Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas – Day #3 - Comfort this Christmas (Luke 2:10)

Comfort this Christmas (Luke 2:10)

Luke 2:10, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

Its been said that, “God sometimes snuffs out our brightest candle that we may look up to his eternal stars. God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters”. As the curtain opens Isaiah 40, we are confronted with great comfort and a challenge. God said, "Comfort ye my people". In fact, He stressed this issue by repeating it twice. Isaiah 40:1-5, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

Just as a city would prepare the way for the arrival of a king to their town, God's people were to prepare themselves for the arrival of the Lord. Prepare ye the way of the Lord! The glory of the Lord would be revealed. That glory was revealed when Christ came into this world. His coming has been such a huge comfort to people. Christ's comfort is like the little girl who came home from a neighbor's house where her playmate had died. Her father questioned her and asked, "Why did you go?" His little daughter replied, "To comfort her mother”. The father continued to inquire, "What could you do to comfort her?" His daughter answered, "I climbed into her lap and cried with her". Jesus came to this sin cursed world, was laid into the crib of Bethlehem, our Lord climbed to cry with us, to live with us, to laugh and rejoice with us, to suffer with us, and to die with us. This is the comfort that says much more than simply, "I care about you". This is the comfort that moves into our lives, takes over, overwhelming us with His grace, compassion, love, and mercy.

1. The Promise of Comfort.
Isaiah 66:13, “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
Being comfortable is not the same as being comforted. People purchase things to make themselves comfortable, but you cannot purchase comfort. Our Lord is our source of comfort. John 14:8, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

2. The Plentifulness of Christ's Comfort.
II Corinthians 1:5, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”
Not only is God's comfort available, it is abundant. The word "consolation" carries the idea of "comfort".

3. The Provision of Comfort in various Predicaments.
Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” II Corinthians 7:5-6, “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;” No matter what circumstances we may face, the Lord can comfort us.

4. The Purpose of Comfort.
Why does the Lord comfort us? One reason is so we can minister to other people. II Corinthians 1:4, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

5. The Paths of Comfort.
How, whom, or with what does the Lord use to comfort us?

1) The Sovereign Father comforts us.
Comfort begins with what God has done, what God is doing, and what God will do. Isaiah 51:12, “I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;” II Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

2) The Spirit of God comforts us.
The word for Messiah is Menahem which means "the comforter". Jesus told us that when He left, we would be given another comforter who would be with us forever. The comforter is the Holy Spirit. The comfort we get from God comes from within us and cannot be taken away from us. John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

3) The Scriptures can comfort us.
We can find peace and comfort by spending time reading God's Word. Get back to the Bible! Read it when you are down, discouraged, depressed, delighted, or feeling defeated. Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Psalm 119:50-52, “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.” I Thessalonians 4:18, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

4) The Saints of God can comfort us.
I Thessalonians 5:11, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” I Thessalonians 4:18, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” God wants us to be a blessing to others. If you know someone who is going through a trial, why not try to comfort to them? Listen to them, love them, languish with them, and lift them up. “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.”

Questions to Consider:
Does your faith give comfort to others, or do you find yourself struggling in doubt and fear?
Can you think of someone who needs your help right now?
What steps can you take to encourage that person?

Points to Ponder:
Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you the ways or the words you can speak that will amplify that person’s confidence.
The Lord wants to use you to bring your encouragement and support to someone who needs it.

Prayer, Lord, You are my God. Thank You for speaking comfort over me, over the sensitive and wounded places in my soul. Thank You for comforting me during trials, when the end is not in sight. Thank You for comforting me when I’m suffering the consequences of my own foolish choices. Most of all, thank You for forgiving my sins, through the blood of Your only Son, Jesus Christ, Lord of all, in whose name I pray, amen.

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Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas – Day #2 A Saviour Who Made Us Rich (Luke 2:7)

A Saviour Who Made Us Rich (Luke 2:7)

Luke 2:7, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger.”

In January of 1956, Jim Elliot and four other missionaries gave their lives in Ecuador in their effort to reach the Waodani (Auca) Indians. This fierce group was known to attack any outsiders, but the vision for reaching them with the gospel compelled these young men to take the risk. Not long after they set up camp near the Waodani village, they were attacked by warriors. Refusing to defend their lives with force, the missionaries were killed. The news flashed around the world and the story of courage and sacrifice challenged many to take up the missionary cause. Even today Elliot’s words live on, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. In a very real sense, Jim Elliot and his missionary friends were living the spirit of Christmas. They were willing to give up the comforts of home and promising careers and to ultimately lay down their lives to take the gospel to those who had never heard. They could have fought back to defend themselves, but they chose not to. This is what Jesus did for us in coming to earth. Nothing of lasting significance and importance for God is ever accomplished without great sacrifice. Whether it is our time, our talent, our treasure, or even our lives, we must be willing to give up what is temporary for the sake of what is eternal. When we do, we are following the example and pattern of Christ and walking in His steps.

When Jesus allowed Himself to be laid in that manger, He was identifying Himself with those He came to save. Jesus came to identify with:
Man’s Destitution. Jesus knows about our needs. II Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” He knows our deprivation. Matthew 8:20, “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” He has promised to meet our need. Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

Man’s Difficulties. Jesus knows about our struggles. Isaiah 53:3, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” He knows about the trials we face and He has identified Himself with them. Therefore, He is able to help us through our troubles and meet the needs of our lives.

Man’s Desires. When Jesus came to this world, He knew that people were basically greedy and in love with wealth and the pursuit of it. He came to teach us that there is a higher priority in life. And, that priority is the glory of the Father! Luke 16:15, “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” He was born in that humble manger to remind men that the greatest goal of the human soul is to seek the glory of Almighty God ahead of everything else. Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

The Manger was the Way to the Father and Salvation!
When Mary laid the baby in the manger (the animals’ feeding trough), she was laying down the One Who would say in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. The manger did not appear to be very promising, but the One Who was “come from God” also “went to God” (John 13:3), and would bring the true knowledge of God and His salvation to sinners.

The Manger was the Way to Freedom and Sufficiency!
On another occasion, after Jesus taught that He was “the door of the sheep” (John 10:7), He said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” While going in and out represents freedom and liberty, finding pasture portrays the sufficiency that is ours in Christ. Jesus was wrapped in “swaddling clothes”, that is to say he was bound so that we might be made free.

The Manger was the Way to Fullness and Satisfaction!
The Apostle Paul explained in Romans 5:15, “…the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many”. The tiny baby may not have filled up that feeding trough, but those of us who know Him and have experienced His grace can testify that He has filled and satisfied our lives. May others be brought to this same salvation, sufficiency, and satisfaction that is in Jesus. He was born in a manger and thereby He made Himself accessible to all who would come to Him. The birth of Jesus is an important event. I am glad it happened as it did because in it I find there is room for me and for you to come to Him and to be saved by His grace.

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Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas – Day #1

Hope for this Christmas (Matthew 1:18–23)

Matthew 1:18-23, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

While the Christmas season truly is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends for fellowship and encouragement, for many around the world it is a time of despair, unrest, and hopelessness. We live in an imperfect world where too often it seems things that are going well one minute are breaking down the next, and things that seem all but certain today are thrown into uncertainty and chaos tomorrow. But when things seemed at their most hopeless, God stepped in to deliver news about the birth of His Son who would be the hope of the world. In the Bible, the word hope is not synonymous with maybe. Biblical hope refers to sure and certain expectations, creating in us a sense of anticipation. The hope we mean here is based on the promises of God’s Word that can change our anticipation of the future. For Joseph, this hope was the promise that he would see the God-child given to save the world - Jesus, the greatest gift ever wrapped and presented to the world. The hope of the world was wrapped up in this doctrinal truth; Jesus Christ is not the son of any human father. He is the Son of God.

1. The Plan (Matthew 1:20)
In our darkest experiences, we forget that God has a plan to bring good out of suffering. While Joseph was wrestling through undesirable options, God lifted the curtain and revealed a miraculous plan. God was working out His eternal purpose in the lives of Mary and Joseph. God was going to bring to pass all the prophecies concerning the Messiah and He was going to use Joseph to be a part of it! In all of this, Joseph is an example to other believers. When a crisis arose in his life, he sought the Lord's face. Instead of reacting harshly and abruptly, Joseph reacted in faith waiting on the Lord for guidance and direction, and he was helped by God! Joseph is an encouragement to us as well. When we consider that Joseph was a humble character and that he was basically a nobody, it gives hope to you and me! To be called to be part of God's plan is an honor beyond compare, and it is an honor shared by every child of God! Matthew 1:20, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” Think about that. Not only was Jesus to be “born of a woman”, but He was conceived of the Holy Ghost.

2. The Provision (Matthew 1:21)
The miraculous birth was God’s plan to send His Son, and He sent Jesus for a specific purpose. Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” I Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” The purpose for Jesus’ birth is found in His name. Matthew 1:21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” The Hebrew name Jesus literally means “Jehovah Saves”, and Saviour means “Deliverer”. Jesus came to earth and was born of a virgin for a single purpose….that our sins could be covered by His blood so that we could gain forgiveness and everlasting peace with God through faith.

3. The Promise (Matthew 1:22-23)
Another name of Jesus that tells us of His purpose on earth is given in Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Jesus is Emmanuel, the Messiah, born of a virgin because Jesus was God united with man and His coming to earth showed that God was dwelling with man. He came to give us true hope through the gift of eternal life. The very message of Christmas is a message of hope. But it’s not the hope of trembling possibilities. It is the hope of trustworthy promises that God came to us, purchased our pardon, and offers us the gift of eternal life. Hope in God’s promises is not a wishful longing, but a faith-filled confidence for the future. It is simply impossible to trust one of God’s promises and not anticipate its coming true. To know God is to trust Him, to trust God is to trust His promises, and to trust God’s promises is to be sure of their fulfillment. This assurance concerning the future anchored in God’s promises is what the Bible calls hope. When we trust Jesus Christ as our Saviour, then we have real hope. No matter what else is uncertain around us, we have the hope of a home in heaven and of an eternal relationship with God. As Christians, our hope is represented in the very name Emmanuel, “God with us”. As we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate His presence in our lives, our eternal hope.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #30 - Thanks, Should Be a Way of Life (Psalm 95:1–3)

Thanks, Should Be a Way of Life (Psalm 95:1–3)

Psalm 95:1–3, “O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”

This psalm is a psalm of thanksgiving and rejoicing for the many merciful blessings of God upon man. It is a psalm of encouragement to the saints and exaltation for the Saviour. The benefits of the Lord are, indeed, great and marvelous, and it would be an act of ingratitude not to remember and appreciate them. As Christians, we have so much to be thankful for. As we read the Bible, we see many reminders to God’s people to appreciate and give thanks for what they have received.

Why do we need so many reminders? We tend to forget God's blessings rather quickly. We need to remember them, or we will not praise God for them. Forgetting them often leads to complaining that God does not bless us or do anything good for us. Offering thanks and praise to God should not just be one day in November, but on every day of the year. We have ample and abundant reasons to give thanks to our loving Heavenly Father. Do not wait for special occasions to express our gratitude. Saying “thank you“ should be an everyday occurrence.

A grateful heart is shown through grateful lips. A person who is truly thankful cannot help but to express it. Our lives should be filled with constant praise day after day, not just on a certain single day set aside each year. It is foolish to think that failing to be thankful will not impact our lives in many negative ways. After years of being a Christian, we risk taking the most wonderful gift for granted and losing the joy of our salvation. The antidote to prevent this loss is gratitude. The simple act of expressing thanks for what was freely given to us protects us against ingratitude because it reminds us that when our words and our songs are filled with gratitude, our hearts will be fixed on God as they should be. Giving thanks to God regularly for the gift of salvation helps keep our love for Him fresh and new. First, that salvation was a gift, not because of anything we have done or can do. And second, that it is a gift beyond description.

God is good to us all the time, and our thanks should be equal to His blessings and benefits.

1. You Can Be Thankful That “God Loves You”.
I John 3:1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:” John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God has expressed and demonstrated His boundless love by sending His Son, Jesus, to earth so that we could have a personal relationship with Him.

2. You Can Be Thankful That “Jesus Died for You”.
I John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sin of every person who has ever lived. That means He died on the cross for you and for me.

3. You Can Be Thankful That “Salvation Is Offered to You”.
Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Salvation means that my sins are forgiven and that I am redeemed from the debt of sin I owed. John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” Salvation means that I have a relationship with God. I am no longer His enemy; I am His child. Romans 10:9–10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” To receive the offer of salvation, we am told by the Bible to sincerely believe and simply receive that Jesus is God’s Son and that He alone can save me. I cannot save myself.

4. You Can Be Thankful That “Heaven Is Waiting for You”.
John 14:1–4, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”
Jesus went on to say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me”. You can know right now that you are saved—that you are born again. You can know that your sins are forgiven and that you have peace with God the Father. You can know that you are a child of God and that you have an eternal home in Heaven. But, the only way to know you are saved is to know Jesus as your Saviour. Now, that is something to be thankful for!

I trust that throughout our lives we will continue every day to give God glory, praise, and worship with a spirit of thanksgiving. Let’s not wait for one day a year to share our thanksgiving. Praise Him daily! He is worthy, and we are blessed to be able to come into the presence of our great God and King as one of His children. Set aside time today (and every day) to give thanks for all that God has freely given to you.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #29 – Thank You Lord (Romans 1:8-12)

Romans 1:8-12, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”

Paul’s Praise. Paul had a heart for the believers in Rome. Paul gave thanks to God through Jesus Christ. Christ is the one Mediator between God and man. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. Christ has made the way to God possible for us. I Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Because of His work as a mediator, we have access to the Father and we can at any time come boldly unto the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Paul never forgot that it was only by Christ's work that anyone could come before God. Paul was thankful for the believers faith (Romans 1:8). We can all thank the Lord for Christians wherever they are. Christians are the salt of the earth, and this world benefits more from this group of people than any other group. People who receive Christ and honor Him are always a great benefit to the world.

Paul’s Prayer. Paul's praying was without ceasing and always. We miss out on one of the greatest resources God has given us. That is prayer. Paul says God would support his claim of praying (Romans 1:9). Paul teaches us that we are to pray for our fellow believers, as well as for lost souls. His steadfastness is emphasized twice in "without ceasing" and "always". He was faithful in his praying. Paul believed he ought to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). Paul said to the Thessalonians in I Thessalonians 1:2, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers”. Notice the phrase “for you all”. Paul thanked God for all of the people in the Church at Thessalonica, not for just a few. Everyone is part of the ministry and Paul prayed for everyone. Giving thanks and praying for each other ought to be one of the things that we are known for—it ought to be our reputation. Paul said to the Philippians in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

I. Christ. I Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
As believers, we should be thankful for the:

• ​Empty grave. (Matthew 28:5-6; I Corinthians 15:1-4; I Peter 1:3). John 11:25-26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
• (He) Ever-liveth. Revelation 1:18, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Hebrews 7:24-25, “But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
• Eternal Gift. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
I John 5:11-12, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. “

II. Christians.
John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,”
Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

We can express our faith several ways, here are 4 ways:

1. ​Obey His Word - Luke 6:46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
2. ​Give Him Offerings - I Chronicles 16:29, “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” One of the best ways to express thanksgiving is through thankful giving. Out of gratitude for what the Lord has done for you, give an offering to Him, investing in His work, or give to someone in need in His name.
3. Verbally Thank Him in Prayer - Hebrews 13:15, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Our verbal expressions of gratitude are a sacrifice of praise to Him.
4. Thank Him for the People He has Used in Your Life - Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you…” Take some time today to express gratitude to others who God has used in your life—your family, friends, teachers, mentors, spiritual leaders. Thank them for their investment in you, and tell them specifically how God has used them to provide for, encourage, and strengthen you.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #28 - The First Thanksgiving (Psalm 118:24)

The First Thanksgiving (Psalm 118:24)

Psalm 118:24, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Americans must never forget the origins of our national Thanksgiving holiday. Its spiritual significance is no longer taught in our nation’s public schools. In fact, most school children today are taught that Thanksgiving originated when the Pilgrims invited their Native American friends to dinner to thank them for their help in troubled times after the Mayflower landed. As with much of modern American revisionist history when the Lord is the focus, He is rejected. America’s Thanksgiving tradition is a time to focus on God and His blessings on us and on our nation. In a year that has provided America with hardships and economic challenges, perhaps it is even more important to focus on God this Thanksgiving and on the good things He has provided in the midst of our difficulties. It is also a year to focus even more on our neighbors and fellow citizens who are hurting to provide a good Thanksgiving for themselves. For Christians, Thanksgiving means more than just turkey and football. Most of us have a vague notion that this holiday began when the Pilgrims invited their Indian neighbors to dinner to thank God for his provisions. But there really is much more to the story.

The Atlantic crossing in the fall of 1620 had been an extremely difficult journey for the Pilgrims. For two months, 102 people were wedged into what was called the “’tween decks”—the cargo space of the boat, which only had about five-and-a-half feet of headroom. No one was allowed above deck because of the terrible storms. This was no pleasure trip, but only one person died during the voyage. The Pilgrims had comforted themselves by singing the Psalms, but this “noise” irritated one of the ship’s paid crewmembers. He told the Pilgrims he was looking forward to throwing some of their corpses overboard after they succumbed to the illnesses that were routine on such voyages. But as it turned out, this crewmember himself was the only person on the voyage to become sick and be thrown overboard. God providentially protected His people. A little-known fact about the Mayflower is that this ship normally carried a cargo of wine; and the wine spillage from previous voyages had soaked the beams, acting as a disinfectant to prevent the spread of disease. During one terrible storm, the main beam of the mast cracked. Death was certain if this beam could not be repaired. At that moment, the whole Pilgrim adventure could very easily have ended on the bottom of the Atlantic. But, providentially, one of the Pilgrims had brought along a large iron screw for a printing press. That screw was used to repair the beam, saving the ship and all on board. After sixty-six days at sea, land was sighted off what is now Cape Cod, Massachusetts. But that was not where the Pilgrims wanted to be. They had intended to establish their new colony in the northern parts of Virginia (which then extended to the Hudson River in modern-day New York), but two factors interrupted their plans. The winds had blown them off course, but they also learned that some other Englishmen who wanted to settle in the same northern part of Virginia had bribed the crew to land them somewhere else. Once again, God was in charge and the Pilgrims were right where God wanted them to be. Had they actually landed near the Hudson River, they would have most certainly been attacked by hostile Indians. Instead, there were no Indians on Cape Cod when the Pilgrims made landfall there.

Despite this provision of safety from the Indians, the Pilgrims barely survived their first winter on the Cape. Only four families escaped without burying at least one family member. But God was still faithful. In the spring of 1621, He sent Squanto to them, an Indian who could speak their own language and who offered to teach them how to survive in this strange new land. Squanto was one of the few Indians from that area who had not died of the plague. He had been captured as a young man and taken to England as a slave. During that time, he mastered the English language; and then had been freed and returned to his native territory shortly before the Pilgrims arrived. Probably the most important thing Squanto taught the Pilgrims was how to plant the Indians’ winter staple corn. The Pilgrims thanked God for this wonderful helper, but they also shared with Squanto the most valuable treasure they had brought with them from England—the Gospel. Squanto died within a year or two after coming to the aid of the Pilgrims, but before his death, Squanto expressed to the Pilgrims his faith in their God of Heaven. Other Indians who Squanto had introduced to the Pilgrims were also impressed with their God. During the summer of 1621, when it appeared the year’s corn harvest would not survive a severe drought, the Pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer. By the end of the day, it was raining. The rain saved the corn, which miraculously sprang back to life. One of the Indians who observed this miracle remarked that their God must be a very great God because when the Indians pow-wowed for rain, it always rained so hard that the corn stalks were broken down. But they noticed that the Pilgrim’s God had sent a very gentle rain that did not damage the corn harvest. It was that same miraculous corn harvest that provided the grain for the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving meal with their Indian friends and helpers.

Neighboring colonies later followed the Pilgrims’ example—calling for days of thanksgiving, as well as times of prayer and fasting. In fact, it became common in all the New England colonies to call for a day of prayer and fasting in the spring, and a day of prayer and thanksgiving in the fall. They understood very well that their bountiful harvests came directly from the hand of a beneficent God. Today, many of our public school children are taught that we celebrate Thanksgiving because the Pilgrims were thanking their Indian neighbors for helping them; but the evidence of history clearly shows that on that first Thanksgiving Day, the thanks of both Pilgrims and Indians went to God for His great goodness toward them in providing for them all. In fact, with the help of Squanto, the Pilgrims had established a peace agreement with these nearby Indians that remained in place for a half century. But the story does not end there. Even though the Pilgrims hosted the first Thanksgiving dinner in America, the holiday itself actually has its origins almost 170 years later, after the Revolutionary War had been won and our American Constitution had been adopted. In 1789, Congress approved the Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. Congress then “recommended a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” to thank God for blessing America. President Washington declared November 26, 1789, as the first national day of prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord.

Nearly 75 years later, in November 1863 President Abraham Lincoln established the last Thursday in November as a day to acknowledge “of Thanksgiving and Praise to our benevolent Father” bestowed upon America, even as winds of war continued to batter a divided nation. Every president did the same until 1941 when Congress officially made Thanksgiving a national holiday. He said, “The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God”. He continued, “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People”.

Many Americans in the 21st Century seem to believe that we can expect an annual bountiful harvest without continuing to trust and honor the loving God Who alone provides it. As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, remember to retain the original gratefulness to God that has always been the spirit of this oldest of all American holidays. Continue to remember that it is God alone Who provides. As America is currently facing serious challenges both at home and abroad, let’s join together in giving thanks to God for His blessings and for preserving our nation. Today, we must continue to praise and thank God this Thanksgiving, even as we also petition Him to send us revival and to, once again, have mercy on America. Let’s make sure that all our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren learn Whose hand of protection has been over America ever since the Pilgrims’ arrival. Now that you know the true story, this Thanksgiving, make sure that your children learn it, too.

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​30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #27 - Thoughts on Thankfulness (Psalm 136)

Thoughts on Thankfulness (Psalm 136)

The psalm begins with threefold praise to the triune God. It then gives numerous examples of God’s blessing to Israel throughout its history. It concludes with verses of personal gratitude for mercy and God’s provision. The phrase, “for his mercy endureth for ever”, which is repeated over and over in this psalm (26 times), teaches us that all of God’s actions toward us and for us are based on love. Why does the psalmist repeat 26 times the theme that God’s lovingkindness is everlasting? It’s because the enemy wants us to doubt it, especially when trials hit. God’s love is also the main reason we should always express thanks to Him. His love is expressed through His mercy, faithfulness, compassion, kindness, care, and spiritual salvation. We experience that love fully through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus.

As His children, we are to be thankful in all things. Here are four reasons:

• ​For His Person (Psalm 136:1-3)
  

​​​We are instructed to be thankful to God. The reason is He is good and His mercy endures forever. That was true in David’s day and it remains true to this day. What a wonderful assurance. God’s blessing is enduring; it continues forever. ​

• ​For His Power (Psalm 136:4-9)
  

​The creative work of God to this day remains a wondrous work, whether it be the heavens above, the earth beneath, or the heavenly bodies of the sun, moon, and stars. They all manifest the goodness of God and illustrate that His mercy endures forever. That creative work ought to stir us to give thanks unto God to this day.

• For His Purposes (Psalm 136:10-22)
  

​David rehearsed the power of God in the first Passover and His mighty deliverance of Israel out of Egypt at the Red Sea. He gave them victory against insurmountable odds in their long march to the land God had promised them. And then, God gave them the land He had promised them as an heritage forever. Truly, God was good to Israel and manifested forth His mercy to them. It was all manifold cause for them to give thanks unto God. As gentile Christians, God has blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ as well as promising temporal blessings in the meantime. We, as well, have great cause to give thanks unto the Lord. Indeed, His mercy has endured forever unto this day.

• For His Provision (Psalm 136:23-26)
  

​His abundant mercy should cause us to sing of His loving-kindness continually. Experiencing His grace is not just once and for all; His love and kindness are not provided only until He loses patience with us, but they go on and on. It is His nature, and it is eternal. This hymn reviews the history of God demonstrating His loving-kindness to show that it is truly everlasting. Each creative act and the wonders He performed were testimonies of His loving-kindness. We need to be reminded that God is worthy of praise for all that He has done for us throughout our lives. He created us and gave us life. He redeemed us from our sin and adopted us as His own. He has blessed us with families and a significant and fulfilling life. He never grows impatient but is always beside us to deliver us out of our troubles and rescue us from adversaries who would come against us.

Prayer: Lord, You are worthy of all worship, and honor, and praise. You are great and powerful to remember me and be merciful to me in times of need. You have demonstrated Your compassion in my life so many times. You are truly good all the time. May I never cease to praise You and worship You because Your loving-kindness is truly unending.

This is an excerpt from a Bible Study. For the complete study in its entirety, email [email protected] and request this study and I will send it to your email address.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #26 - Gift of Gratitude (II Thessalonians 2:13)

Gift of Gratitude (II Thessalonians 2:13)

II Thessalonians 2:13, “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.”

Paul praised God for the salvation of the Thessalonians. Notice: Paul mentioned all three members of the trinity in this verse. II Thessalonians 2:13, “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Not only did he again express his thanks for them, but he also wrote they were beloved of God. That in itself should bear encouragement. Sometimes we think that we are thankful people, but too often we neglect to express our gratitude. Often this is the result of failure to appreciate what we have.

Focusing on what God has done for us is the key to maintaining a grateful heart. Do you know the single greatest enemy of gratitude? It’s not poverty. It’s not stinginess. It’s not mistreatment. It’s expectancy. No one owes us anything, especially God. Of all the heavenly gifts we have to be thankful for, the most frequently overlooked is the gift of gratitude. The Apostle Paul said he was “bound to give thanks”—that he owed an obligation to be grateful—and this is true of us as well. God has done so many wonderful things for us, and none of them are deserved. Gratitude guards our hearts against pride and selfishness, for if we remember that the good things we enjoy are blessings from God rather than something we are owed, we will remain humble before Him. Thankfulness is the attitude that perfectly replaces our sinful tendency to complain, and in so doing, releases joy and blessing into our lives. Thankfulness is the ideal replacement for complaining. Take time today to express your attitude of gratitude.

Here are three reasons gratitude is a vital virtue for spiritual development:

1. God requires our thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving, as we have just noted, is a form of praise to God. When we thank God, we give credit to Him. That honors and praises God. Praise is to be continuous. God's performance, unlike our performance, is always praiseworthy. The most important reason we express gratitude is because God requires we offer Him our thanks. God takes our gratitude, or lack thereof, very seriously. Gratitude is a vital virtue. We are always required to give God what He is due, including our thankfulness. Everyone can make the decision to give thanks and acknowledge the goodness of God.

2. Gratitude keeps our focus on God (and off ourselves).
His thanksgiving was not based on what they were doing for God, but on what God did for them. When we develop a habit of gratitude, we are constantly asking two questions: “For what should I be grateful?” and “To whom do I owe thanks?” The more we express our gratitude the more our eyes are opened to the benevolence of God and His generosity in bestowing us with goodness and blessings. When we see how much we owe to God it helps to reduce our own self-centeredness. Express your gratitude today, both to God and to those who have helped you in your life. Take some time today to express gratitude to others that God has used in your life—your family, friends, teachers, mentors, spiritual leaders. Thank them for their investment in you, and tell them specifically how God has used them to provide for, encourage, and strengthen you. It is also important for us to express our gratitude to those who have made investments in our lives. Recognizing that others have helped us get to where we are, it is only right to thank them.

3. The blessing of having enough.
Rather than focusing on what others have, we should be expressing our gratitude to God for all that He has given us. Sometimes we think that we are thankful people, but we neglect to express our gratitude. Often this is the result of failure to appreciate what we have. This ingratitude happens because we count the blessings of those around us instead of counting our own blessings. We fail to realize that even great blessings and success may only be temporary. The fact that those who do not know God may have temporary success in “climbing the ladder”, or accumulating the most toys, does not change the fact that this is short-term success that produces no lasting or eternal result.

Every person can come up with a list of things they would like to have (and there is nothing wrong with owning things if the things don’t own us). If we are honest in our assessment, we would have to say that we have far more than most people in the world, and more than we must have to live. The reality of our lives is that we do have enough — we simply need to be content with what God has provided and thank Him for it. How often do we focus on what we can get or how to provide for ourselves without thinking of those less fortunate than us? Yet many times we can pass by others without stopping to help.

When was the last time you helped the elderly? When was the last time you carved out time in your schedule to sit and listen to someone who's hurting? When was the last time you bought a meal for a family in financial trouble? Rather than always expecting to be showered with gifts, live your life giving of yourself to others. Thank God for what you already have and commit to focusing on others rather than yourself today.

When we ponder on all the good things we have because of God’s grace and rejoice in the Lord, our hearts will erupt with gratitude. Gratitude heals our hearts. It displaces lethal complaining. It opens our eyes to the innumerable graces of God in our everyday lives. In our hurry through life, we neglect gratitude. Rather than rushing off to the next thing, spend some time thanking Jesus for specific gifts in your life. Make a gratitude list.

• Be thankful for what He has already given you!
• Ask God today to help you have an attitude of gratitude!
• Have you thanked God today for His many blessings in your life?
• Take your eyes off yourself and focus on the goodness of God.
• Take time to thank God today for all He has done for you.
• When we focus on ourselves, we lose the opportunity for God to use us.
• One way we can keep our focus on Christ is by thanking Him for His many blessings.

Prayer, Heavenly Father, please forgive my shallow, immature, faith-choking ingratitude. You shower me with Your blessings, yet how rarely I stop to truly thank You. Thank You for all that You have done for me. Please replace my complaints with thanks. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus. It’s in His name I pray, amen.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #25 - In Everything Give Thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18)

In Everything Give Thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18)

I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Corrie ten Boom, in the Hiding Place, relates an incident that taught her always to be thankful. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck. Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded and flea-infested. That morning, their Scripture reading in I Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie, at first, flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted and Corrie finally succumbed to her pleadings. During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without guard interference. It was not until several months later that they learned the reason the guards would not enter the barracks was because of the fleas.

It is God’s will for us to give thanks for everything. Thanks is appreciation or gratitude voiced from our lips and hearts. It is not easy to be thankful for what we do not like, but this is the will of God. Thanks in this context means to be grateful and to express gratitude. We should be thankful for everything, whether small or big.

This is a difficult command but a divine command. Scripture says to give thanks “in” everything; “not for” everything. It includes good things and bad things, joys and sorrows, gains and losses, hurts and health, good news and bad news. In everything give thanks! At all times, in all circumstances, give thanks to God. We don’t have to be thankful for our trials, but we can be thankful in them since we know the Lord is going to use it for our good in the future.

Saying “thank you“ should be an everyday occurrence. A grateful heart is shown through grateful lips. A person who is truly thankful cannot help but to express it. Expressing gratitude for all that God has done for us through Christ should be one of the continuous character traits of all Christians (Ephesians 5:20). This kind of gracious attitude will cause the believer to stand out in his or her setting and be a good example for Christ.

In our praise to God, we are to rejoice always and give thanks in everything. God commands His people to give thanks to Him! We should give God praise, honor, and glory because of what He has given to us. An evergreen is always green despite the changes in the weather around it. It is green in the heat of summer as well as the cold of winter. So also our lives are to be characterized by an enduring thankfulness that is unaffected by the changes around us. When the heat of a pressured week, or the deadly cold of pain strikes us, we should stand “ever green”, always thankful regardless of that which surrounds us. For Christians, there is no situation in which we cannot give thanks. Even in affliction we are more than conquerors as the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us. A life of prayer and devotion leads to a thankful heart.

One preacher well said, “We can worship the Lord without words, but we cannot praise Him without words”. He demands and He deserves our praise. Thirteen years before his conversion, John Wesley had a conversation one night with a porter of his college that impressed Wesley that there was more to Christianity than he had found. The porter had only one coat. He had eaten no food that day and yet his heart was full of gratitude to God. Wesley said to him, “You thank God when you have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, and no bed to lie upon? What else do you thank him for?” “I thank Him”, answered the porter, “that He has given me my life and being, and a heart to love Him, and a desire to serve Him”.

Questions to Consider:

• Have you thanked God today for His many blessings in your life?
• How will you continue the spirit of thankfulness into the next year?

Points to Ponder:

• We are commanded to rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks.
• Even though we’ll never obey these commands perfectly, we should be working at making progress because, “this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”.

PRAYER: Father, Your Word says to always give thanks and to give thanks in everything. Without Your help, that is impossible. Forgive me for all the times that I worry about my situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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