Pastor's Corner

November, 2000

November is Thanksgiving month. Though it is an American tradition to commemorate God’s deliverance and provision during their early days in this continent, yet we reap the benefit today in more ways than one. All of us welcome this time to enjoy a break from the mundane work or school schedule to enjoy with families during this time of togetherness. That in itself is something to be thankful for.

During Thanksgiving season, different people thank God for different reasons (that is, if they think of God at all). Some thank God for keeping their family intact in a society where divorce takes less preparation than getting marry. Some thank God for prosperity, especially when economy in the Bay areas is doing so well. Some thank God for good health, for without it, they can’t enjoy the fruit of their hard labor.

The Sykes wrote a hymn Thank You, Lord in 1940 to allow believers to sing and offer praise to God for the gift of their salvation:

Some thank the Lord for friends and home, for mercies sure and sweet; but I would praise Him for His grace—in prayer I would repeat;

Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow, some for the stars that shine. My heart is filled with joy and praise because I know He’s mine.

I trust in Him from day to day; I prove His saving grace; I’ll sing this song of praise to Him until I see His face.

Chorus: Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul; thank you, Lord, for making me whole. Thank you, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free.

Though we received the gift of salvation—a personal relationship with the almighty God—yet how often do we sincerely thank our Lord for all that He has done in making this possible? The lack of thanksgiving and praise is of no small thing to the Lord. In one of his reflective parables, Jesus asked the whereabout of the nine lepers who were healed. Why was there only one return to show his gratitude? May we take some time to thank God for His indescribable gift!

Before I sign off, I would like all my readers to know that this great gift of salvation is available for you too, if you haven’t received it yet. It is wrapped, sealed, and delivered to you. All you have to do is to receive it through faith.