When we give thanks, there is one who receives our thanks.
Are we thankful or we just to want to have a day off? Why are we thankful?
We know this in our head. We thank God for his saving grace that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (1 Tim 1:15).
Are we thankful for this saving grace as of the first importance or thankful for Turkey dinner in doing so we all become turkeys -fat and sleepy.
Without God's command to give thanks, we do not do so. It is indeed God's grace. But we should go one more step and thank God from our inner hearts.
We are here to follow God's laws but we are here to follow God's heart for us who loved us 'turkeys' and gave up himself for us.
I like to quote Ambrose's favorite Bible verse this Thanksgiving since I am reading Augustine's confession today:
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor 3:6)
Doing what it seems to be good or Christian things to do on Thanksgiving kills us. We must be moved by what Jesus had done for us by the help of his Spirit and then do. We must be compelled by Jesus and by his Spirit.
We give thanks because God enables us to give thanks from our hearts through his words and by his Spirit. This is indeed God's mercy for us who are so forgetful of his saving grace and focus on surface stuff like turkey stuffings.
In summary, we are called to do counter cultural movement and follow Jesus confidently. We give thanks because of his saving grace and truth of the gospel which is shown in our LORD Jesus' death and resurrection.
We can look up to God and give thanks to God for giving us five loaves and two fish. We leap for joy because God is good and his love endures forever.
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