My mom comments every year that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, but she does not need to remind me. My earliest memories are of great food, family gatherings, and playing basketball or football in the neighborhood with friends. Later Thanksgiving memories always involved going to my girlfriend Susan’s house. My future in-laws also served fine meals. The next memories center at my parents’ house with our children and their cousins. The food was always wonderful; and I’ll always remember the kids playing outside for hours… along with an occasional trip to the emergency room.
A recent memory is of an ‘Amigos for Christ’ Thanksgiving meal in Nicaragua with our daughter Karlyn and about a hundred brothers and sisters in Christ after a hard day’s work in a rural village. Nationality, social status, age, or color of skin did not matter… we loved one another because we have all first been loved by a most generous Heavenly Father. And now I look forward to time with family that includes a six-month-old, a one-and-a-half-year-old, and a two-and-a-half-year-old. The day is approaching!
The Kingdom of God is also approaching! The Father desires all to gather around His Table to celebrate Life. Whether we were advantaged or disadvantaged on earth, the meal is for all. The Spirit says, ‘Come!’ The Son will be present and we will thank Him as the Host who paid the exorbitant price to make such an occasion possible.
Let us all first be sure we answer the invitation (see parable below) and then let us spread the word: “Come drink of the Living Water! The Kingdom of God is near!”
Happy Thanksgiving!!
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.’” Matthew 4:17
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a King who prepared a wedding banquet for His Son. He sent His servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then He sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared My dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ But they paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized His servants, mistreated them and killed them. The King was enraged. He sent His army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then He said to His servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” Matthew 22:1-10