Just Who Are We Thanking On Thanksgiving

"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I thought it might be good to reflect on giving thanks and why we do it since it is a National Holiday today. The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia, the go-to if you want to know anything worth knowing! (tongue in cheek)

"Thanksgiving proclamations were made mostly by church leaders in New England up until 1682, and then by both state and church leaders until after the American Revolution. During the revolutionary period, political influences affected the issuance of Thanksgiving proclamations. Various proclamations were made by royal governors, and conversely by patriot leaders, such as John Hancock, General George Washington, and the Continental Congress, each giving thanks to God for events favorable to their causes. As President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God", and calling on Americans to "unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions." - Wikipedia : Thanksgiving

My point is that this holiday has religious roots. The original focus was on Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. But as time dilutes tradition and the insidious nature of carnality usurps noble intent, any focus on God has dimmed in the lights of consumerism and an intention distancing from the "Christian God".

Tomorrow is called "Black Friday". Even before the smell of roasted turkey has left the kitchen and the last piece of pumpkin pie has been eaten, while no one was watching, the focus shifts to Christmas. Because we are excited about the celebrating the advent of Jesus Christ? Uh, no! Because of all of the great deals we can get in stores and on line. God gets only a token acknowledgement from a few, certainly not most.

My point. Let's not forget the why of these holidays, even if the majority already have. 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." - Ephesians 1:3-4

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone