Thanksgiving Reflection and Scriptures
Thanksgiving is always a good time to recenter our hearts and mind, especially just before the start of Advent. The inherent beauty of yearly rhythms and holidays is how it leads us to regularly reorient ourselves, similar to the concept of consistent Sabbath reorienting us through rest and worship. We can be tempted to be jaded by the cliché nature of sappy feelings around holidays, but I’d argue that’s just a reaction against the saccharin nature of the commercialized holiday calendar (or is that just me?). The truth is, holidays, Sabbath, celebration, fellowship, and the like are wonderful, intentional parts of God’s design, and thankfulness language is all throughout Scripture.
Here’s a definition from the Lexham Bible Dictionary: “THANKSGIVING (תּוֹדָה, todah; εὐχαριστία, eucharistia). The act of offering thanks or being thankful, usually to God. Often connected to provision, deliverance, or God’s character. Commonly associated in Scripture with meals and worship.” Another interesting thought from an English-Greek lexicon says “Thanks is often expressed in highly idiomatic ways. For example, in some languages one says thank you by saying ‘may God pay you.’ Such a phrase may be so standardized as to even be used in expressing thankfulness to God himself. In other instances, thankfulness may be expressed as ‘you have made my heart warm.’”
For our context of Thanksgiving and Christmas time, these ideas of shared meals and warm hearts are not foreign to us. While it isn’t out of the ordinary for us to invite extra guests over or share food and other blessings with neighbors and those in need this time of year, as Christians, this should be our normal mode of behavior at all times. Looking at the early church in the New Testament, this is how we see them living out their gratitude and generosity. Acts 2:42-47 shows us this attitude and lifestyle:
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
So this holiday season, as we prepare and gather with friends and family, let’s not be jaded or anxious because of the cares of the world (Phil. 4:6-7), but thankful peace makers, reflecting Christ like we see the church in Acts doing. Find time to truly rest, unload your cares, and be genuinely thankful for all God blesses us with, because He is Lord of all.
I want to also share this post from Logos with a large list of Scripture passages on the theme of thanksgiving and gratitude. It’s important to fill our minds with the Truth of God’s Word to fend off the attacks of the enemy and the worries of the world (Eph. 6:10-18).
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 15:57
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! —Psalm 118:1
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy. —Philippians 1:3–4