HELEN SANDERS
11-26-2020
THANKS BUT NO THANKS
Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States. As we look back, we are reminded of the time when the early settlers made it through a harsh winter where many died. This was then followed by the hard labor of planting and growing crops that grew in the summer and were harvested in the fall.
It was a time to be thankful to God for his faithfulness. The day had nothing to do with turkeys and families gathering. It was a time of pure thankfulness to God. They were grateful to be in a new land where they could pursue their religious freedom publicly. Yes, it had been a hard first year, but the ones that made it through were thankful.
When we look back to the first celebration it was all about the goodness of God. Let us never forget the price they paid to have that goodness. They left everything they knew in Europe to come to a land that was not developed. They set their faces to a new beginning, knowing that God would get them through. They said “no thanks” to a tyrannical ruler that forced “religion” down their throats but didn’t acknowledge God in their lives and said thanks to God that gave them a new start.
There is another side to thanks. It is when we say “No thanks” to sin and make a decision to go with God and His plan. In this season of time there is so much temptation through media, and the internet that can pull a person away from God. There are activities on days that we should be in Church. We should say “no thanks” to those activities and put God first.
We can do that too my friends. We are to be thankful because it is the will of God, no matter what we are going through. Say no thanks to bitterness. Say no thanks to wrath. Say no thanks to jealousy. Say no thanks to sin and grief. Go forward with a thankful heart because we have so much to be thankful for!
