Giving Thanks

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   It was a cold windswept day as a group of men pulled their cloaks a little tighter around them. Gray clouds blanketed the sky, broken up by the occasional patch of blue. They had made landfall far north of their intended destination, but at least they were on firm ground for the first time in months. For this, they could be thankful at least. After all they had endured transiting the turbulent Atlantic Ocean, it felt good to be on land again. Although the Pilgrims did not know what the future had in store for them, one thing they had come to understand was that God is faithful, and He would provide for their needs whatever they might be.

   In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul writes, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Sometimes we take these verses as three separate commands--rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks. But what if that is not how God intends us to understand them? Perhaps these are meant to be not three independent commands but three pieces of the same thing, how we live out God's will for us. Rejoicing always is the outward expression of faith in God's sovereign provision for us. Praying without ceasing is the upward acknowledgment of our need to bring all our cares and blessings to God. Giving thanks in everything is the inward acceptance that whatever we have is a gift from God's hand.

   This week as we gather together with family and friends for feasting, let us take time to remember why we celebrate this particular day. Families from generations past stepped out into the unknown pursuing the opportunity to live lives in a community of faith that honored God. They embraced the harsh reality of sacrifice that this step would require. In the midst of it all they acknowledged the goodness of God in all things, and they thanked God for all He had given them. So enjoy your food (and your football), but don't forget to "rejoice always; pray without ceasing; [and] in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."