As you might imagine, a national day of Thanksgiving wasn’t part of Martin Luther’s life. Thanksgiving Day is an American phenomenon. Although Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday in November since the first presidential proclamation in 1863, it wasn’t “official” until congressional legislation in 1941 made Thanksgiving Day a national holiday.
Martin Luther did recognize God’s blessings to every living thing when he wrote about the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed in the Large Catechism. There he said, “Since everything we possess, and everything in heaven and on earth besides, is daily given and sustained by God, it inevitably follows that we are in duty bound to love, praise, and thank him without ceasing, and, in short, to devote all these things to his service.”
In a world that thinks it can give God something, either by how a person lives or by what they do, Luther reminds us that God doesn’t “need” anything from us. Instead, God wants us to be grateful and to honor him — for he created us and provides for all our needs.
“We cannot give God anything; for everything is already his, and all we have comes from him. We can only give him praise, thanks, and honor.” (What Luther Says, p.1353-4)
And in one prayer Luther prayed, “God grant that we follow his Word to praise and thank our dear Lord for his precious blood, which he so freely offered for us. And may God keep us from the terrible vice of ingratitude and the forgetfulness of his blessings. Amen.”
As we look back at 2023, there were many natural disasters: hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, flooding, earthquakes, as well as warfare, terrorism, and humanitarian crises in other nations. These brought great losses of life and devastation.
Even if we were not impacted, we can offer to help. One way is by donating to relief efforts through reputable organizations to feed, clothe, provide medical assistance, and help people rebuild their homes and lives. We also continue to pray for those affected by such tragedies, asking the Lord to send his blessings and work things for good.
On Nov. 23 our country will pause to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. We certainly have much to be thankful for as a nation, as a community, and as a family of believers, not just at Thanksgiving, but every day. Our highest praise to God comes from the gift of his Son Jesus. Yes, God has given us everything in Christ — forgiveness, life, salvation, peace, joy, and Heaven. Therefore we want to thank, praise, serve and obey him with thankful hearts!
As we look ahead, each day will not go as we would like it to, and there will be other storms, disasters, and calamities. Many of those challenges may make us wonder and question God. At such moments let us go to his Word for comfort and assurance.
Consider Habakkuk 3:17-18: “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive tree fail and the fields yield no food, … yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God who saves me.”
And Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever!”