Thanksgiving

Each year many people across America come together on this day to observe a national holiday. People from all walks of life celebrate this day, but the average person is not familiar with the history of Thanksgiving. They come together to watch their football games, eat food, and play games. They come together to spend time with each other, to have a day off from work, to eat turkey. However, we as Christians unite on this day not because of some decree put in place by Abraham Lincoln or to just have a good time, although this may be part of the reason. No,we come together for another reason. We understand that through the Lord we live, move, and have our being. We come together to express hearts of gratitude and thanksgiving to God, to our maker for the things he has taught us, for the great and marvelous things he hath done, and for His kindness and provision for us. We come together because of devoted men in our history that saw the importance of giving thanks and praise to God - David, our Founding Fathers, all of the godly men of old. We follow in their foot steps.

We who have received so much at the hand of God; we who have been so blessed must with utter fervency thank the Lord of Hosts.

In the Holy Word of God, we are shown wonderful examples and wonderful truths that teach and require Thanksgiving.

First, a Psalm that would prepare our hearts for thanksgiving would be Psalm 136. This Psalm is listed below:

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of gods:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who alone doeth great wonders:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: Gen. 1.1
for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: Gen. 1.2
for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that made great lights:
for his mercy endureth for ever:

the sun to rule by day:
for his mercy endureth for ever:

the moon and stars to rule by night: Gen. 1.16
for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: Ex. 12.29
for his mercy endureth for ever:

and brought out Israel from among them: Ex. 12.51
for his mercy endureth for ever:

with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which divided the Red sea into parts:
for his mercy endureth for ever:

and made Israel to pass through the midst of it:
for his mercy endureth for ever:

but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: Ex. 14.21-29
for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which led his people through the wilderness:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which smote great kings:
for his mercy endureth for ever:

and slew famous kings:
for his mercy endureth for ever:

Sihon king of the Amorites: Num. 21.21-30
for his mercy endureth for ever:

and Og the king of Bashan: Num. 21.31-35
for his mercy endureth for ever:

and gave their land for a heritage:
for his mercy endureth for ever:

even a heritage unto Israel his servant:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who remembered us in our low estate:
for his mercy endureth for ever:

and hath redeemed us from our enemies:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who giveth food to all flesh:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven:
for his mercy endureth for ever.

As stated before, we who have received so much have so much to be thankful for. The following is a list of a couple of things that we must be thankful for:

The breath of life breathed into us by God - "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul."

The faithfulness of God - Great is the faithfulness of our God. We can see the faithfulness of God in Abraham-in that, he was given a son in his old age, in Moses - for he led the people of Israel to the promise land by the right hand of God, and in God's people - for he continually forgave their sins and healed their land.

The wonderful provision of God - "Are not two sparrow sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without the notice of your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

The Marvelous deeds of old - "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works, I muse on the work of thy hands." Psalm 143:5 We must remember all of the mighty acts of God in our lives. To remember the mercies of God, will cause a greater love and devotion to be developed with our Lord.

For the many things we have been taught by God in His law -

Charity - "Charity suffereth long and is kind."

Perseverance - May we run with patience the race that is before us.

The truth of God - "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."

Humility - "The Lord resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble." "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. "

We must be thankful for these doctrines and truths taught to us in the Scriptures because God has given us a law whereby we may learn to live in obedience to Him.

The Revelation of God in His Holy Word - "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5 : 39 We are able to know God because of His Word. We have be so privileged to have been given the school master that leads us to a saving knowledge of our Lord.

Ultimately, we must be thankful to God for the gift of His son - "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." We through the blood of Jesus Christ have been given the gift of Salvation. Words cannot express the gratitude we have for the Lord's loving-kindness that has been poured out upon us. We don't deserve Christ. We do not deserve His inheritance. However, God in His infinite love and faithfulness has chosen us to be His people.

I myself must echo what Paul said, "I am the least of the least of all saints. I am not worthy to be counted among the beloved." I cannot fathom the depths of God's love. Why He chose to pour out His love upon a sinful generation, is beyond my imagination. What a wonderful merciful Savior we have. We have so much to be thankful for.

"To whom much is given, much is required." What has been given to us by God must be repaid with love and obedience. Let us therefore bow the knee to our Lord in humility and in thanksgiving for the great things he hath done for us.

Sola Deo Gloria.

Be Ye Sober

Merrium Webster's Dictionary: [ Sober ]
4 : marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness
5 : subdued in tone or color
6 : showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

1 Timothy 3:2-3 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1 Timothy 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Young women.

Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

"How long young man will you love simplicity?" How long will you go the way of this world? How long will you waste your life?

You must see and know and consider Jesus Christ. You must prepare your heart to seek the Lord and His law. [Ezra 7:10] YOU MUST BE SOBER. The sober minded person will not fall into secret sins or faults. The sober minded will keep the law of the Lord. Be ye sober.

There is much discouragement to not be sober in this present day, but I compel you to take heed to the verses above and study the Scriptures. It is the meditating on God's Word, the seeking to live in accordance with His law, and prayer without ceasing that makes the mind sober. Young men, be sober. There is no times to be silly[foolish]. There is no time to waste. The world is falling apart; there are souls to save, a race to run, a God to honor, temptations to withstand, and a crown to win. Therefore, be ye sober.

Sola Deo Gloria