Thanksgiving

By GFI board member, Randy Stahmer

It is November and the season of Thanksgiving.  A time of harvest, family gatherings and pumpkin pie, without a doubt.  But, I have to ask; what are you most thankful for and to whom are you thanking?  Would it be an above average harvest, a good report from your doctor, employment, warm November weather or a winning football team?  Or, perhaps a new grandchild, a prodigal returned or a spouse healed from addiction.  These are all temporal blessings and we ought to be thankful for them for sure.  In this writing, however, I will attempt to paint a more eternal picture of what “Thanksgiving” is all about.

Happy Hag Hahodaya!  This is Hebrew for Thanksgiving and it means, “Holiday of Gratitude”.

There was a time early in the ministry of Jesus when he was invited to the house of a Pharisee for dinner.  Pharisees were Jewish teachers and self-appointed guardians of the Mosaic Law and its’ proper observance.  They were highly respected by the people and avoided those whom they deemed “sinners” – those who did not follow their system of rules.  In the culture of the time men reclined at the table.  They did not sit ‘properly’ around a large dining room table with linen napkins, fine china and the best silverware with turkey, taters, gravy and all the fixins’.

In this reclined posture, the feet of Jesus were extended.  It is in this posture that a woman, who had led a sinful life (probably a local prostitute) and had heard Jesus preach; was moved to repentant tears.  The scriptures tell us that she cried over the feet of Jesus and dried the tears with her hair.  She then kissed his feet and anointed them with perfume (Luke 7:36-38).

This woman was known by the Pharisee and was allowed inside his home.  Perhaps this Pharisee (Simon) was intending to entrap Jesus as one who “associated with sinners”.  But, it was evident that this woman came to Simon’s home out of love and gratitude; in the understanding that she could be forgiven.  Her love was evidence of her forgiveness, but not the basis for it.  It was her faith that saved her as stated in Luke 7:50.  Her sins were forgiven and she could experience the fullness of God’s grace and peace, through His Son, Jesus.

Friends, this is the utmost example of human surrender of sin.  No longer was this woman to live bound by sin.  Now she is freed from this slavery and in response weeps, dries and anoints the feet of Jesus.  She knew in her heart that Jesus was the only one who held the power of forgiveness and life.

We know that Jesus did not come to call the “righteous”, but “sinners” (Mark 2:15-17).

So, are we righteous or are we sinners?

The Bible tells us that no one is righteous.  Further, it says in 1 John 1, “if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives”.

It is in this understanding of forgiveness that we adopt a posture of “gratitude and thanksgiving” to the Lord, the giver of all. 

Our debt is paid and we can have confidence of salvation in the last days.  You see that our God is a loving God and wanting all to be free from sin by the price paid by Jesus on the cross at Calvary.  Jesus is the only way to life (John 14:6) and his mercy does endure forever.  All that is required is to accept this gift of life, to turn from sin and seek to give back glory and honor and praise for His hand extended out as life. Come then, to His table!

Therefore, as it is appropriate, this year (at your Thanksgiving table), consider the grace of God. 

Celebrate this gift of salvation above all of the other many material blessings that we, as constitutionally free Americans, expect and observe.  Give thanks to God for His love, grace and mercy and the right to be called His children. 

With this posture, I can faithfully confess, that as a true act of worship, the God of Jacob (Yahweh), the Creator God, the provider God (Jehovah-Jireh) will hear your cry for mercy and look upon you with love and forgiveness.

That truly is something to be thankful for.  Halleluiah!