“The Great Feast –A Thanksgiving Perspective”.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Ephesians 5:19-20 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The story is told of two old friends bumped into one another on the street one day. One of them looked forlorn, almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, "What has the world done to you, my old friend?"
The sad fellow said, "Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, an uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars." "That’s a lot of money."
"But, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand free and clear." "Sounds like you’ve been blessed...." "You don’t understand!" he interrupted.
"Last week my great-aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million."
Now he was really confused. "Then, why do you look so glum?" "This week... nothing!"
Let’s hope we’d have a different viewpoint.
In the Scripture passages that were just read, thankfulness is tied to living peaceful and quiet lives it is tied to joy and it is tied to worship.
This emphasis that we find in Scripture we perhaps say “Amen” to. But what place does gratefulness have in your life?
Recently the Yonge Street Mission staff finalized a document about the mission’s core values. You know, those things that we consider the most important ideas or words that characterize us and that we want to make sure we build in to everything we do.
One of those ‘core values’ is, simply, gratitude. Gratitude for the gift of life. Gratitude for the honour of serving and loving and finding ourselves among this community. Gratitude, plain and simple.
Now gratitude and thankfulness are pretty much the same thing. Those words mean to be pleased, and to express being pleased.
And they also include being conscious of what has been received. Being aware of the benefits we have. And awareness of what we’ve received has to do with our perspective. We need the proper perspective.
One young lady wrote home from college: "Dear Mom: Sorry I haven’t written sooner. My arm is broken. I broke it, and my left leg, when I jumped from the second floor of my dormitory...when we had the fire. We were lucky.
“A young service station attendant saw the blaze and called the Fire Department. They were there in minutes. I was in the hospital for a few days. Paul, the service station attendant, came to see me every day.
“And because it was taking so long to get our dormitory liveable again, I moved in with him. He has been so nice. I must admit that I am pregnant. Paul and I plan to get married just as soon as he can get a divorce.
“I hope things are fine at home. “I’m doing fine and will write more when I get the chance. Love, Your daughter, Susie
P.S. None of the above is true. But I did get a "C" in Sociology and flunked Chemistry. I just wanted you to receive this news in its "Proper Perspective!" [Pause].
Now what we don’t need to do is manipulate the truth in order to have the proper perspective.
So let me ask you, what are you grateful for today? What is one thing that you want to express your gratitude to God for today? [Pause]
So there are many things that we’re grateful for, many things to offer thanksgiving for today.
And I think that one thing many or most of us share is a sense of thankfulness to God for His love, for the fact that He loves us in a way that’s best described as unconditional. His gift to us, His first and foremost blessing in our lives is Jesus.
For those of us with faith in Jesus, the very name ‘Jesus’ causes our hearts to stir and our hope to rise. Jesus is the One through Whom we have a relationship with God; Jesus is the One through Whom we are invited into the presence of God.
There’s a parable of Jesus that talks about this in terms of a banquet. It speaks of the invitation to a relationship with God as an invitation to a feast, so it’s fitting that today, the day of our thanksgiving feast, that we consider this parable. I’m going to ask _________ to read it for us.
Luke 14:16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ’Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ’I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19 "Another said, ’I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 "Still another said, ’I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ’Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 "’Sir,’ the servant said, ’what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 "Then the master told his servant, ’Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’"
A few things to notice here. This is not some little dinner party for a tight circle of friends. This is not an exclusive party. It is an open-handed affair to which the many are invited.
You may have heard the Scripture: “John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever [whosoever] believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”.
This is a generous offer to all.
Now, part of what is so poignant about this parable is that an invitation had already gone out. Those who were first invited had plenty of notice about the banquet.
But when they learned that the party was starting, that everything was ready for this great, grand feast, one by one they made excuses. “Just bought some new oxen. I’ve just try them out”. “Just got married, so I can’t come”.
Makes you wonder about modern-day excuses. “Just got online. Gotta try out my new computer”. “Have you seen this new iPod Nano. Gotta get me one now”. “Just got my new car or bike or tv or whatever”. Distractions nowadays are manifold. They are everywhere. But the human heart remains the same.
You get the idea. The first who were invited declined. Something else matters more. “God is just not a priority for me”. “In this day and age people have better things to do than God”.
Now in our story, when the master found this out, he is angry. He’s been slighted. He’s made a great and generous offer and it’s been thrown back in his face. Rather than just stay mad at the insult of being rejected, he throws the doors to his part open wide and invites everybody, without prejudice or judgment.
Those who were poor, crippled, blind and lame, those who lived in the margins of society were now suddenly thrust into the limelight.
They, who society disdained, are now the honoured guests of the master. And the master’s purpose in all this…it is so that his house would be full.
Full of people relating to one another. Full of people eating and drinking and being merry in the presence of the master.
Full of people who knew that each had been invited, each had been called, each had been chosen to relish in the feast of the master.
This is a picture of God. He extends His invitation to all. At the time that Jesus was speaking, people would have understood that Jesus was talking about the Hebrew people to whom God had first come.
The promises of God were initially directed at the Hebrews. But the history of the people of God was that they would turn away from God time and again. So now, as Jesus spoke this parable, God was about to extend His gracious promises to the Gentiles.
Interestingly it was through faithful Hebrews – the first Christians were all Jewish – that the message of the gospel was to reach the highways and bi-ways of the world.
And the message is still proclaimed today, 2000 years later. The invitation still stands. Your name and my name are on the invite. The banquet is a symbol of life in Christ, life lived in the presence of God, life lived to the fullest through the person of Jesus Christ who comes to live in each person who receives Him as Saviour and Lord.
The Gospel of John 1: 12 says Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Each of us should consider our response. To those who identify as Christians or Christ-followers, the invitation is to a deeper life in Christ, a life more free and unfettered, a life that lived closer to the King of kings.
To those here today who do not know where they stand, you need to hear that God stands at the door of your life.
In Revelations 3:20 Jesus says this: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me”.
I’m thinking of the one here today who is ready. I’m thinking of the few here today who are ready to cross that threshold, from death to life, from spiritual starvation to the sumptuous banquet that is life in Christ.
For those few, can we create a little space here today? If you want to say “yes” to Jesus Christ today, then you can begin your journey with God by praying right now. God is here and He is listening. I’m going to lead in a simple prayer. It begins with a word of turning.
Turning away from sin and turning hearts toward God. We call that repentance. Then we pray, confessing that we believe that Jesus died for our sins and asking Jesus to forgive us of all our sins and to enter our lives, to enter our hearts.
If that sounds like something you want to do, then I invite you, as we all bow in prayer, to invite the Lord of heaven and earth to become your Saviour, your King, the One who redeems you life.
Let’s pray. Lord God, we come to you in the good and perfect name of Jesus. We come in gratitude this day for all you have done and all You are going to do.
God, I repent of my sins. I turn from the things that displease you, and I turn to you, the living One. Thank you that you’ve invited me to Your banquet. I say yes to your invitation. Thank you Jesus, that You died for my sins.
Thank you that You love me that much. I receive You now as my Lord and Saviour. I give my whole life to You, and I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and strengthen me that I might live for You my whole life.
Thank you Jesus for receiving me and making me a child of God. I pray in thanksgiving in the matchless name of Jesus. Amen.
Today is thanksgiving. In a few moments we will feast at banquet. We won’t be celebrating the Eucharist formally today, but as we dine together, let us dine, let us eat bread and food and drink together in remembrance of Jesus Christ, who lived and died and rose again that we might all enjoy abundant life. Amen.
