In
the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless
us.” So we sang in the Psalm
earlier. Indeed, the earth has yielded its increase. Harvest has
taken place, the fruits of the labor have been stored away, and plans
have been made for the profits. Things are good, and now it is time
for a winter of rest, while you plan for next year. God shall bless
us.
On the face of it, things seem rosy and cheery. Even the pagans
around us stop and celebrate Thanksgiving, even if only by
presidential proclamation. The people of our nation give thanks, even
if they have no idea to whom they offer their thanks. American civil
religion sees its holy day of obligation fulfilled. All is quiet on
the home front, except perhaps on the football field.
However, to whom is thanks due? What good is a day of national
thanksgiving if no one knows to whom we render it? Even Christians
are tempted to fall into the trap of sappy, Hallmark-card
sentimentality around this time of year. Things are great, and so God
is happy with us. We like God, and so He likes us. He blesses us,
while those other naughty people starve and go to hell. We give
thanks for big turkeys, smooth gravy, and the caffeine that will
power us through all the Black Friday insanity. At least for this
week, God is an American, a capitalist, and a faceless, benevolent
force.
For what are you thankful? How
about for toilet paper, or for that matter a flush toilet? Let's talk
about things to be thankful for, if we are going to be honest in our
thanksgiving. Paying taxes, because it means you have earned money
this year. The lower harvest this year, because it is still better
than the nothing so many farmers reaped. A deer hitting your car,
because it means that you have a running car and that our land
continues to grow and be fruitful. Presidential campaigns, because
they mean that we live in a republic where free elections happen and
even people you think are stupid can be represented in government.
Are you thankful for these things?
In the verse that follows our Old
Testament reading, Moses issues a warning to the people of Israel:
“Take
care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his
commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you
today.”
This is how to be thankful – do what the Lord commands. For the
thankfulness that flows out of your own heart is faulty, lacking,
incomplete. You cannot sing “Now thank we all our God” before
confessing “I am a poor miserable sinner.” You have laid your
sacrifices of praise at the altar of another, whether it is your own
machinations, the handout of your government, or one of the other
idols who lay claim to your sinful heart. Repent, and remember the
one who called you out of this bondage.
The
Lord your God has brought you into this land. He laid the iron on the
ground and the copper in the hills. He makes the livestock breed and
the crops sprout. He makes the sun shine and the rain fall. He has
brought you out of the land of slavery, out of the house of bondage.
He has been lifted up upon the cross on your account. How do you
remember His wondrous works on your behalf? “You
shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his
ways and by fearing him.”
Remember
the Sabbath Day by letting God work His grace in you. Bow before the
cross of Christ, where the Lamb of God was slain for the forgiveness
of your sins. Stand not before the tomb devoid of our Lord, but kneel
before the altar set by Him and covered with His Body and Blood. Hear
the proclamation from His lips: “It is finished!” Your sins are
no more, the record of your debts is erased. Eat His Bread and drink
His Cup, and proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Let the
Absolution ring forth, resounding in your ears and residing in your
hearts. Give thanks with a heart that is grateful because it has been
cleansed by the Holy Spirit poured into you. Show forth the Lord's
death, which you carry about in your bodies, that all may see and
glorify God with you.
Moses
says, do what the Lord commands, and therein you remember His
wondrous deeds. Fear, love and trust in Him above all things.
Remember with your heart and soul and mind and spirit that it is He
who has given you all things, and who daily and richly provides for
you out of His fatherly, divine goodness and mercy. Call upon Him in
all trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks to Him. Let your praises
ascend, not into the nebulous cloud of Americanity, but to the Lord
God of Israel, the Holy One who has redeemed your life from the pit.
As surely as He has given you lips to speak, He has promised to hear
the prayers of His children and to answer according to His bounty and
wisdom.
What
is the best way to demonstrate gratitude? To use the gifts that have
been given. So use God's gifts to you. Enjoy your turkey and fixin's
on Thursday. If you dare, shop wisely on Friday. Come soon and often
to the Lord's Table to receive Him with His grace and mercy for you.
Proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Love and serve your
neighbor in need, even as He has loved and served you in your need,
and He provides for you this and every day. Hear His Word and recount
His glorious deeds for the children of man. “God
shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear Him!”
Open
our eyes to see Your love's intent,
To
know with minds and hearts its depth and height;
May
thankfulness be days in service spent,
Reflection
of Christ's life and love and light (LSB 788.6).
In
the Name of Jesus. Amen.
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