November 24, 1999
GRACE & PEACE:
Thanksgiving is rooted
in the Old and New Testaments
___"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20
___When and where was the first thanksgiving celebrated in what is now the United States? Some claim it was near El Paso. Others insist it was at James-town, Va. Most hold to the celebration in Massachusetts.
___Giving thanks to God for his blessings is rooted in the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. In various times and ways, Christians through the centuries have celebrated special seasons of thanksgiving. The earliest settlers to this continent from Europe were continuing a tradition as old as the history of mankind's awareness of God's provisions.
WILLIAM M. PINSON JR. Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___One thing that makes thanksgiving celebrations of the European settlers to America significant is that they took place when to human awareness there was little to celebrate. In El Paso, Jamestown and Massachusetts Bay, conditions were harsh. The settlers were far from their homeland. Disease and climate had taken a terrible toll on human life. The future promised hardships.?
___Often in pictures of these thanksgivings, we focus on the feasting and food. There was that. But to major on the material and to forget the spiritual is to miss the reason for the thanksgiving--the presence, power, love and blessings of God.
___The Apostle Paul provides an example of thanksgiving in the midst of difficulty. He advised the Ephesian Christians to give thanks always. He admonished the Philippian Christians to rejoice.
___Some of the believers in Philippi may have wondered about Paul's sanity--rejoice! In his circumstances? Paul was in prison. Churches he had helped to establish were torn by dissent. People he had trusted had proved disloyal. He suffered various afflictions. Outwardly, there appeared no reason for him to rejoice, yet he wrote, "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly."
___What was the basis of his joy and thanksgiving? A clue is found in his words: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ... I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." There is the answer! Thanksgiving and joy stem not from circumstances or strength but from a relationship with Christ.
___This Thanksgiving, some will find reason for thanks in circumstances and health, but all of this is susceptible to loss. Others will find little in their physical circumstances for which to give thanks. In fact, just the opposite may be true-- failing health; dysfunctional family life; the death of loved ones; financial crisis; church conflict. In other words, they find themselves in much the situation of Paul in prison or the early settlers in America.
___ Yet there is reason for thanksgiving "in the Lord." We can trust Jesus. He demonstrated perfect love in his Crucifixion. He displayed absolute power in his Resurrection. Perfect love plus absolute power equals total trust, and with it joy and thanksgiving.
___Please pray that people will focus on the real reason for thanksgiving. Pray that while we rejoice in physical blessings we never forget the priority of relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray that Baptist Texans will continue to fulfill the vision God has given us to share Jesus with every person in our state that they may know the joy and thanksgiving found in Christ.
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