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

Jonah 2:9 “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed.  Salvation is of the LORD.”

I Corinthians 4:7 “For who maketh thee to differ from another?  and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?  now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

In this weekend after Thanksgiving, our sense of gratitude should be burning bright.  As we reflect upon our amazing blessings and the richness of God’s love that is manifested in the upcoming Christmas season, we should be filled with a desire to praise God and serve others around us.  It should all stem from a profound sense of gratitude to a Lord and Savior who have given us far more than we deserve or could ever earn. We are magnificently blessed.  Yet sadly, so many of those around us are not living in an uplifted and encouraged state.  Their spirits are dull, dim, and dour.

Os Guinness, the son of a missionary and a social critic, stated that a society with “no sense of God produces modern people with no sense of gratitude.”  In far too many cases, this describes the situation perfectly.  Our societal self-sufficiency has sapped our ability to see the source of our blessings. We don’t recognize our dependency and moral debt to the One who richly provides all things.

PLEASE PRAY FOR A SOCIETAL SENSE OF GOD THAT YIELDS A PROPER SENSE OF GRATITUDE.  Modern people need Him just as much as anyone ever has.

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

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

In the midst of the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress issued the following Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1779:

“The committee appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several states, for setting apart the second Thursday in December next, as a day of general thanksgiving, brought in a draught, which was agreed to as follows:

Whereas it becomes us humbly to approach the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and praise for the wonders which his goodness has wrought in conducting our forefathers to this western world; for his protection to them and to their posterity amid difficulties and dangers; for raising us, their children, from deep distress to be numbered among the nations of the earth; and for arming the hands of just and mighty princes in our deliverance; and especially for that he hath been pleased to grant us the enjoyment of health, and so to order the revolving seasons, that the earth hath produced her increase in abundance, blessing the labors of the husbandmen, and spreading plenty through the land; that he hath prospered our arms and those of our ally; been a shield to our troops in the hour of danger, pointed their swords to victory and led them in triumph over the bulwarks of the foe; that he hath gone with those who went out into the wilderness against the savage tribes; that he hath stayed the hand of the spoiler, and turned back his meditated destruction; that he hath prospered our commerce, and given success to those who sought the enemy on the face of the deep; and above all, that he hath diffused the glorious light of the gospel, whereby, through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of his eternal glory: therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several states, to appoint Thursday, the 9th of December next, to be a day of public and solemn thanksgiving to Almighty God for his mercies, and of prayer for the continuance of his favor and protection to these United States; to beseech him that he would be graciously pleased to influence our public councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity, firmness, and success; that he would go forth with our hosts and crown our arms with victory; that he would grant to his church the plentiful effusions of divine grace, and pour out his holy spirit on all ministers of the gospel; that he would bless and prosper the means of education, and spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth; that he would smile upon the labors of his people and cause the earth to bring forth her fruits in abundance; that we may with gratitude and gladness enjoy them; that he would take into his holy protection our illustrious ally, give him victory over his enemies, and render him signally great, as the father of his people and the protector of the rights of mankind; that he would graciously be pleased to turn the hearts of our enemies, and to dispense the blessings of peace to contending nations; that he would in mercy look down upon us, pardon our sins and receive us into his favor, and finally, that he would establish the independence of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and support and protect them in the enjoyment of peace, liberty and safety as long as the sun and moon shall endure, until time shall be no more.

Done in Congress, the 20th day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, and in the 4th year of the independence of the United States of America.”

This amazing Thanksgiving Proclamation is a textbook example of prayer and praise.  The colonists were to humbly and solemnly express gratitude and praise for God’s goodness, protection, nurturing, nourishment, deliverance, sustaining and prospering.  Above all, they were to ask God to diffuse the glorious light of the gospel, spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth, and establish the independence of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue.

PLEASE OFFER THANKSGIVING WITH THE FAITH AND FERVANCY OF OUR FOREFATHERS.  Thanks to their focus on God, this nation was established on the basis of religion and virtue.

II Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Job 23:12 “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

I recently had the opportunity to spend a Sunday morning worshiping in a church in Seoul, South Korea. The church was run by an American missionary, but was unique in one important way – it was fully bilingual. The entire service was performed in both Korean and English.  The preaching and announcements were fully translated.  The singing included verses in both English and Korean.  It was a blessing to worship with the English speakers in the English language and the Korean speakers in the Korean language. Each derived great blessing and encouragement by being part of a service that they could understand, and to see others blessed and encouraged by being part of a service that they could understand. 

John Wycliffe, the 14^thCentury English theologian, stated the following:  “Englishmen learn Christ’s law best in English. Moses heard God’s law in his own tongue; so did Christ’s apostles.”  He recognized the importance of every single person having the opportunity to own God’s word, read God’s word, and study God’s word – in his own language.  In that way, it was most accessible to all! Such accessibility had not been the norm throughout our history and around the world.

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD VALUE GOD’S WORD APPROPRIATELY IN OUR LAND.  After all, it should be esteemed more than our necessary food. It furnishes us for all good works, and it is profitable!

Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.”

Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:  that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”

On this Veteran’s Day weekend, it is important to go back to the origins of this important day of remembrance.  One hundred years ago, on November 11^th, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson spoke the following on the one year anniversary of the end of World War I:

“A year ago today our enemies laid down their arms in accordance with an armistice which rendered them impotent to renew hostilities, and gave to the world an assured opportunity to reconstruct its shattered order and to work out in peace a new and juster set of international relations. The soldiers and people of the European Allies had fought and endured for more than four years to uphold the barrier of civilization against the aggressions of armed force. We ourselves had been in the conflict something more than a year and a half.

With splendid forgetfulness of mere personal concerns, we remodeled our industries, concentrated our financial resources, increased our agricultural output, and assembled a great army, so that at the last our power was a decisive factor in the victory. We were able to bring the vast resources, material and moral, of a great and free people to the assistance of our associates in Europe who had suffered and sacrificed without limit in the cause for which we fought.

Out of this victory there arose new possibilities of political freedom and economic concert. The war showed us the strength of great nations acting together for high purposes, and the victory of arms foretells the enduring conquests which can be made in peace when nations act justly and in furtherance of the common interests of men.

To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.”

President Wilson made an important point about the earthly source of strength and victory that applies to nations today.  It also applies to churches today and to Christians today.  There is power when we are “acting together for high purposes.”  No nation is an island, nor is any Christian an island.  When we work together “in furtherance of the common interests of men” and set aside our “personal concerns,” then we can make great strides in statesmanship, fellowship, and discipleship.  

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHRISTIANS TO ACT TOGETHER FOR HIGH PURPOSES.  Partnership with other Christians can be “a decisive factor” as we serve Christ in this land today.

Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 5:15-16 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed:  and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

God gives us a sense of urgency in our service to Him.  Instead of being complacent and ploddingly methodical, we are to be energized and mindful of the time that expires at every tick of the clock.  We are to redeem the time, press toward the mark, and serve for such a time as this, as is highlighted in these previous posts:

While It Is Day

Redeem the Time

Making History Today

Yet, there is another important Biblical thought about our service to God that is illustrated by a prominent adverb in Colossians 3:23 – HEARTILY.  Not only is our service to be characterized by urgency, but also by a consuming, heartfelt passion.  We are to pour ourselves into our service for Him “with zest and gusto.”  We are to leave it all on the field, recognizing that our every action should be intended to please Him.  We don’t do it so that He will love us, but we do it as an outpouring of our faith-filled love for Him.  

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD HEARTILY SERVE GOD.  Plenty of people display a lackluster commitment to their religion that is evident in their anemic actions.  Service-minded Christians who desire to make a potent impact for Him must do it heartily as to the Lord.

ADMIN NOTE:  A Merriam-Webster definition of heartily is “with zest or gusto.”