Thanksgiving Dinner

“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:4-5)

Each time we sit down with our families at the dinner table, we should turn our hearts to our God in thanksgiving as we receive his provision; but more: — The bounty we receive should be sanctified by the Word of God and prayer. I had never given this any serious thought to our daily bread being sanctified by the Word of God until this morning, when my wife read Robert Hawker’s comments on these verses to me.

In our home, we never eat even a sandwich or a bowl of soup that is not received with thanksgiving and sanctified by prayer. Beginning today, I hope never again to receive a piece of bread without also having it sanctified by the Word of God. Every meal ought to call forth the exercise of inward grace, causing the redeemed sinner to set his heart on his Savior.

As we gather with our families around our Thanksgiving Tables this Thursday, it is my prayer that we and our families will be reminded of the family of God. How blessed we are to be the sons and daughters of the Almighty! Child of God, call this to mind, as you receive the bounty spread upon your table, and remind your family of it. — If we are in Christ, if God has given us faith in him, if we are God’s dear children, our sins are all forgiven, we are heirs of salvation, loved of God with an everlasting love, and “the Lord performeth all things for us.”

There is another feast at which we hope to be gathered as one family. It is that feast prepared for God’s elect in heaven called, “The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” Blessed are they who are called to this feast (Revelation 19:9). Even when we fold our napkins for the last time and are dismissed from the Thanksgiving table, let us be reminded of that table spread for us in our Father’s house above from which we shall never be dismissed, or wish to be.

Spirit of God give us grace that everything we receive and enjoy at our Father’s good hand of providence may be received with thanksgiving and sanctified by the Word of God and prayer. By God’s Word and by our prayers of thanksgiving the bounty God has bestowed is sanctified to our benefit. If our souls are thus nourished in the sweet remembrance of Christ as well as our bodies, we have a double blessing with every morsel. Our bodies are sustained with food and our souls with grace. Our bodies are strengthened with meat and our souls with mercy. Our bodies are refreshed with wine and our souls with his love that is better than wine.

Everything thus received with thanksgiving, sanctified by the Word of God and prayer, is good. — Happy Thanksgiving!

Don Fortner, Pastor

Grace Baptist Church of Danville

Danville, Kentucky 40422

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com