Thanksgiving Day quickly approaches and where I live, a snow storm is quickly approaching as well. As I sit here looking out at the rapidly falling snow, I am reminded of these verses in Isaiah 45:
“I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. ‘You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the LORD, have created it. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?”
During this season which we are all called to give thanks, to whom are you thankful? Thanksgiving implies that we have someone to thank. It implies that we have someone to praise for the many blessings and provisions we enjoy each day, the One who has rained (or snowed) down righteousness.
I recently read a book to my son called “Thanks for Thanksgiving”. In it, the writer says, “thanks for friends, family, etc.” but the book ends with a hollow feeling because nowhere in the book does it say to whom we should be showing our appreciation. This is why God laments through Isaiah, “Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands?'”
Isaiah seems to say what I feel, that there is no point in “giving thanks” unless we recognize the God who provides us with such wonderful things as family, friends, a warm home, good food and a beautiful earth to enjoy (yes, even the deep snow!). Don’t let your Thanksgiving holiday leave you empty in spirit even after your body is filled with food. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
“I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.”
Isaiah 45:5-7
WANT TO SPEAK WITH GRACE TO YOUR KIDS INSTEAD OF YELLING?
