Giving Thanks
“Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom His world rejoices; Who from our mothers’ arms has blest us on our way with countless gifts of love and still is ours today." (LSB 895)
November is a month for giving thanks. In the United States, we have a longstanding tradition of gathering on the fourth Thursday of the month to remember our blessings as a people and nation. Truly as God’s people, we have much to be thankful for. We praise God for his gifts to us.
As Luther reminds us in his explanation to the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as “food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like” (Small Catechism). Thanksgiving is something that Christians do not just once a year, but every day.
As Christians we are thankful and we especially rejoice in the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. November begins with the remembrance and celebration of faith in Christ, All Saints Day. This holiday grew out the desire of the early church to recognize and honor those children of God who had lived exemplary lives and demonstrated exemplary faith. The biblical definition of a saint is anyone who has been made holy by faith in Jesus. We often commemorate those saints who have died in the past year. But the biblical reminder is that saints are those who are living and dead. Saints are united in a common confession that our sins are forgiven because of the death and resurrection of Christ. All Saints Day gives us an opportunity to remember those mothers and fathers (and spiritual mothers and fathers) who have gone before us and shared their faith with us. It’s a great opportunity to thank God for their efforts (and to personally thank those who are still with us).
November begins and ends with thanksgiving. Let’s use the opportunities that are presented to worship God and give thanks for all his gifts to us.
"O Give thanks to the LORD for his steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 136:1
Giving thanks for you!
Pastor Mark Schumm
