By Michael A. Milton
Doesn’t
that sound like God? Knowing what you know about grace now, and how God secured
your salvation through a baby who came in a manger, who lived without a roof
over his head, who died on a cross between two criminals, a God who went to
the grave for you? Doesn’t that sound like God?
My
Thanksgiving this year will be like Naaman in this way: I too came to understand
what Thanksgiving really is through the testimony of a powerless maiden. I visited
a dear saint of God yesterday named Jean. Jean lives in the nursing care unit
of Alexian Village. When you walk into Jean’s room, you instantly sense the
presence and power of the Holy Spirit. And you sense something else: joy. Jean’s
face radiates the love of Christ. Her voice overflows with testimony to God
and thanksgiving for His grace. But you see, what makes this Thanksgiving so
special is that Jean has been bed-ridden for a great deal of her life. She has
MS. She will not walk again. She will grow weaker. She is raised and lowered
by a crane. She is fed by others, bathed by others, and cared for by others.
But that does not include a husband. She once had a husband, but for whatever
reason, her disease was too much for him and he is gone. And she didn’t get
to see her little ones grow up the way a mom would like. And there are a great
deal more painful stories. As her friend told me last night, “She has every
reason NOT to be thankful.” Jean told me that “life had been kind of tough.”
“To say the least,” I thought. She said, “But we believe that He’s in control,
don’t we pastor? And I have a choice to be thankful or not. And I have chosen
to be thankful and to be happy! I am going to praise Him! Isn’t that
what Thanksgiving is all about, pastor?” I held her hand, and we prayed. We
talked about how she loves her church, and how so many Christians, including
a special person in our congregation, means so much to her. And as I was walking
out, she cried out, “It’s going to be a great Thanksgiving, pastor!” I smiled
and held back tears and told her, “It already is.”
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Jean’s
Thanksgiving was like Naaman’s in that it was a response to God’s grace, a confession
of God’s glory. It was unlike Naaman’s Thanksgiving in that there was no payment
offered other than the blood payment of her Savior, and the priceless gold of
a new life praising Jesus Christ. You see, when that happens, Thanksgiving happens.
Let
it happen with us. It’s going to be a great Thanksgiving.
_____________________
Michael
A. Milton is Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, TN.
_____________________
1. Direct quote from <http://www.nrm.org/exhibits/current/four-freedoms.html>.
2. Luke 17.11 On the way
to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he
entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,* who stood at a distance 13 and
lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When
he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as
they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was
healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his
face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus
answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to
return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him,
“Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”