Pastor’s Corner November 2013

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

For me, November is about a few things- Fall weather, vacation time to bow hunt whitetails, not shaving (no-shave November), my son Jordan’s birthday, and Thanksgiving.

A professor of mine said John Calvin’s entire theology can be summarized by the word, “eucharistic,” from the word meaning “thankful.” Famed Dutch theologian G. C. Berkouwer said something that follows similar Biblical reasoning- “The essence of theology is grace; the essence of ethics is gratitude.” In other words, we do what God commands because we are thankful for what He has done for us through Christ.

Who should be more thankful than Christians?  Who else understands what we’ve been rescued from? Who else understands what we’ve been saved for?  I know life can get pretty discouraging, so I am not discounting suffering or burdens you are carrying.  I am saying, however, that your trial is momentary. Even in the midst of whatever you are going through, there are nuggets of God’s gracious gifting you can surely find, and give thanks. Right?

In one of Jonathan Edwards’ Thanksgiving sermons (keep in mind, he ministered before the American Revolution) he said “the work of the saints in heaven doth very much consist in praising God”. So, we’ll be spending eternity praising God. I think this informs us of our duty in the time before we get to heaven, since Jesus teaches us to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” It’s our special task to thank God!  It’s our job to give praise to the One who deserves it.

Edwards spends considerable time showing the joyous fulfillment there is for those who find their calling in praising God.  Edwards hopes that we Christians “may learn the excellency of this work of praising God. That it is a most excellent employment, appears because it is a heavenly employment. It is that work wherein the saints and angels are continually employed.

Hopefully you will get to enjoy a special day of eating turkey and other Thanksgiving fixings (like Pecan Pie, pronounced correctly: pee-can) this November.  Spend some time with family and friends and give thanks for all that God has blessed you with. Give special thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ who fits us to give thanks for eternity.
In the Lamb,
Pastor Tony Felich