I love Thanksgiving. In 1863 during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln set aside the fourth Thursday of November as a holiday, proclaiming “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
On this Thanksgiving Day, a new Truth from a familiar verse jumped out during my quiet time.
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying “Take and eat; this is my body.’” –Matthew 26:26.
From the first Lord’s Supper to today’s Lord’s Supper, the same sentiment is expressed in each sacrament. Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it away.
1) Jesus took and gave thanks. 2) Jesus broke it and gave it away.
1. May we give thanks for everything we are given, for every person, every circumstance in our life. May we have an attitude of gratitude. It’s hard to grumble when you’re grateful. So often I/we complain over what we don’t have instead of thanking God for the many blessings we do have. I am guilty of this.
2. Jesus broke the bread before He gave it away. Although Jesus could, He does not use anything or anyone unless the item or person is broken.
The bread was/is broken, not whole.
The wine came/comes from smushed, fermented grapes.
Even His own body had to be broken on the cross to save all of us from our sins.
He broke Himself in order to give Himself away. May it be so of us as we live each day giving thanks. Thanks-LIVING.
Jesus only uses us when we are broken and available to Him. Recently I have felt so weak and inadequate. His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10). Oh friend, I am desperately dependent on Him, and it’s so liberating.
God is a promise-keeping, miracle-working God. He wants us to rely on Him as we live each day with gratitude.
Thanks and Brokenness. Jesus both focused on gratitude and brokenness in life and in the sacrament of communion.
As we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving, let’s use Jesus’ example to take and give thanks. Will you take on the challenge with me to turn this Thanksgiving into Thanks-LIVING? Not just one day of the year, but every day.
Happy Thanks-Living, dear friend.
Reflect:
- How will you transform Thanksgiving into Thanks-Living?
- For what, for whom are you thankful?
Renew:
- “Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.” –Psalm 98:7-9.
- “Enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” –Psalm 100:4.
- “He must become greater; I must become less.” –John 3:30
- “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” –2 Corinthians 12:9a-10b.
Recharge:
- Let’s start a new Gratitude Journal this week and list at least three blessings daily. It could be a warm house, your health, laughter, cozy coats and boots.
- Please let me know of some of your many blessings.
Resource:
Danya Jordan