Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving

November 19, 1995
Psalm 100
Philippians 4
John 6

I have just two simple thoughts for you this morning, thoughts to take with you into our American Thanksgiving week.     

Thanksgiving is a great holiday, with a great theme— and a brings up a pretty complex response in most of us that includes Pilgrims and football on TV and pumpkin pie and some familiar songs like we are singing this morning. Next Wednesday will be the busiest day of the year at Logan International Airport, even busier than Christmas week. We go "home" wherever that may be if we can. Thanksgiving is a good time, when people of good will can get together to thank God for life itself. Thanksgiving, you already know, was not invented by the Pilgrims. Thanksgiving is a central theme of the Bible.

Two simple thoughts for thanksgiving: (first)

THINK OF THANKSGIVING AS A FOCUS FOR LIFE

     We enter the sanctuary of God's Presence in the act of thanksgiving. "Enter God's gates with thanksgiving, and come into his courts with praise!"

We begin to understand faith itself through returning God's love. There is tremendous power released by deliberately acknowledging God as the Source of all that is good.

Just this week I was reading an essay about the Christian apologist (and mystery writer) G.K. Chesterton by a scholar named Kent Hill. He wrote "For Chesterton the origin of theology was gratitude. Near the end of his life he described his youth as a troubled time when he hung on to religion 'by one thin thread of thanks.'"

Life as we must live it is complex and at times chaotic. The good is often the enemy of the better and the best. Life is not always fair. But by faith we can affirm that God is good! We Christians have a simple trust at the very heart of our faith. It is the simple trust that God IS, and that God is GOOD! True thanksgiving helps us focus in on what is really important, really vital in life and living.

The ability to be grateful is itself a gift from God. Praise and thanksgiving are Creation's way of staying in tune with its Creator. "All nature sings, and round me ring the music of the spheres." This is my father's world.

There is something powerful about deliberately acknowledging God as the Source of good.

There is power in simply, from our hearts, giving God thanks and praise. Thomas a Kempis, in The Imitation of Christ, wrote: Simplicity and purity are the two wings by which a person is lifted up above all earthly things. Simplicity is in the intention, purity is in the affection. Simplicity (looks) to God, purity (joins with) - "tastes" Him.

He went on: Nothing can hinder you if you are inwardly free from inordinate affection. If you intend and seek nothing but the will of God and the good of your neighbor, you will enjoy eternal liberty...

In a dirty and often chaotic world God gives us the gifts of simplicity and purity; simplicity to see God as the source of all good, and by His indwelling Spirit, purity of love to join with God by his grace

It sounds too simplistic to say that all these good things of faith begin with thanksgiving. But humbly bow and praise God for Himself. Thank Him for the great gift of grace. As the Psalmist tells us— this is how God's people enter the place of worship. This comes at the beginning! "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, come into His courts with Praise! be thankful unto Him and bless His name!" The second thought for thanksgiving is just as simple. That is that thanksgiving is a choice we need to make deliberately.

REALIZE THAT THANKSGIVING IS A CHOICE

Bundle up your deepest hurts, your greatest frustrations, your hidden sins, your inmost fears— and give them to a loving Father in prayer with thanksgiving. (Look at it again, there in your worship folder:

"In the act of giving thanks God can release His peace in us!") Giving thanks becomes sacrament— that is, it becomes an outward sign that validates an inward, spiritual reality. Giving thanks as we bring our concerns to God, is a lightning rod for peace— a means of grace!

We really don't have a great deal of choice about important things in this chaotic world. We did not choose to be born, nor to be born white or black or brown or rich or poor. We do not really guide the destinies of our nation or world, usually. All the same God does give us the power to choose not only our eternal destiny, but the spirit in which we shall journey through time toward eternity.

God gives us the gift of praise and thanksgiving to enter his courts .

We can fret, complain or we can praise and be aligned with God's peace

Conclusion - IN THE SIXTH CHAPTER OF JOHN Jesus talked about bread— and selfishness— and choices. Some took his bread and followed Him selfishly. They did not understand His LOVE. They never made the vital connection of the blessings with the Blesser. They were offended when Jesus demanded they share His very life. (6:66)

Jesus said to the disciples—"Are you going away, too?" Their choice then, is ours, now. Peter spoke for us all: "Lord— we CHOOSE You! YOU have all that we want or need!" (In closing let us read again Phil 4, etc. -worship folder) Re-read "Act of Worship" -Hymn Response 773 For the Fruit of All Creation