November 29, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of Heaven; His love endures forever.”

(Psalm 136.1,26)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

How appropriate on this Advent Eve 2025, we “begin and end” with thanksgiving. The verses offered above from Psalm 136 literally begin and end the psalm with thanksgiving. We are reminded of the good of God. I cannot remind you, mighty ones of God, of the impact meaning of the biblical word “good.” The psalmist understood it full well. His thanksgiving for God was filled with the knowledge of the “good” which God was, is and will always be. God continues to demonstrate His purposefulness and His resolution for the completeness of His creation. God Himself sees all creation from beginning to end. It is the witness of creation which speaks of the intention of God to be God. Such witness says to the whole world that God is committed to doing what God full well intended to do. We dwell in the midst of God’s goodness because of His mercy and grace. Jesus Christ makes that witness authentic as God’s promise to us is made sure. What makes our witness and promise to God equally authentic? Is it not being Christ-like to the world through declarations of the gospel and works of compassion? Is it not supposed to be from the beginning of the day to the end of it that we live out our thanksgiving to God?

And now that this “thanksgiving” season is coming to an end today, we are transitioning into the beginning of a new one. That is why I said it seems appropriate that we begin and end with thanksgiving. For those who are truly thankful, every day is a new beginning. The lives of the faithful do not dwell on carrying the past with them. Consider the resurrection of Jesus as the closing of the door on the past. The past cannot get through it any more than Adam and Eve could return through the east gate of the Garden of Eden. Nothing could pass in our out. It was a line of demarcation which could not and cannot be crossed. The resurrection of Christ is such a line for the sake of the believer. Our sins are put to rest. They have no hold over us. The consequence of our sin which is the eternal suffering of death no longer has power over our hearts and mind and spirit. This would be reason enough to be thankful. But our thanksgiving as believers is renewed every morning. God has been at work through our night preparing newness for us when we arise. Our thanksgiving to HIm at the start of our day validates our awareness of His work for us up to that point. Let me say it this way, “God’s past is our future.”

What exists in our past, mighty ones of God? Is it not the empty cross and the empty grave? Are those realities not available to our spiritual mind and consciousness because of an empty manger? Yes, if it not for the birth of our Savior in Bethlehem, then what kind of thanksgiving could be enjoy except for that of the world? And it seems so much like that when it comes to Thanksgiving. We are thankful for food (too much food that often goes to waste), for places of fellowship to enjoy the food and the company of family and friends (who are here for a few hours and leave) and for Black Friday weekend (where regardless of the economic status, so much is bought for ourselves and others all in the name of “the birth of the Savior”.) Are we so numbly aware of these vital empty places (manger, cross, grave) that we can use them to validate the thanksgiving we celebrate of ourselves. Was it sufficient to pray over the food to call it worship? Did we think to pray (and I am guilty of this myself) for those who began our day who now were ending our day of Thanksgiving? Did we and do we pray without ceasing with all types of prayers and praises? Let us take to heart the psalmist’ word that “love of God endures forever.” It speaks of the length of time of God’s love. It speaks of the power to endure of God’s love. It also speaks of the consistency and presence of God’s love in every moment.

So now our “thanksgiving” begins again tomorrow with the beginning of another Advent season: hope (prophet); peace (angels); joy (shepherds) and love (the blessed family of God). Some may add a fifth reminder which is fulfillment (the manger and the star). When does it truly end? For the thankful heart, it never does even when God’s plan for earth is fulfilled with heaven.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.