Intro: Out of the many nations of the world, America is one of only a few that celebrates Thanksgiving Day. In most nations there is not a day set apart to offer thanks. This thought hit me, it is because we were established as a Christian nation, and Christians have the most to be thankful for. Psalms 100 is very familiar to us, and today I would like to look at four points from this beautiful Psalm, and title my message, Doing Thanksgiving Right
Doing Thanksgiving Right
Psalms 100:1-5
Before we look at four points in doing Thanksgiving right, let’s see how Thanksgiving can be done wrong. Seeing it as just a day off from work is not the point, seeing it as a day to eat turkey is not the point, seeing it as a day of offering Thanks to God is the point.
I. Thanksgiving is about being a joyful person—v.1 when I met Lauri years ago she was a 2nd grade school teacher and sometimes I would stop by while her kids were outside during recess time. One thing about 2nd grade recess were the giggles. It is so much fun to be around little children running and playing and having fun. God loves giggles, He wants us to be joyful. I believe the reason Thanksgiving is a Christian day is that we have so much to be happy about: our sins washed away, a new life in Jesus Christ, a hope for eternity.
· The joy of the Lord is our strength—as a Christian joy is a big part of our life. In this world there will be a lot of things that can pull people down, but as a Christian, having the Lord in our lives brings great joy.
· Doctor Dale Robbins writes: I use to think people complained because they had problems, but have found people have problems because they complain. Complaining never makes a situation better, and generally makes it worse. It amplifies discontentment, discord and frustration. Psalms 77:3- I complained and my spirit was over-whelmed.
Ill) if you look hard enough, there is always a bright side to everything. Snoopy was complaining about being a dog on Thanksgiving because everyone was eating turkey. Finally, he saw the good side of it all, at least I’m not the turkey.
II. Thanksgiving is about Worshipping God—v.2 come before His presence with singing. The reason Christians are the only ones who can do Thanksgiving right is because it is all about Worshipping God.
The story of the 10 lepers being cleansed and only one returning to worship the Lord is a picture of our world. Jesus said, were there not nine others cleansed? Today we want to be the one, the one who stops to Thank God, Worship Him.
· We have all read stories of thanklessness, but this week I read a story of one man who was a great swimmer who rescued 17 people. Later he was interviewed as a hero and was asked to comment on the entire event. He said, what amazed me the most is that no one said thank you.
Doing Thanksgiving right is about Worship. As a Christian you can
Do thanksgiving every day by having a heart of worship. Revelation
4:11 states, “ and for thy pleasure we are created, thou art worthy oh
Lord.” We are created to worship God.
III. Thanksgiving is about Knowing God—v.3 we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. The reason Christians are the only ones who can do Thanksgiving right is because we know God and God knows us.
Ill) if you have ever been to a professional golf tournament you have stood behind the ropes. The players are on the course and a rope separates you from them. An old clip of Jack Nicklaus that he said is one of his most memorable events in his career, was when his young son Jackie ran out on the course during a major championship and jumped into his outstretched arms. To everyone else Jack was the golfer, but for Jackie he was dad.
This knowing God is personal not professional, it is relational not theological. For anyone to do Thanksgiving right they must know God in Spirit and know God in Truth.
IV. Thanksgiving is about saying Thank You—v.4 This seems like such a simple point but it is so simple we miss it. Just like Christmas has become X-Mas, Thanksgiving will be missed if we don’t offer thanks to God.
Ill) on a crowded New York City bus a man got up and offered his seat to a lady, she was so over-whelmed by the kindness she passed out, when she came too she said thank you to the man, and he passed out. It is so sad that the offering of Thanks has become an oddity in our world.
Be thankful unto Him—I read an article about garages becoming a popular trend in the early 50’s and normally it was a one car garage. Now three car garages, storage sheds, extra attic space are norms for our society. It is amazing that the more we have the less thankful we become—offer thanks to Him. Be thankful for health, be thankful for another day, be thankful for your family and friends.
Ill) Kipling became very wealthy as a writer. A very cynical reporter found him one day and said, Mr. Kipling, it has been discovered you make as much as 100 dollars for every word you write. The reporter pulled out a 100 dollar bill, handed it to Mr. Kipling and said, could you give me a 100 dollar word. Mr. Kipling folded the bill, put it in his pocket and said, Thanks. Surely thanks is the 100 dollar word. Surely Christians can do Thanksgiving right.
Close: This week let’s do Thanksgiving right by being joyful, by Worshipping God, by knowing God, and by saying Thanks.
Today, I’m am thankful for my family, I am thankful for this church, but most of all, I am thankful for the blood, I am thankful for the cross, I am thankful for the grace that is amazing.
Ill) years ago while at Central Bible College in Springfield Missouri, I was part of a ministry team to a local nursing home on Wednesday nights. I would do a short devotional after some singing and prayer time. A retired English teacher in her 80’s attended and would critique my sermon, especially my grammar. She would always thank me for these short sermons and said these services were very uplifting to her. Many years later a letter came from her family to us saying she had passed away. They related how that she was very depressed and down about being in a nursing home, but those Wednesday night services had put a spark in her life and a renewed faith in God. They wanted to thank me for those Wednesday night services that had meant so much to their mom. That letter meant a lot to me, and whenever ministry gets a little difficult I always remember, one plants, one waters and God gives the increase, so we thank God for the increase every day.
