It should be one of the easiest things to do, to just be thankful; for the abundance this nation has, but it appears that not all are so grateful. We have so much national health, that our poverty is above the national level of many nation’s average income! People are leaving their home counties, traveling many miles through dangerous lands, all to cross our borders and live in the United States of America! If we do not think we have a land of abundance, these folks sure do!
We may or may not like the people who are elected to the highest offices of our nation, but at least we get to vote; while much of the world’s people have little to say about who dictates to them in matters of everyday life! We are about to witness a change in national leadership and the power of the President will be handed over without a shot being fired (at least we trust this is the case); for we live in a country founded by the wisdom of our “fathers” who established a federal republic. For those who may not understand just what a “federal republic” is, the following is given: “a country that is governed by elected representatives and by an elected leader;” then, “there is a division of powers between the federal government and the government of the individual subdivisions. While each federal republic manages this division of powers differently, common matters relating to security and defense, and monetary policy are usually handled at the federal level, while matters such as infrastructure maintenance and education policy are usually handled at the regional or local level.” We should be thankful for the wisdom of our “founding fathers!”
However, for those who will take the time to read this article, we are more concerned about spiritual matters! If we are a member of the Lord’s church, which he purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28), then, we are members of the greatest, most precious institution on the face of the earth, bar none! Read as Paul describes her: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her; That he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, That he might present her to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:25 – 32). Is there a greater love, than that which Christ has for the church which wears his name and purchased with his blood? We should be, no, we must be thankful that we have been allowed to be part of this body so loved by Christ!
Then, give some thought to these grand truths! As a child of the Heavenly Father, we can go to him at any time; when our heart is broken and our eyes are filled with tears, because of events that are beyond our control; when we realize that we have yielded to sin and we need forgiveness from him seated on the throne and we remember: “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” (Heb. 4:15-16). Here the spirit finds peace; the peace of which Paul wrote: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). Here is a peace that stands in the face of war, natural disasters, manmade tragedies, and personal sins; for God has the answer, as Jesus said to the troubled disciples: “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” (John 14:1-3)
So, what about Thanksgiving? To the child of God, every day is a day of thanksgiving; for so many reasons! Yet, it is good that our national leaders saw fit to set aside one day of the year and call it Thanksgiving Day! The following are the words of President Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863, in his Proclamation “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. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
Frank R. Williams