The original Thanksgiving was a harvest feast that marked the success of the Pilgrim’s first corn crop in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. After many hardships the colonists finally had achieved a little stability in this new land. The original celebration was actually unnamed and was comprised of about 50 colonists and 90 Wampanoag people being thankful for their good fortune.
It is true that we have had trouble living up to the standards of the original colonist’s intention for our Thanksgiving celebration. Through the years we have been driven by achievements and goals that did not include Glory to God, nor reflect our life in Christ. Today, let us make a commitment to ourselves, and to one another, to restore the original intention of Thanksgiving. In this season of Thanksgiving in 2024, may we reflect upon our true life in Christ as we deliberately move to include in our Thanksgiving those people that truly need a helping hand to live a better life in Christ.
We need to do more than have a Thanksgiving celebration on November 28, we must take steps to change our hearts to become more like Christ. We must do more than just say words of inclusiveness and justice, we must live the life that the words we say describe.
Allow these words from Colossians 2:6-7 to become a model to transform our lives. This Scripture frees us from rules & allows us to envision a new life in Christ:
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Your personal response is critical to those of us that have yet to understand the Gospel message. The very life of those you love, as well as the lives of those you will never know, depend on your response to the call of Christ. My hope for you is that in this season of Thanksgiving, you will be awakened to know Christ’s desire and purpose for your life. In the Love of Jesus Christ,
