FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
A THANKSGIVING MESSAGE
“In everything give thanks: for this is the WILL of God in Christ Jesus concerning YOU [and me].” 1 Thess. 5:18.
Let us thank God for all His blessings: particularly those that didn’t look or feel like one, or came in the form we did not expect, suspect, imagine not desire. Those seemingly unanswered prayers eliciting disappointed hopes, may in fact be some of the greatest blessings where eternal interests are concerned: they may have revealed our weakest points that we little realized was the “weakest link in the chain.” Whenever and whatever blessings that God in His wisdom and love determines best for us, that are not appreciated, He reminds us by removing them till we learn to discern such as blessings. But always, He has a special blessings for all who trust, obey, depend and willingly co-operate with Him in all His revealed will for us. The development of the special graces of humility, meekness, patience, forbearance and mercy are accelerated by such experiences.
Let us thank God for His truth with all its promises and provisions: It is impossible to exhaust or render obsolete even one “truth as it is in Jesus.” He desires that we become channels for His truth Alas, how often His truth is marred by the channel through which His truth passes through! In infinite mercy to the contrite and repentant sinner, He forgives the corrupted channel and purifies the blessing that His name be glorified.
Let us thank God in Christ for His loving kindness: There is absolutely nothing nor any creature that is more powerful than God’s love. Rom. 8:35-39. His love, “poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5), will gain the victory when all argument and authority are futile and powerless. Everything else will fail but God’s love will prevail.
Above all, and greater than all these blessings: “Thanks be unto God for His ‘indescribable Gift” (2 Cor. 9:15), for “through Him and by Him, who is before all things, all things consist” (Col. 1:16,17).
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge [even as His peace passes understanding]; THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL FULNESS OF GOD.” Eph. 3:17. 18.
This Thanksgiving, deep in the throes of the COVID pandemic, think on these special promises and provisions so you can thank God not only for making it through this pandemic year, for the “turkey dinner” with family and friends, but for grand hope that we can “be filled with all the fulness of God.” I cannot think of anything greater, now and forever!
Bless all, NMF