Celebrating God’s Ultimate Do-Over This Thanksgiving Day
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” - Psalm 32:1
Thanksgiving Day began when the Pilgrims remembered God’s faithfulness to them through their first year in the New World. Ever since then, it’s been a day of remembering and giving thanks.
As Psalm 77:11 declares, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.”
Dr. Jerry Newcombe, historian, author, and executive director of the Providence Forum, documents their journey of faith in his film "The Pilgrims," guiding viewers through the tremendous difficulties and losses they faced during their first year leading up to the 1621 Thanksgiving celebration.
As we come together at this Thanksgiving Day table, maybe like the Pilgrims, our year has been marked with challenges and losses, too. Still, like them, as Christians, we have much to be thankful for in receiving the ultimate do-over in life, God’s gift of Salvation, where we have been given new life in Christ.
The Simplicity of God’s Gift
One year as our family went around our Thanksgiving table, answering the question “What are you most thankful for this year?” One of our daughters surprised us by giving us the very practical response of, “I’m thankful for my teeth.”
Of course we all laughed at her simple answer that took us off-guard. It also made us think of how sometimes we make answering this question too complicated, when as Christians we have a simple yet profound answer, too: a brand new life received from God, offered to all who receive His gift of Salvation.
His priceless gift gives each one who accepts it a do-over in life, where every sin is erased forever and a clean-slated life for eternity is given, offering each one of us a brand new, everlasting beginning.
When God gives a do-over, He does it completely, too, not leaving a trace of our former lives, as described in Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
God Takes Us from Dead in Our Transgressions to Alive with Christ
It’s easy for many to take the gift God gives us lightly, not fully comprehending the depth of His gift.
As Ephesians 2:1-2 explains, it’s where God takes us from: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
To where He takes us, “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
In a nutshell, God’s gift takes us from death to life.
No Greater Gift
As much as we love our spouses, parents, children, extended families, and friends, there is no greater gift to be thankful for than Jesus and the life He gives us. John 17:3 describes, “Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”
With our new, clean-slated life, through Jesus, we are reconciled to our Heavenly Father. As 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 explains. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
Our reconciliation to God the Father equips us to be able to help others to be reconciled to Him, too.
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).
As Christ’s ambassadors of reconciliation, at this year’s Thanksgiving Day dinner table, we are able to share with our family and friends the incredible gift of a life do-over through Salvation in Jesus Christ. “I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my Salvation” (Psalm 118:21)
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Be prepared this year to share God’s ultimate do-over gift with loved ones and friends gathered around Thanksgiving Day. Take the opportunity to let them know they can also start anew.
Further Reading:
How to Grow in Your Salvation
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/DjelicS
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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