A Devotional for Fri. 11/29/24 by Seth Walker
RECEIVE and REFLECT: Even though today is the day after Thanksgiving - I challenge you to keep Thanksgiving going today … and every day!
Do you have any traditions that you uphold this time of year? My family always sets aside time for each of us to talk about what we’re thankful for. We also like to put up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving night!
But one of my favorite traditions began a few years ago with our youth group and continues each year. The Sunday before Thanksgiving, we go to a neighborhood we’ve been serving and give the people there bags fi lled with all the ingredients they need to serve their family Thanksgiving dinner!
Now, I don’t bring this up to brag about the group or say, “Look at us and all we are doing.” I share this because it has impacted me more than I thought it would, especially in light of the following verse:
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).
In all honesty, when we started doing the Thanksgiving Dinner bags, I’m not sure my intentions were in the right place. Sure, we were fulfilling a need, and I knew the students were learning from this experience. However, I am not sure I was thankful to be doing it. Why? Hey, it’s cold this time of year! Also, embarrassingly enough, it took away some of my precious football-watching time! I know, maybe that isn’t your struggle. But we can all learn from what I learned.
I was so humbled when I saw the thankfulness of the people receiving our meal packages. One lady told us that she was going to be able to have her family over for Thanksgiving for the first time in 10 years! She got to serve and provide for her family, ... which was one of her favorite ways to show love. She hadn’t had that opportunity for a while due to the unfortunate cards she was dealt.
What an eye-opener! This taught me to be thankful for many little things in my life, to stop complaining about things that I took for granted, and to serve others with a thankful heart.
When I first started, I was not sure I was doing this for God’s glory. I was doing it for myself, maybe to make myself feel better or look better. But after I saw the impact it made, I was humbled and thankful that God used me to be a part of His ministry.
So yes, Thanksgiving is about being thankful in words, but it is also about our actions.
RESPOND and REVEAL: Follow your gratitude journal prompts to determine some exciting steps you’ll take today and next week!