We Praise God for Sustaining Life in and through His Word

We Praise God for Sustaining Life in and through His Word
Deuteronomy 8:1–10
Thanksgiving C

As our Nation gathers around a National Day of Thanksgiving, we ask for what are we thankful, and to whom are we giving thanks?

As Chirstians we can answer the latter question to whom are we giving thanks, the answer of course is Jesus. The answer to both questions can be found in Luther’s explanation to the 4th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?

God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

Do evil people thank God for their daily bread, no. But believers do.

So on the National Day of thanksgiving, there may be a difference in what and to whom you are thankful, verse the rest of the nation.

Consider

Deuteronomy 8:3 (ESV) 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

These words may sound familiar, since Jesus quotes them when tempted in the wilderness, which should reinforce what it says, we live by God’s Word.

The Christian who possess God’s Word, that is who believe and trust in the promises of God, needs nothing nor lacks anything. For what more could humanity ask for that is better than God’s Holy Word?

Philippians 4:11–13 (ESV) 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

But what about food, health, family and friends. You know the typical stuff people around the Thanksgiving table say that they are thankful for.

The Christian is never really in want as long as we keep our trust in Jesus. Why, for we know that we go to Jesus and ask for and receive whatever we need from the Father, the creator of all. Of course just as parents teach their children the difference between needs and wants, so also God teaches us adults and children the differences between needs and wants as God generously gives us our daily bread.

And we can also enjoy whatever God gives to us as our daily bread, realizing all of it is a gift from God.

As we are leaning in our Thursday Bible Study on Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 5:19 (ESV) 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.

Enjoying God’s Daily bread also frees us from the envy of others because through faith we see God direct intervention in our lives.

But without faith, we see things, relationships, which never really satisfies us, so that there is an ache for more. But with faith we see as the Psalmist says in

Psalm 63:5–6 (ESV) 5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

But when was the last time we thanked God for the gift of faith, as St. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV) 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Picture it this way. You give a child a present. The child is happy with the gift and says thank you, and then uses the gift everyday for the rest of their lives. That would be the ideal situation. But what would happen if the child would say, “I don’t want this gift” or “I wanted a different gift instead” or maybe the child says thank you, but then ignores the gift. Would we be likely to give the child another gift? But yet, God still gives us our daily bread.

But what are people typically thankful for, family friends, their health, the physical blessings etc.

But Moses states that we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. God’s Holy Word.

Your faith and trust in God is the greatest gift you will ever receive. But when people gather around the Thanksgiving table, are we quick to thank God for the gift of faith, and boldly tell others what a wonderful gift we have in Christ, and state Peace Lutheran Church is a wonderful place to learn more about God’s greatest gift given.

We Praise God for Sustaining Life in and through His Word, for it is only through His Word that we have life now and for the rest of eternity.

Enjoy the daily bread, the physical gifts, family and friends during this national day of Thanksgiving. But also to continue to remember the Gift of Faith that God has given you. So if anyone asks you this Thanksgiving what you are thankful for you may say, the Christian Faith, for it is my life. Amen.

Philippians 4:7 (ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.