Most Americans have begun preparations for this year’s
Thanksgiving holiday, looking forward to this special time with family and
friends over good food. As believers, of
course, we don’t limit giving thanks to God to a single day, because giving
thanks is the keynote of our lives and our worship.

In Ephesians 5:19-20,
the apostle Paul wrote: “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.”  (NIV 1984)

The Greek-speaking Christians called the Lord’s Supper Eucharist, which means “thanksgiving.” And no wonder, because the greatest gift of all is the gift of God’s
Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus has washed away all our sins, become one with us in
such a way that he will never let us go, raised us with him in his resurrection
and included us in the fellowship he has with the Father.

In Jesus, we find that the Father loves us unconditionally, and that
the Father sent his Son not out of anger or a need to punish someone, but out
of his immeasurable love and his unbending commitment to our redemption.  We see this in Ephesians 2:1-10.

And even though none of us deserves God’s
favor, he loves us anyway. He not only forgives all our sins, but also lives in
us by the Holy Spirit and transforms us into people who love him and love
others just as he loves us.

Titus 2:11-14
says, “For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men.  It
teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for
the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify
for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”  (NIV)

There
is no greater comfort than to know that God is faithful to us, even when we are
not faithful to him. Like the father of the prodigal son, God never gives up on
us, and always runs to meet us in joy when he sees us coming down the path
toward home.

That’s
the gospel – the good news of God’s love for every one of us – good news that
we have the blessing to spread. And I want all of our viewers and listeners to
know that it is your faithfulness in prayer and in financial support, and the
faithfulness of others like you, that makes us able to spread this good
news.

So
again, let me thank you for all you do in Christ’s service and for being
who you are in him. May God bless you with a joyous Thanksgiving celebration!

I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of LIFE.