Web hosting Custom Email SiteBuilder

Deuteronomy 8:7-19

The nation of Israel had come a long way to get to the Promised Land. If you remember the story of the Exodus from Sunday School you know that is true. Their journey to the Promised Land began in slavery. God heard their cries and called Moses to tell old Pharaoh, "Let my people go!" But Pharaoh just made their work harder.

Ten plagues later Pharaoh let them go. Then he decided to kill them all instead. But God made a way for Israel through the sea. God parted the sea and destroyed their enemies.

That was only the beginning. The rest of the journey took 40 years. For 40 years God fed the people bread from heaven. For 40 years God gave them water in the desert. For 40 years God taught Israel what it means to be God's people.

When they finally reached the Promised Land, God reminded them to give credit where credit was due. They would soon enter and posses the land. And it was a good land. A land flowing with milk and honey. A land with abundant water and crops. And the people would prosper in that land.

They would build big cities. They would construct houses and communities. They would built presses for wine and olives, and produce products. They would trade their goods with far away empires and become rich. They would change from a wandering band of escaped slaves into a major power in the world as they knew it.

So God said, "When this happens don't forget who made it all possible." "When you live in fine houses instead of tents, when your herds cover the land and you make profits from pelts and meat, when you eat off the land and have plenty left over, when your standard of living gets steadily better, don't say to yourself, 'Look what good I have done.' Don't give thanks to your own ability or hard work or intelligence. Remember that it was God who brought you here and made all of these good things possible. Honor God, keep the commandments, and be faithful to the covenant."

That's what Thanksgiving is all about: giving credit to God for the blessings we have. The pilgrims who founded this thanksgiving feast came a long way to get to America. They started in religious oppression. In the Europe of state run churches dissention was paramount to rebellion. People who worshipped or believed differently were in constant danger.

So the pilgrims set out across the sea. And God made a way for them through the sea. Despite getting lost and even landing in the wrong place, they made it.

But the place they landed was a wilderness. This was not a promised land by Biblical standards. It was rich, but it was also rugged. But they were blessed with freedom. And with the help of their Native American neighbors they learned to cultivate the land.

But on the threshold of that new nation, they stopped and said thanks. They acknowledged from the beginning that it was God who had made their freedom possible. And it was God who had blessed them with food to see them through the winter. And by doing so they set an example for all who came after them to follow.

The nation of the United States of America has come a long way since then. After the pilgrims, many others came seeking religious freedom. Many came seeking economic opportunity. Some fled famine. Some fled war. Some fled persecution. Some were brought over against their will.

The nation we have become is much different from those humble pilgrim/colonist/slave beginnings. When America started we just had enough food to see us from one season to the next. Now our surplus grain feeds the hungry of the world. America started as a bunch of poor colonies. Now we are the richest and most powerful nation in the world.

We've come a long way. From oppressed people to a moral influence in the world. From colony to superpower. From wilderness to industrial giant. We have built cities and factories and fine houses. We have come to expect our standard of living to rise.

And many years after our forebears set foot on this continent, we hear God's word. And it tells us not to forget who made all these blessings possible. "When you have built fine houses and lived in them, when you have comfort and wealth, when you enjoy freedom and safety, don't give yourself credit. Give God the credit."

So we have a feast day of giving thanks. But Thanksgiving Day should be just the beginning. God's says, "Therefore, keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and fearing him."(Deut. 8:6) Praying and feasting are fine, but righteousness and mercy are more important. God had commanded that we believers be a holy people. If we are really thankful, we should do justice, love kindness, and seek mercy. We should care for the widow, the orphan, the homeless, the unborn. We should show hospitality to the stranger. We should love our neighbors.

Are you thankful for what God had given you? If you are then give thanks to God. Bow your head and pray and enjoy on the blessings God has covered your table with. But then serve God in the way you live. God has blessed you immeasurably, but there are those who don't know the blessings you do. There are people in this community who don't know the freedoms you do. There are people who don't have the love and support of the community that you do. Do justice. Love kindness. Seek mercy. That is what giving thanks is all about.

Sermons & Sermon - Lectionary Resources: lectionary based sermons and worship resources.

Lectionary Sermons of Rev. Alex Stevenson: Revised Common Lectionary based sermons from previous years written for the next three upcoming lectionary dates.