holidays that speaks to the Christian community far more than we probably realize. As you all make your preparations for Thursday's festivities (or, if you are reading this when you get back, reflect upon Thursday's festivities), take a moment or two to think about the word 'Thanksgiving'. It's around this time of year I get a number of 'forwards' from people with the usual pablum about the meaning of Thanksgiving or the history of Thanksgiving or the ACLU threatening to blow Thanksgiving off the face of the earth - and as I read (if I haven't already seen it every year since 1995) these my mind starts to wander towards what it is that makes us so thankful. Is it the traditions? Is it the family? What is it that makes us so wrapped up in Thanksgiving?
I also think about what it is that is the number one response that people give during 'man on the street' interviews about what they are thankful for: their families. Shortly behind this answer is something to do with our nation and freedom, along with having food on the table, roof overhead, etc. This is where I think we as a church (small c) miss a great opportunity to get the message of our faith to others.
As we sit down with our friends, families, loved ones, or others this Thanksgiving, let us be sure to not miss the number one thing that we as Christians, by definition since we identify ourselves as Christians, are thankful for: a God who loves us so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, so that all who believe in him may not perish but have eternal life, AND that he came not to condemn the world but that all might be saved through him. Without this reality, none of the rest of the stuff we profess thanks for wouldn't be possible, much less happen.
See you Sunday!
Lamar
I also think about what it is that is the number one response that people give during 'man on the street' interviews about what they are thankful for: their families. Shortly behind this answer is something to do with our nation and freedom, along with having food on the table, roof overhead, etc. This is where I think we as a church (small c) miss a great opportunity to get the message of our faith to others.
As we sit down with our friends, families, loved ones, or others this Thanksgiving, let us be sure to not miss the number one thing that we as Christians, by definition since we identify ourselves as Christians, are thankful for: a God who loves us so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, so that all who believe in him may not perish but have eternal life, AND that he came not to condemn the world but that all might be saved through him. Without this reality, none of the rest of the stuff we profess thanks for wouldn't be possible, much less happen.
See you Sunday!
Lamar
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