On this Thanksgiving Day 2024, let’s remember how much God loves us in sending His Son to show us how to live. What are God’s orders for us each day?
Deuteronomy 18:18*:
I will raise up a prophet for them among themselves, like yourself [Moses]; I will put my words into his lips and he shall tell them all the orders I give him; anyone who will not listen to what he says for me, I myself will make him answer for it.
Jesus was that prophet who spoke like Moses and gave new commandments from God. He told us what God’s orders are and we should listen. Otherwise, we will not have the Father’s blessings.
Psalms 91:14-16:
“He [Messiah] clings to Me [the Lord], so I deliver him; I will set him safe, because he cares for Me;
I will answer his cry and be with him in trouble; delivering him and honouring him;
I will satisfy him with long life, and let him see My saving care.”
God showed Jesus his saving care throughout his life: his rescue from Herod’s henchmen as a child, his learning the scriptures in Nazareth and instructing elders at Jerusalem, filling him with the holy spirit at his baptism by John, safeguarding him in the wilderness from the Devil’s temptations, leading him to bring God’s kingdom to earth [preaching, teaching, healing, casting out demons], helping him through the horrific torture and crucifixion he had to face, raising him from death unto life in a new spiritual body, setting him as Lord at His right hand. His Father constantly delivered Jesus from trouble and satisfied His only-begotten Son with “long life”—eternal life.
Psalms 19:7-14:
The Lord’s law is a sound law, reviving life; the Lord’s is a trusty witness, that instructs the open-minded;
The Lord’s orders are just, a joy to the heart; the Lord’s command is clear, a light to the mind;
The Lord’s faith is a clean faith, it will last forever; the Lord’s rulings are upright, and altogether just—
More to be prized are they than gold, than plenty of rare gold, sweeter than honey itself, the honey from the comb.
Yes, and by them Thy servant takes warning; in following them there is rich profit.
Yet, who can detect his lapses [our errors]? Absolve me from my faults unknown!
And hold Thy servant back from willful sins, from giving way to them. Then blameless shall I be, from many a transgression free.
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart please Thee, Lord, my strength and saviour.
God’s orders to us are fair and just—and they bring joy to our hearts when we carry them out. Look at what his orders are and do for us! Their soundness revives our lives; their trusty witness instructs us when we are open-minded and meek; they are clear and enlighten our minds; they are faithful and clean, lasting forever; they are upright and altogether just. They warn us and bring rich profit when we follow them.
At times in life, it is difficult to “detect our lapses.” Sometime we make mistakes without even knowing what we are doing. God will absolve us from these unknown sins when we ask for His forgiveness. At other times we have “willful sins” when we know we are doing wrong. We can ask our Father to not allow the Devil to “lead us into temptation,” as Jesus taught his disciples [Matthew 6:13]. He will help us to be blameless and free from the many transgressions with which we are tempted. With the Lord’s saving strength, our words and thoughts can please Him.
John 15:9-12:
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain within my love.
If you keep my commands, you will remain within my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain within His love.
I have told you this, that my joy may be within you and your joy complete.
This is my command: you are to love one another as I have loved you.
Jesus gave God’s orders for us, and he showed us HOW to keep them. We do God’s will by walking in love. We remain in the Father’s love when we keep His “orders.” They may come while reading the scriptures, or with the words of a brother or sister in Christ, or by His holy spirit that dwells within us. Jesus wants our joy to be complete. We have that when we love one another as Christ loved us. That is the essence and end of true Christianity.
I John 5:6:
Jesus Christ, he it is who came by water, blood, and spirit.
Jesus was a real person, conceived by the Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect life, always following his Father’s orders. May we on this Thanksgiving Day, rejoice with complete joy as we love one another the way Christ loved us. God bless you!
*Scriptures are from the James Moffatt translation
