Thanksgiving 2021
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:15–17
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today, most of us in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving Day, sitting around a generous meal with family and friends. Here is an excerpt from this year's proclamation from President Joe Biden: "I encourage the people of the United States of America to join together and give thanks for the friends, neighbors, family members, and strangers who have supported each other over the past year in a reflection of goodwill and unity."
Thanksgiving Day has lost much of its original religious importance over the years. In President George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789, he promoted a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to Almighty God. In addition to giving thanks to Almighty God, he recommended all to pray. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. So, traditionally, the day was set aside for thanksgiving, prayer, and praise. It is a day of worship.
In today's text, the Apostle Paul commands believers to live in perfect harmony by allowing the peace of Christ to rule in their hearts and always be thankful. To live in harmony, we need Christ to rule our hearts, and we need to be thankful to God and one another. Thankfulness comes from acknowledging that all things come from Christ.
Dear Church, as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day today, I encourage you to add praise and prayer to the day. As we praise God for his many blessings, let us also pray for peace and reconciliation. Let us pray for one another at The Well Church.
Happy Thanksgiving!
