sacrifice of thanksgiving
As I write this, millions of people are making a sacrifice of thanksgiving. They're in their cars with red lights stretched out as far as they can see; they're in airports, dealing with inevitable delays and cancellations; they're on trains and buses, packed like sardines waiting for the end of the line. The sacrifice of Thanksgiving is a time when our hearts turn toward family, whether they be delightful or difficult, and we do whatever it takes to get together.
May I suggest one or two more sacrifices while you're at the Thanksgiving table, whether it be peaceful or tense? Try offering to God what the Bible calls the "sacrifice of thanksgiving" (Psalm 50:14 ESV). It's really simple and profound, and it seems to make sense of a day called Thanksgiving. It was welcomed years ago at my family Thanksgiving gatherings that were divided over politics and, above all, religion. Hallie and I just asked people to say what they were grateful for without asking anyone to attribute their gratitude to God (although some did). My father, the atheist, would raise a glass, saying, "To whom it may concern, I'm grateful!' Over the years, he added things he was not grateful for, with political diatribes we politely endured. However, giving thanks became part of our lives and opened hearts and minds to the good that's in the world which, we know, comes from God. And it all began with us, the ones called to the sacrifice of thanksgiving, to do so, inviting others to join us.
If you want to make an even greater sacrifice, try offering the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 123:15), in which we declare not only the grateful things that God has done but also the Good that He is. If you're among a company of believers, try this sacrifice - and it is a sacrifice to stop talking about ourselves and say something good about God. And if you’re in mixed religious company, slip in a good, short Word about God. Given how Wonderful He is, we have lots of material and stories to choose from.
With such sacrifices, God is well-pleased!