A Plan for Thanksgiving
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Introduction
Introduction
This passage on 1 Peter has been a wonderful study for me. I hope that you have gleaned from it some insights that will help you along your journey as a Christian. It is suitable to end on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, as I have found several keys in these last few verses that could be helpful for you and I as we develop a plan for Thanksgiving.
1 Peter 5:
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
The first key I see here in developing a plan for Thanksgiving is
Be Thankful for Where You are Right Now
Be Thankful for Where You are Right Now
This life we lead is a journey. On this journey, we are going to have good times and not so good times. We have seed throughout this book that Peter has shared with us over and over that we are going to suffer. You and I are either going through a trial, we have gone through a trial, or we are about to go through a trial.
Verse 10, once again says that once you have suffered for a little while, God Himself will restore you, make you strong, make you firm, and make you steadfast.
Our suffering is temporary. And OUR GOD IS BIGGER!
With that promise, we can be thankful for where we are right now.
How many times have you heard me in the last year quote
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
You see if we
I have heard people say, “but you don’t know my circumstances.” Listen to this, Your circumstances will change. But don’t let your circumstances change you.”
This one verse shows me that suffering is temporary. I am going to be restored by God Himself. I am going to be made strong. I am going to be made firm, and I am going to be made steadfast.
What a beautiful understanding of the Grace of God!
What a beautiful gift we have been given!
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9
When you get a gift, what do you do?
You say thank you!
We have been given a gift that assures us that whatever we are going through, God is about to restore us Himself.
In order to develop a plan of thanksgiving, first and foremost, we must have the mindset to be thankful for where we are right now. Are you thankful enough to pray?
The second key I find in this passage in developing a plan for Thanksgiving, is
Being Thankful for the ONE Who Brings you through
Being Thankful for the ONE Who Brings you through
Verse 11 continues the thought of verse 10, but does so like an exclamation point as the end of a sentence you want to emphasize.
To Him be the Power for ever and ever. Amen.
Are you able to be thankful for the One Who Brings you through?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
roman
to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Romans
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy
to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
God is eternal, without beginning and without end.
God in His Great Power is capable of meeting our needs!
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Are you able to thank Him for His great power?
Are you able to thank Him for being everlasting?
Are you able to thank Him for being the One that brings you through?
A third key that I find in this passage for developing a plan for Thanksgiving is
Being Thankful for the OPPORTUNITY to grow as a Christian
Being Thankful for the OPPORTUNITY to grow as a Christian
Who as helped you grow as a Christian? I think of people in my life that have helped me grow:
Sunday School Teachers
Coaches
Mentors
You
Peter mentions Silas as one that has helped him write this letter. What an encouragement to have someone that helps you like this to grow as a Christian.
Let me encourage you today to say thank you to those that have helped you in your growth as a Christian. Write them a note, send them a card, give them a call. Be a source of encouragement to them as they have been to you!
Silas was helping Peter write a letter that eventually became part of the Word of God. We are so fortunate to have God’s word so readily available to us! A recent statistic shows that the average american has access to 4.4 bibles. I have 7 on my desk as I type this and three bible apps on my smartphone right now!
We can get instruction, advice, wisdom, comfort, encouragement and details on how we should live all from this readily available Word of God!
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews
Hebrews
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
Psalm 119
Are you thankful for God’s word?
The phrase “encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God” reminds me a second time in this passage of the need to say thank you God for Your grace!
Are you thankful for God’s grace?
Additionally as I see this key about being thankful for the opportunity to grow as a Christian the admonition at the end of verse 12 to “stand fast in it.”
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:
By the way....It was Aaron Tippen that sang “you have to stand for something of you’ll fall for anything...”
Are you thankful for being able to stand fast in His grace?
One of my favorite singers is Larnelle Harris. Several years ago he sang a song called
Were it not for Grace.
Were it not for grace
I can tell you where Id be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me
I know how that would go
The battles I would face
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
Were it not for grace
I can tell you where Id be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me
I know how that would go
The battles I would face
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
I tell you, I read that chorus and see the words in this passage and I have to stop, and say thank you Lord for your grace and thank you Lord that I can stand fast in it!
So as you are preparing this week for the holiday season to begin and as you are developing this plan for Thanksgiving, I want to encourage you to
Be thankful for where you are right now
Be thankful for the One Who brings you through
Be thankful for the Opportunity to grow as a Christian
And I want to encourage you to be thankful for the fact that there are other believers around the world that are in this journey with you!
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
Babylon was a city of evil. She is reference to the church close to Babylon that was existing in an evil location, most likely Rome. Yet Peter emphasizes the need to mention this church along with Mark as those that send greetings.
Are you thankful for those other believers outside of your immediate family ?
Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
The final verse in our passage gives us a wonderful picture.
I am not going to open that can of worms.....greeting with a kiss. But I will ask, how’s your love life? Are you able to love each other the way that you are loved in Christ?
Are you thankful for the gift of PEACE?
People Encouraged And Christ Exalted