Cause for Thanksgiving

Part 1

The celebration of Thanksgiving is anchored in our national heritage. Its observance is an essential element of our nation's traditions and moral foundation.

As we think of Thanksgiving, our thoughts race back to the earliest days of American history. In our Lord's strength, our valiant forefathers sought religious freedom. They overcame the opposition of cruel tyranny and courageously dared to cross a stormy sea. The insistence of our forefathers to be free laid the groundwork for the birth of a new nation. The Pilgrims' focus and goal centered on finding a place where they could worship God according to the precepts of holy Scripture (Isa. 28:10). Because the early Pilgrims and others were motivated by a desire to worship God (John 4:24) and not gold (Prov. 16:16), America eventually came under the blessings of the Lord. 

The clarion call of America's first Thanksgiving has resounded down through the corridors of time. Today we still give praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for His providential care and faithful provisions (Ps. 8:19). Without an annual Thanksgiving observance, something very special

would be lacking in our culture. There would be an emptiness in our land during the harvest season, when abundant crops are gathered for the sustenance of life.

The motivation to thank the Lord actually began in the hearts of the Pilgrims as He prompted and guided them to seek a place of worship where they would not be crippled and harassed by fear. The Pilgrims found plenty of reasons to give thanks to the Lord as He protected and preserved them in their establishment of a fortress of faith on American soil.

Historical records confirm that the Lord providentially led the Pilgrims to the land in the Northeast. The voyage was overshadowed and blessed by the Lord's sustaining grace. It is little wonder that our godly forefathers set aside a special time of thanksgiving which became a national holiday for worshiping and praising the Lord of heaven. They recognized that He had remarkably and minutely guided every step of the way (Ps. 37:23).

Thanksgiving became so intertwined with our national existence that in 1941 Congress ruled that “the fourth Thursday of November would be observed as Thanksgiving Day and would be a legal federal holiday. Thanksgiving Day also serves as a sort of threshold for the Christmas season, moving our souls in praise,“Unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15).

Beyond our national life and honor, however, thanksgiving is a heart- encouraging, soul-invigorating, and spirit-uplifting exercise for the child of God. This is not only true for a special day, week, or month but also for the rest of the year. The ripened fruit of thanksgiving is best harvested in one's life on a daily basis.

Emblazoned on the pages of God's Word, thanksgiving is associated with:

• Praise - 1 Chronicles 16:14

• Worship - Psalm 100:4

• Singing - Psalm 147:7

• Joy and gladness - Isaiah 51:3

• Prayer and supplication - Philippians 4:6

• Wisdom and honor - Revelation 7:12

The thrust of thanksgiving is, as the word suggests, literally the act of giving thanks. The exercise of thanksgiving encourages the believer in his daily walk before the Lord. In Psalm 30:12 we read, “O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”

Heartfelt thanksgiving is never out of season!