We here at New Reformation Press hope you’re having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this season and that you’re able to have plentiful and joyous time among family and friends.

Though Thanksgiving is not a Christian holiday (and is particular to the United States as well), it has always been one of my favorite holidays for all the great things it brings together. This is the time of year best described by the word “almost”.

Students are almost done with school and about to enter their holiday break. The calendar year is coming to an end which means that the tax season is almost here, but people are also trying to use up their accumulated time off at work. It also means that Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are almost upon us as well. For Christians, we’re entering the season of advent, which means the time to celebrate the birth of Christ is almost here.

In this time of “almost”, one of the great things about this holiday season is how effective it always seems to be at making us stop in our busy lives to re-focus on the good and wonderful things we already have, tearing our focus away from the future and looking back to the present. Every year the time I get with our family and friends along with the food and drink and relaxed atmosphere is such a huge blessing, how can I help but be thankful?

As I relax and stop all my busy-ness and take the time to recognize all that I’ve been given, I’m always reminded what a good and gracious God we Christians worship. In light of the gift of the recognition I’ve been given of even the smallest amount my own sin (which is so potent as to be crushing – even in such a small quantity), at times like this, I am most humbled and grateful that our God gives so much to an undeserving wretch like myself, through the death and resurrection of His Son.

As a sinner, I do not deserve the family and friends which I’m given (which are truly some of my greatest riches), let alone my belongings, or daily bread which I receive constantly. But though I continue to sin greatly, even in my faith, the power of the saving grace of the Cross is greater still.

Thank you, Father, for Your incredible gifts, especially the seemingly ordinary and mundane ones, and the constant reminders that You give us both of our sin and Your grace through Your Son, Jesus Christ, through Whom all our sins are forgiven.

Soli Deo gloria!

By Ted R

Posted in General