As we approach Thanksgiving Day, 2020AD let us meditate on the greatness of Almighty God and His immeasurable Grace and Love toward us and all mankind. God has given everyone abundant reasons to thank and appreciate Him! As we thank God, let us also thank Him for our families, friends, neighbors, and even our enemies! We too were once enemies of God until He called us out of darkness to send us out to others in the same condition! HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you all!
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 30:4 -8 (KJV)
Psa 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psa 30:6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
Psa 30:7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
Psa 30:8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – 15 (KJV)
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) In this difficult season of life, let us choose the be grateful toward (each other) and God, Who has given Jesus His Son to make everyone who believes in Him clean and free from the penalty of His judgment as the Psalmist David did, and let us realize that even when we are going through a season of darkness, grief, or chastisement, God has promised to see us through it to a brighter day!
2) Our love from one to another, is the greatest testimony of the transforming power of God that He has invested in us by the offering of Jesus His Son to a cruel season of betrayal, mockery, pain of the highest most sadistic variety, shame and humiliation, unimaginable suffering and degradation and even death, to redeem us and reconcile us to God His Holy Father!
3) As Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to be aware that it was God Who called us all to come to understand that our salvation was His idea and His gift, which He initiated in us, and that we therefore, need to be thankful to one another as we go out preaching and sharing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!