Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
One of the great traditions of Thanksgiving is when everyone around the dinner table expresses what they are most thankful about. Sometimes it produces good laughs, while other times deep contemplation. But in either case, the time provides opportunity for sincere, heartfelt expressions of gratitude. So I’d like to share my thoughts with you now.
I have two priority issues on my mind. The first thing I’d like to thank the Lord for this morning is me. Yes, I said it. I thank the Lord for me. Now before you get all upset and turn me completely off, let me explain.
I understand how arrogant and conceited thanking God for me sounds. Because it is arrogant and conceited; but for good cause. And even though you may never admit it, I bet you feel the same way too.
First of all, when I say I thank God for me, I’m talking about the currently saved, sanctified, touched by the Spirit me. Not the old sinful, unregenerate me. I’m talking about the new creation me…the 2 Corinthians 5:17 me (Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new). The old me is not even worth mentioning, but this new me I can celebrate. And you ought to do the same thing. Let me tell you why.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews recites several passages that are commonly called the Hall of Faith. In these verses the writer mentions many of the great patriarchs and matriarchs of the faith. It starts in Genesis with Able who was killed for his faithfulness to God. It goes on to mention Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Samson, and David. The writer ends up conceding that over the history of mankind there are just too many faithful folk to mention them all. But the one thing they all had in common was the fact every one of them died hoping to see our day.
Old Testament prophets prophesied of the day where normal, every day people would have the opportunity to know and interact with the Messiah. It was the hope of every faithful martyr to one day have just a moment to address their Lord in peace. Abraham died with this hope. Moses died with this hope. David died with this hope. All of them died with this hope. But you and I live in that same hope. What they dreamed to have, we very often take for granted. That’s what I call spiritual privilege.
You still think we aren’t privileged? Let a pain suddenly hit our bodies or someone call with bad news. Before we even think about it we are calling Jesus to come to our rescue…and come right now. We don’t even call him Mr. Jesus, Bishop or Rev. Jesus. We just holler, “Jesus” and look for him to come in a jiffy. Am I lying? That’s because we are so extremely privileged; and it’s hard for privileged folk to see themselves as privileged. But we are so profoundly blessed that unless we take moments like this to reflect on the goodness of Jesus we can miss the enormity of the favor we’ve been afforded through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through the Spirit of the Living Christ we have fellowship with God our Father and with each other.
Which brings we to the second thing I’m grateful for. I’m grateful for you. I’m grateful that God has so deemed it in his sovereign will that we unite and fill each other’s lives with unspeakable joy and satisfaction the likes the world has never known. It is our union and united celebration of liberation from sin that testifies to the world Jesus has truly come.
My brothers and sister, I’m grateful the Lord saved me. And I’m equally grateful he saved you too. In this we meet the mandate of the Great commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ and love your neighbor as yourself.
Happy Thanksgiving
God bless
