November 19th 2023
If possible, meet and eat with those family and/or friends whom you love on this special Thanksgiving Day of earthly celebration, but include your Spiritual heavenly Family too!
1 Corinthians 10:16 (NIV)
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
This coming week we will observe Thanksgiving Day and many families and friends will gather to meet and eat in some form of observance of this special day. However, there are those people even in the USA who will not be able to celebrate their lives as they are poor or even homeless. Also, there are people now who try to survive in war zones, and their living spaces may have been destroyed. This knowledge should help those of us who are living in some form of luxury to be extremely thankful. Think about this when you are able to celebrate with your friends and/or family on Thanksgiving Day!
In the selected verse we, Christians are told to think about what Jesus Christ did for us (you) when we do celebrate our freedom from the desires for worldly possessions as being the most important accomplishments for which we give thanks. Our most important form of wealth is based upon the blessing we receive now, and more importantly the knowledge of the best is yet to come. For when we die in this mortal cursed world, that is not the end, but the beginning of forever as the brother or sister of Jesus Christ. From then on, we will be celebrating with Jesus in the Paradise of God!
So, then on this Thanksgiving Day we should also celebrate our freedom from depending on this mortal lifetime as all there is, and thus, only being thankful for what is here and now. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does— comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives for ever. (1 John 2:15-17). Of course, we do still need to be thankful for our family and friends, but we do not need to totally depend on our joy coming only from our worldly accomplishments!
Jesus came into this world to supply the Way out of dependance entirely on this mortal lifetime, as all there is for our happiness. True freedom comes through knowing that you are among the chosen people of Jesus Christ. Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:16-17). You have been chosen by Jesus to be a display of His love. It has been said, “you may be the only Jesus some people may ever see.” Of course, you are not Jesus, but people may sense His love through your display of a loving attitude!
Paul wrote about believers giving thanks for coming to know Jesus, and then trying to work on becoming more Christ-like every day. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:10-11). Praying for others, or even for yourself, offers believers an opportunity to expect a positive answer to our prayers and the prayers other believers offer for us!
We need to always try to show kindness to everyone, as Jesus did when He walked this earth. Paul wrote about how believers should not show vengeance when someone treats you wrongly, but to forgive and forget their action, and try instead to offer them the love of Jesus. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18).
Give thanks in all circumstances is a tough order, but it is not impossible for a true believer, as the Holy Spirit is available to us to help us contend, somewhat as Jesus would! Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:12-14). If you are led by the Holy Spirit you are working on becoming the children of God.
Followers of Jesus Christ are sons and daughters of God, and brother or sisters of Jesus Christ. Now that is the family you should think of and spiritually join on the upcoming Thanksgiving Day. If possible, meet and eat with those family and/or friends whom you love on this special Thanksgiving Day of earthly celebration, but include your Spiritual heavenly Family too!
What a friend we have in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 Corinthians 10:16 (NIV)
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
This coming week we will observe Thanksgiving Day and many families and friends will gather to meet and eat in some form of observance of this special day. However, there are those people even in the USA who will not be able to celebrate their lives as they are poor or even homeless. Also, there are people now who try to survive in war zones, and their living spaces may have been destroyed. This knowledge should help those of us who are living in some form of luxury to be extremely thankful. Think about this when you are able to celebrate with your friends and/or family on Thanksgiving Day!
In the selected verse we, Christians are told to think about what Jesus Christ did for us (you) when we do celebrate our freedom from the desires for worldly possessions as being the most important accomplishments for which we give thanks. Our most important form of wealth is based upon the blessing we receive now, and more importantly the knowledge of the best is yet to come. For when we die in this mortal cursed world, that is not the end, but the beginning of forever as the brother or sister of Jesus Christ. From then on, we will be celebrating with Jesus in the Paradise of God!
So, then on this Thanksgiving Day we should also celebrate our freedom from depending on this mortal lifetime as all there is, and thus, only being thankful for what is here and now. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does— comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives for ever. (1 John 2:15-17). Of course, we do still need to be thankful for our family and friends, but we do not need to totally depend on our joy coming only from our worldly accomplishments!
Jesus came into this world to supply the Way out of dependance entirely on this mortal lifetime, as all there is for our happiness. True freedom comes through knowing that you are among the chosen people of Jesus Christ. Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:16-17). You have been chosen by Jesus to be a display of His love. It has been said, “you may be the only Jesus some people may ever see.” Of course, you are not Jesus, but people may sense His love through your display of a loving attitude!
Paul wrote about believers giving thanks for coming to know Jesus, and then trying to work on becoming more Christ-like every day. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:10-11). Praying for others, or even for yourself, offers believers an opportunity to expect a positive answer to our prayers and the prayers other believers offer for us!
We need to always try to show kindness to everyone, as Jesus did when He walked this earth. Paul wrote about how believers should not show vengeance when someone treats you wrongly, but to forgive and forget their action, and try instead to offer them the love of Jesus. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18).
Give thanks in all circumstances is a tough order, but it is not impossible for a true believer, as the Holy Spirit is available to us to help us contend, somewhat as Jesus would! Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:12-14). If you are led by the Holy Spirit you are working on becoming the children of God.
Followers of Jesus Christ are sons and daughters of God, and brother or sisters of Jesus Christ. Now that is the family you should think of and spiritually join on the upcoming Thanksgiving Day. If possible, meet and eat with those family and/or friends whom you love on this special Thanksgiving Day of earthly celebration, but include your Spiritual heavenly Family too!
What a friend we have in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak