Thanksgiving Eve 2019 THE APPETIZER
God’s Love and his Plans for Us
SCRIPTURE READING AND DEVOTION Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to give you peace, not disaster, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come to pray to me, and I will listen to you. When you seek me, you will find me, when you will seek me with all your heart. A feast often begins with appetizers. We all have our favorites…cheese and crackers, maybe some summer sausage, little meatballs you have to eat with toothpicks, shrimp with cocktail sauce, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts. The possibilities are endless! You’re not supposed to fill up on these. They are just to get you started, to leave you wanting more. If you’re more fancy than our family is, your appetizer flavors coordinate with the flavors of the main meal. This way, they give the taste buds an idea of what is to come. Appetizers also increase hunger, preparing you for the feast’s main attraction. That’s kind of the way it was with the words Jeremiah spoke to God’s people back in about 600 BC, before God’s people would be taken away into captivity in Babylon, before their land would be decimated and their temple destroyed because they continually turned from the LORD and worshipped false gods. Jeremiah had to tell them some things they didn’t want to hear. They would lose their land, their worship life, and live in a foreign land. All this would be judgment upon their sin. They were told this years before it happened. In my mind, that news must have been like getting Brussel sprout hors d’oeuvres or something wrapped around a pickle before the meal. But on the table with things they didn’t like was something amazing, something wonderful, something so appetizing! It whetted their appetite for good things that God had in store for them. The promise in those verses we read were something special for those people and they are an “appetizer” for us too! Just as they received God’s promise of peace, protection, and a planned future with their Lord, so do we! These words remind us that God has an intentional love, a love that considered you and had a plan for you even before he opened his mouth and commanded that everything in this world and universe come into existence! Before we pick up our forks and dig in, considering the copious blessings of our God, the words of Jeremiah’s appetizer whet our appetite, letting us know that we have a good and loving God who intends blessings for us and looks forward to receiving our attention and our love. PRAYER M: Dear Lord, we thank you that you have revealed yourself as a gracious and loving God. We thank you that before we were born, you knew us and had good intentions and blessings planned for our lives. We pray that this knowledge, like an appetizer, would increase our desire to know, love, and worship you, and to eat of the rich spiritual food you freely offer in your Word and sacraments. May we never doubt that you love us, despite the days of sorrow we might experience in this sinful world; rather, cause us to walk closely with you throughout our lives. C: Amen.
THE FIRST COURSE SCRIPTURE READING AND DEVOTION
The Blessings of this Life Matthew 6:25-34
“For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “Which of you can add a single moment to his lifespan by worrying? Why do you worry about clothing? Consider how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not clothe you even more, you of little faith? “So do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unbelievers chase after all these things. Certainly your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
After appetizers, the first course is placed on the table. Usually it is soup or salad—and not a huge bowl of some thick and hearty soup or one of those salads that entirely replaces a meal! Maybe a bisque or a garden salad with a flavorful dressing. Tasty, but not filling—not the kind of thing that would entirely satisfy you if you got up from the table after eating it. This course certainly would not provide all the nutrition a person wants from a meal. The earthly blessings that you and I enjoy—and the kind of things that prompt a national day of Thanksgiving in our country—are kind of like the first course of a feast. Jesus spoke of these daily blessings provided by the Lord as he preached his Sermon on the Mount. That’s where these words are from. Food and drink, clothes to wear—the necessities of life, tangible, physical things—all are provided by the God who loves us and considers us more valuable than the birds and flowers that he cares for daily. We don’t need to worry about such things, Jesus says, because the Lord knows we need them and he gives them to us and allows us to enjoy them every single day. Most of us acknowledge that the Lord’s generosity with these kinds of things is awesome and undeserved—we have far more than we actually need to live. On a night like this and a day of Thanksgiving tomorrow, it is appropriate to offer prayers to God to help us be content with all the good things he has given to us. Sadly, many people mistakenly stop here, push their chairs away from the table, get up and leave! But the feast is not over—not for Christians! Earthly blessings are not the main course! They are not enough for any person and they are not everything that is necessary! But before we get on to the Main Course and Sides and Dessert, let’s let this course settle for a minute. PRAYER M: Dear Lord, we thank you for the physical blessings of this life. Forgive us for the times we have focused on the first course so much that we have forgotten about the main course to come. Forgive us for the times we have grumbled and complained. Forgive us for the times we have not been content. Forgive us for the times we have been envious and covetous of our neighbor’s possessions and blessings. You have been so gracious to us in all that you have given. Continue to bless us with our daily bread. C: Amen.
MAIN COURSE
God’s Spiritual Blessings in Christ
RESPONSIVE SCRIPTURE READINGS M: For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, C: that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 M: At one time, you were alienated from God and hostile in your thinking as expressed through your evil deeds. C: But now Christ reconciled you in his body of flesh through death, in order to present you holy, blameless, and faultless before him. Colossians 1:21-22 M: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. C: The old has passed away. The new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 M: All these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. C: That is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. And he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 DEVOTION This is it! This is the main event! The time for tiny foods on toothpicks and salads and soups is over. We’re ready for that Thanksgiving centerpiece—juicy turkey, cooked to perfection, properly carved, full of protein, vitamins and minerals that the body needs! The beautiful main course is placed at the center of the table for every person to enjoy! In the world of food, we love when things are “all natural” because we understand that to mean that it is better for us. But when it comes to people, “all natural” means that we are sinful. We quite naturally inherited a sinful nature from our parents and they from theirs, all the way back to Adam and Eve. We actually commit sins too, things that offend the holy God. We admitted to that in our last prayer. In that sick condition, we don’t have what we need to survive in the presence of God. So we become beggars, asking God for the “food” that makes us healthy. When it comes to the feast with God, every person comes to the table “starving,” you might say. We need nourishment that can only come from the Lord. In the same way that the main course arrives at the table and is put there for everyone, God puts important “food” on the table for every person to have. In order for the soul to live with God now and eternally, it needs the delicious gospel of sins forgiven through Jesus Christ. This life-giving food is the Main Course. It is what Isaiah pictured: Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost (v.1). The love that Jesus showed to the world cost him his perfect life, but it costs us nothing. By the grace of God, we receive the benefit he earned on the cross—our sins were paid for there. By faith in Jesus, we have forgiveness and the promise of eternal life…and it costs us nothing.
We are thankful for this most of all—not just at Thanksgiving, but every day. This is why we feast on the gospel daily as we read God’s Word and study it together and come to the Lord’s Supper in worship. We recognize the decadent grace given to us—and our need for it—so we fill up on it. The gospel, this Main Course, is the “food” that we all need and we are supremely blessed to have. PRAYER M: Dear Lord Jesus, the main course is the most important course of all. You have given us your best, your love and your very life. You have done this so that we might have eternal life. When it comes to eating this main dish, may we be the first in line. Continue to fill us with the rich, spiritual food of this message all our lives. May this strengthen and comfort us as we look forward to our heavenly home that you have won for us by grace. C: Amen.
THE SIDE DISHES
God’s Unique Blessings Upon Us
SCRIPTURE READING AND DEVOTION Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I lack anything; in fact, I have learned to be content in any circumstances in which I find myself. I know what it is to live in humble circumstances, and I know what it is to have more than enough. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, while being full or hungry, while having plenty or not enough. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Isn’t the variety of side dishes at a feast wonderful? Platters and bowls of potatoes and stuffing, squash and other vegetables, breads and rolls. These make the meal interesting, don’t they? Even the Jell-O and the fluffy stuff that has marshmallows in it! Are you picturing the colors and textures and smells and tastes that these bring to the feast?! They are also needed for the carbs and all sorts of nutrients they provide for the body to thrive. This evening we think of the unique blessings that God has gifted us with as being kind of like those side dishes. The Apostle Paul understood that the Lord had given him what he needed at different times. He actually learned to be content with whatever the Lord provided for him. Whatever God gave him—food, material things, abilities—he used to do everything Christ called him to do, while relying on the strength provided by his Savior. This is true of us also, isn’t it? The Lord continues to be with us during the “up” times and the “down” times. He does not go away. He does not withhold his love and care. He provides us with all sorts of things that make us unique and interesting. He gives us special talents, spiritual gifts, particular training or education, opportunities, wealth, special people in our lives and special loves. Even the challenges that are particular to us, are there for our good. They draw us continually to God, moving us to seek his help. They serve to keep us close to Christ and to rely on his strength. What a variety of “side dishes” fills our lives!
PRAYER M: Dear Lord, we thank you for the unique, individual blessings you have given us along the path of our life. Talents, education, special love, opportunities, friends, promotions, and many more gifts have blessed our days. We also thank you that at the proper time you chasten us and discipline us, giving us crosses which you use to draw us closer to you. Although we may not always understand these trials, may we bear them cheerfully for your sake and in your name. C: Amen.
THE DESSERT
The Joys of Heaven
SCRIPTURE READING AND DEVOTION Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer existed. And I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And from the throne I heard a loud voice that said, “Look! God’s dwelling is with people. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away.” The one who was seated on the throne said to me, “Look, I am making everything new!” He also said, “Write, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Naturally, when you attend a feast, you have to have the dessert! It’s funny, I don’t eat pumpkin pie at any other time during the course of the year, but I really have to have a piece at Thanksgiving! The same is true of pecan pie too, now that I think about it! My guess is that many of you are the same. Sometimes, for as much as we enjoy the appetizers, the soups and salads, the meat and all the sides, we’re even more excited for the desserts. Isn’t that true when it comes the Lord’s feast? The appetizer-promises of God’s love and a plan for our lives are wonderful. The first-course-daily-blessings we receive from his goodness make life possible and enjoyable. The main course of his undeserved love in Jesus frees us from sin and lifts our spirits, bringing praise from our lips. The unique blessings in our lives, the side dishes, are so appreciated and move us to serve God with those things and to rely on his strength. It is all so wonderful, so delicious, so satisfying! But eternal life in heaven is the dessert at the end of the feast. That’s what we really want, isn’t it?! Jesus has saved the best for last. We are not only looking for tears to dry up and for sorrows to fade and for death to no longer be a thing—we are looking forward to being with our God and Savior. We want to see and live with the one who has fed us so well during this lifetime feast that we are in the midst of enjoying! We want the dessert…and it is coming, just wait for it. The word of God that has given you the rest of this feast has promised dessert too—and his words are trustworthy and true. Amen. PRAYER M: Dear Lord, we look forward with great anticipation to the dessert, the end of it all, which is to come. We thank you for giving us a glimpse of what awaits us in heaven: the joy, peace, and happiness of being with you forever. It is not always easy for us to wait. Give us hope when life makes us weary. And when we are discouraged, help us remember your promises and blessings of the past as we look forward to what is to come. C: Amen.