Wednesday, November 23, 2011
When I was a kid, we didn’t get to sit at the BIG table for
Thanksgiving. (I also walked to school in the snow and it was uphill both ways.
I also had to get off the couch and walk over to the TV to change the channel. Those were rough days.) Anyway, we sat at a table – just for
kids. I always imagined the food at the
BIG table was different. They had better turkey, better dressing and a wider
variety of desserts. The food we ate at the kids table was exactly the same as
the BIG table. It just seemed as though the adults enjoyed it more. I always anticipated the day I would be old
enough to sit at the BIG table and be able to gobble down the adult fare. Sitting at the BIG table was sort of like a
southern bar mitzvah or a rite of passage. When you get to sit at the BIG table – you’re grown up. You could pass
from boyhood to manhood in one Thankgiving. All that was required was an invitation. I am thankful for that memory. But I am more thankful that
God invites all His children to His BIG table. Our rite of passage is through
Jesus Christ and there is an open invitation to all who would want to dine with
Him. There are several passages in the New Testament that tell us
to be thankful for the blessings of life – like friends and good memories and
sunshine and good health. But there is a
unique phrase that Paul uses several times “thanks be to God” which highlights
what God has done for our souls.- Romans 6:16-17 – Don’t you know when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? BUT THANKS BE TO GOD that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
- 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 – The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 9:14-15 – And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. THANKS BE TO GOD for his indescribable gift!
God has given us victory over sin, victory over death and
all of this victory comes through His gracious gift of Jesus Christ.
I am so thankful we have a BIG God, who invites us to sit at
His BIG table and enjoy His victorious blessings. Thanks be to our God!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Tim
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