What do you do for thanksgiving? Maybe
you celebrate with family and friends. You might watch a Macy's day
parade. You probably will watch some sort of football. Then there is
the food...loads and loads of food...turkey or ham, dressing, mashed
potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin or sweet potato pie. Your family
might sit together and play games or retell the stories of past
Thanksgivings. Maybe you will go to the movies or rent a movie to
watch at home. You might put up your Christmas decorations. You might
buy a newspaper and look through all the ads for black Friday. You
might take the time and tell others how you have been blessed.
It might be a sad time for you. Maybe
there is no house to visit, or meal to cook, or family to share the
day with. It might be a time that reminds you that things are not
what they used to be and there are people missing from your life.
It is a time to move beyond the Holiday
to a place of daily living. We have talked about Giving Thanks
through being an Encourager, by living in gratitude, by Praising the
Lord...and today we wrapping things up by talking about Giving Thanks
through living a life of Thanksgiving.
Giving thanks and
thanksgiving are not the same thing. Giving thanks is exactly what is
says...to “give away thanks.” Thanksgiving is the
act of expressing thanks. It is more than saying “thank you.”
Thanksgiving is the expression, the essence, and the life of
encouragement, gratitude, and praise. The response of life atoned
through the power of Jesus is reflected in the actions of
thanksgiving.
What
happens when God gives a parade? 2 Corinthians 2:14, “who always
leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us
to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
The
Military marches in formation in honor of the King. Yet, look at the
text closer...You and I are not the military in formation. We are the
spoils of the war. We are the captives of the war. Christ has
paid the price for our captivity and we are lifted up because of His
willingness to go to war. He is the authentic King. Our thanksgiving
is on parade so that all of Jesus' enemies might see He is Lord above
all.
Our
actions of peace within a hostile world brings about transformation
within us and within the world around us. OUR ACTIONS of Thanksgiving
are on PARADE.
The following story is an prime example of our Thanksgiving Parade!
An
Armenian nurse had been held captive along with her brother by the
Turks. Her brother was slain by a Turkish soldier before her eyes.
Somehow she escaped and later became a nurse in a military hospital.
One day she was stunned to find that the same man who had killed her
brother had been captured and brought wounded to the hospital where
she worked. Something within her cried out "Vengeance." But
a stronger voice called for her to love. She nursed the man back to
health. Finally, the recuperating soldier asked her, "Why didn’t
you let me die?" Her answer was, "I am a follower of Him
who said, ’Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you’"
(Luke_6:27). Impressed with her answer, the young soldier replied,
"I never heard such words before. Tell me more. I want this kind
of religion."
OUR ACTIONS of Thanksgiving are on PARADE. What are your
actions like?
You know I love ya,
Don
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