Thanksgiving
November 6th, 2008 | By Jack Gill | Posted in Blog, From Jack
November…a time of cool weather…fall colors…football…turkey…voting…
and yes, giving thanks!
As we have progressed through the book of Acts, there is something in it that causes me to reflect on and be thankful for this month…and that is the nation that we live in. When we remember the culture and government that the early church lived in, we see that they certainly had a difficult time with Rome over them – from being taxed to tortured. It was a volatile country with respect to how Christians would be viewed and treated. No Christian would ever be allowed to vote for their leaders! Rome was supreme and Caesar its “king,” with everyone being its subjects. You did not necessarily get to say what you wanted, nor did you get to pursue your interests, nor were you necessarily free when it came to your religious beliefs.
As we think on our great nation, we might have a tendency to look instantly to what is wrong with it, or at times even bemoan where we are going. Certainly it is not perfect, and we have many issues that need to be corrected and wrestled with, but it is still a great country! It’s something that we can certainly thank God for!
It is a place in which we can vote freely…and pursue an honest living…and bring out new and creative ideas…and share the good news of the gospel freely…and worship without constraint. It is a freedom and way of life that the founding fathers sought to establish, and men and women (and let this one sink in deeply) gave their lives to maintain.
There is much cause for Americans to give thanks to God for it – He has given us yet another precious gift…in our nation.
This month as you spend time voting, feasting, and spending time enjoying your family, can I give you some specific things to consider when giving thanks?
- Let’s remember to thank God for His protection of us through our government and our soldiers, who are “ministers of the sword,” some of whom come from our congregation. (And while you’re at it, pray for their well-being too!)
- Let’s remember to thank God for our leaders at all levels in our government, and pray for godly wisdom to prevail.
- Let’s thank God for a country that does not seek to stifle our ability to share the gospel.
- Let’s thank God for those who came before us, taking a hard toll on their personal lives at Plymouth so long ago, and for establishing the beginning of a country that can worship God freely, without the government intervening.
- Finally, let’s not only thank God for all that we have, but let’s remember to continue to lift it up in prayer — that we would be a nation that seeks to value life, to look higher than ourselves, and to seek Truth.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Jack
