Grace, mercy, and peace are yours from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ.
November is here which means soon it will be Thanksgiving. I love November; I love Thanksgiving! Yippee. No, that’s not a theological term. It’s an expression of… yippee.
Here is something theological – “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 118:1). Why not? The Lord has given us everything we have. Family, friends, house, home, food, drink, eyes, ears, and all my members. There’s some Small Catechism in there somewhere.
That’s why I love November. It gives us an opportunity to stop what we are doing and give thanks for all we have. We have a lot, don’t we? Not just material, no that stuff is but temporary. What we have is lasting. What we have is something that no one can take from us.
Listen to St. Paul, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor to things to come, nor powers. Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can take our salvation from us – nothing. It is ours for eternity in Christ Jesus.
Are you thankful? Yes, I am sure you are! I am, and I am thankful for you, the flock that the Lord has entrusted to my care. Yes, I am responsible for leading you in the way of the Lord. It’s an awesome responsibility, but one that I give thanks for in Christ, my Lord.
So, this Thanksgiving and every day the Lord gives you life and breath, give thanks. Join with me, “Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation” (Psalm 111:1).
Give thanks to the Lord, He is yours forever and ever, amen.
In Christ, His servant and yours,
Pastor Alan R. Hilton