By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

What does this Table Need?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“Give thanks in all circumstances…”
1 Thessalonians 5:18a New International Version

Recently I got to see a cranberry harvest on the coast of Washington.  It was a fascinating process as acres of cranberries were flooded and gathered and hauled off by the truckload.  And all those cranberries were helping millions of people get ready for a traditional Thanksgiving feast!

Will you be ready for Thanksgiving this year?  Perhaps you are already stocking up on turkey and pumpkin pie and sweet potatoes and cranberries and dressing.  Perhaps you are agonizing over how to invite people to your house in the midst of a pandemic.  Perhaps you are getting out the best china and tablecloths for your guests.

But haven’t you forgotten something?  Yes, you have all the right food, the right dishes, the right guests.  But have you forgotten the reason for the day?  That’s right, it is a day of Thanksgiving!  A day to stop and give thanks for wonderful blessings God has given to us; for food and family and health and houses and clothing and air and water and most of all, for Jesus!

“But,” you may say, “there is so much trouble and so many problems!  The virus and violence and anger and isolation and poverty and cruelty!  How can you give thanks?”

Why, it is very simple how you can give thanks.  You can give thanks in all circumstances, whether rich or poor, whether in sickness or health.  You can give thanks because you are a child of the King, made an heir of eternal life and peace with God.  No matter what our outward circumstances, no matter what the news may be, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  Yes, because God has given us all things in Christ Jesus.  So that in every circumstance, we will give thanks to God! Amen!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado