Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/77

Contributor - Gary Dekker

Title - Thanksgiving Outdated?

Topic - Meditation

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice" Phil. 4 : 4

There are times that we wonder whether or not Thanksgiving has become outdated: we really do not hear much thanksgiving from the lips of people in our day. On the contrary, complaining seems to be the "in thing", even Christians seem to have fallen into that trap. Thanksgiving has lost its meaning, for many it is only an extra holiday now. Thanksgiving for many people is dependent upon the circumstances under which they live and if the conditions of life are favourable, then they have reason for being thankful. Yet, the Apostle Paul tells us to rejoice always, to rejoice every where and under all circumstances; this comes to believers as a divine command. The Apostle Paul's circumstances were not that cheerful: at the moment he wrote these words - Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say Rejoice - he was under the least rejoicing conditions, for he was imprisoned. How much depends on our perspective. How much depends on what we are living for. If we live to gather material things, then, yes, I can see that Thanksgiving has become outdated, for in our economic situation nothing is more uncertain than the perishable things in life, for to-day we gain and tomorrow we lose it all. What was the cause for the Apostle Paul to say rejoice always? See, his rejoicing was in the Lord and not based on material things or the circumstances of his life. There is the difference! His hope was built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and His Righteousness and that gave him the power to rejoice always in his Lord. When our hope is in Jesus Christ, then whether or not we have a bumper crop, whether or not we received a pay raise, whether or not we were promoted, we can rejoice because our rejoicing is in the Lord and it does not depend upon the circumstances of life, favourable or unfavourable. Neither will it be confined to one special day a year. Then Thanksgiving has not become outdated for the believer in Jesus Christ, for there are many reasons for which the child of God can be thankful. Why not take time and count your blessings, but if you cannot count your blessings, then begin to ask yourself where you are at in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

I am aware that some will say: "I have no reason for thanksgiving, for if you have to go through what I am going through, you will understand that I cannot be thankful". Yes, I am aware of the suffering, the depression, the sorrow, some people experience; yet God knows our burdens, our trials. The Apostle Paul had burdens to carry and trials to face, but at the same time God told him "My grace is sufficient for you!" He will say the same to you! Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say REJOICE. Be steadfast and constant in this, not just for a moment when the circumstances of life are favourable, but go on and on. The joy the Christian experiences is different from the joy of the world. The Christian's is founded in Jesus Christ and that can never be taken away from us.

Another reason for thanksgiving this month is Reformation Day. In the darkness of the Middle Ages, God called men like Luther and Calvin, who were burdened by the spiritual life of the church. God used these men and others to point out the error of the church in their days. These men were obedient to the leading of God's Spirit and by their obedience corrected the error.

God used these men to put His Word back in its rightful place, to show that men are justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone. And not by buying indulgences, or the doing of good works. Let us thank God for men like Luther and Calvin, who by the direction of the Holy Spirit pointed out anew that salvation is in no one else but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It was the fundamental conviction of these men that apart from Christ nothing would ever come out right. Man left to himself is doomed, but man left to the mercy of God will experience a newness of life. That is the reason to give thanks to God, that in the darkness of the ages men were found willing to take their stand to further the cause of the Kingdom.

Is Thanksgiving outdated? No, not for those who claim the name of Christ. Their ground for thanksgiving not in the circumstances, but it is based on a vital relationship with the Living Lord. Because He lives and there i* fore "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say REJOICE! for we have the Lord standing on our side and being in Him we have sufficient ground for THANKSGIVING!

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