A Note from Michael Gossett
A Thanksgiving Reflection
Thanksgiving is a special time in America when we remember the blessings that God has given us. Thanksgiving has been an American tradition since November of 1621, when the Pilgrims celebrated a harvest feast with the Wampanoag Native Americans. After a challenging first winter, the Pilgrims experienced a fruitful harvest and decided to thank God for His provision and blessings. They gathered with their neighbors to share a meal and express their gratitude for the grace and mercy God had shown them. During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving each year. It was in 1789 when George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States. Washington called upon Americans to express their gratitude to the Lord for the end of the Revolutionary war as well as the successful implementation of the United States Constitution. In 1817, New York became the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday. However, it wasn’t until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally established an annual national rhythm for Thanksgiving on the final Thursday in November.
Throughout history, Thanksgiving has become a tradition that reminds us of God’s goodness and the importance of expressing gratitude for all He has done for us. 1 Chronicles 16:8 says, “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.” Then we read from Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” As Disciples of Jesus, Thanksgiving is not just about food and family—it is a time to reflect on our relationship with God and the fellowship we have with Him. Fellowship with God is one of the greatest gifts we can give thanks for, but we must also recognize that our sin can disrupt that fellowship. The Bible teaches us that sin creates a barrier between us and God, making our hearts feel distant and disrupting our sense of peace. However, the good news is that God’s forgiveness is always available, restoring us to the intimacyHe desires for us.
Be Thankful for God’s Holiness
God is holy, and in Him, there is no darkness at all. In 1 John 1:5-6, John reminds us that if we claim to have fellowship with God but walk in darkness, we deceive ourselves. Maintaining our fellowship with God means walking in the light—living according to His word and avoiding sin. John Owen once wrote, “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”This serves as a powerful reminder that if we do not confront the sin in our lives, it will eventually damage our relationship with God.
Charles Spurgeon said, “Sin may drag you ever so low, but Christ’s great power can lift you high again.” We cannot underestimate the weight of sin, but we must also never forget the power of Christ to restore us. Our fellowship with God is like a strong, steady bridge that allows us to walk side by side with Him. Sin, however, is like the cracks that begin to weaken the bridge. At first, the cracks may be small—an unkind word, a disobedient action. But if the cracks aren’t repaired, they grow larger, and eventually, the bridge can collapse, leaving us separated from God. Thankfully, Jesus is the master carpenter who can rebuild that bridge, no matter how broken it becomes. John Calvin once wrote, “The door of grace is open to all, and God is ever ready to receive us.”God’s forgiveness is what mends the cracks and makes the bridge strong again, allowing us to walk in close fellowship once more. When we walk away from sin and pursue holiness, we step back into the light and into a renewed relationship with God. This Thanksgiving, as we count our blessings, let us not forget the blessing of restored fellowship that Jesus offers through His mercy and grace.
Be Thankful for God’s Forgiveness
When sin disrupts our fellowship with God, the way back is through confession. The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession is not about making ourselves feel guilty; it’s about acknowledging our mistakes and asking God to help us grow. Richard Baxter said, “Confess sin instantly. Delays are dangerous.” Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to practice genuine gratitude for God’s grace by confessing anything that has come between us and Him, allowing us to experience the joy of a restored relationship.
Think about the story of David in Psalm 32, where he describes the burden of keeping his sins hidden. He says, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.” But then David confessed, and he knew God’s forgiveness washed over him, restoring his joy. The same is true for us. If we keep our sin hidden, it only makes us miserable. But if we come to God honestly, openly, and with a heart of confession and repentance, He will cleanse us and bring us back into close fellowship with Him. What an amazing Savior we have to be thankful for! That in His faithfulness and in His justice, He will forgive us! John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress, once said, “He that is down needs fear no fall, he that is low no pride.” Humility in confessing our sins and thanking God for His forgiveness brings us into deeper fellowship with Him and strengthens our relationship. We should never take God’s grace for granted—it is one of the greatest blessings for which we can be thankful.
Imagine the Thanksgiving table, filled with all kinds of good food—turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie. Each dish represents the blessings we have from God: the food we eat, the family we love, the salvation we receive. But what if we ignore a part of it? Imagine ignoring the most important dish on the table—the turkey. Without it, the meal just doesn’t feel complete. In the same way, if we forget to thank God for His forgiveness and the fellowship He offers, our spiritual celebration is incomplete. God wants us to enjoy the fullness of His blessings, which include forgiveness, grace, and fellowship with Him.
Be Thankful God’s Righteousness
Even when we mess up, God is always ready to welcome us back. It is like the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The son made a lot of mistakes to say the least, but when the son decided to return home, his father ran to meet him with open arms. That’s how God is with us. He doesn’t hold our sins against us when we come to Him with a sincere heart. Charles Spurgeon put it beautifully when he said, “When God accepts a sinner, He is, in fact, only accepting Christ’s righteousness.” Our acceptance is based not on what we do but on what Christ has already done for us. This Thanksgiving holiday, let’s remember that no matter how far we have strayed, God is always ready to receive us again. We can come before Him with thankful hearts, knowing His forgiveness and love are always available. We must only ask. John Owen said, “The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay on the Father, the greatest unkindness you can do to Him is not to believe that He loves you.” Let’s not forget that God loves us and is eager to bring us back into His light. Let this drive our Thanksgiving, our gratitude, our walk with the Lord, and our love toward others.
As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, let’s remember the importance of fellowship with God. Sin can break our fellowship, but God’s forgiveness restores it. Let us give thanks for a Savior who is always ready to forgive and for a Father who welcomes us back with open arms. As Richard Baxter said, “Let your heart be much in heaven, and your conversation much with God.” Let’s strive to walk in the light, practice confession, and cherish the precious gift of fellowship with God.
Questions to Reflect On
- How does sin disrupt your fellowship with God, and how can confession help restore it?
- What are some specific ways you can show gratitude to God for His forgiveness this Thanksgiving?
- In what ways can you walk more closely in the light of God, avoiding the “cracks” that sin creates?
- How can the story of the prodigal son remind you of God’s love and readiness to forgive?
- How can you make thanking God for His grace and forgiveness a part of your Thanksgiving celebration?
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts this Thanksgiving. Thank you for your forgiveness, your grace, and your love that welcomes us back every time we stray. Help us to walk in your light and to keep our hearts pure before you. We confess our sins to you, Lord, knowing that you alone are faithful and just to forgive us. Help me today to not take your grace for granted but always live in gratitude for the fellowship we have with you. Bless our families and our time together, and help us to reflect your love in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Christmas Season is getting close! Make plans now!
The annual GABC Christmas Tree Lighting is Friday, December 6th from 6:00pm – 8:30pm! This is a free event for our whole community and church family! I want to invite you to not only be a part of this incredible event, but also be in prayer for God to use this night to reach people all over the city of Tyler. We want to make every effort to make this fun for the evening, but to make an eternal difference in the lives of people. Cannot wait to see you there!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 15, at 6:00pm! We are excited to tell you that we will have a multigenerational Christmas concert featuring our Worship Choir & Orchestra, Highest Praise Senior Adult Choir, Student Worship, & Kidz Praise! This concert is for the whole family! Don’t miss this opportunity to come together and celebrate the arrival of the Light of the World!
One of my most favorite Christmas traditions for our family is to attend the Christmas Eve service together! This year, on Tuesday, December 24, our Christmas Eve services will be held at 4 PM and 6 PM and include fun and dynamic worship music, a Kids element, the Lord’s Supper, and a candlelight element.
The current World Mission Offering total is $520,000. That’s 52% of our 2024 goal! Learn more about how you can serve or give at www.gabc.org/missions
We continue to work towards easing our $1.4 million budget deficit before it affects our ongoing ministries. So, as you consider your year-end giving, please consider contributing to the General Budget here at GABC. You can give next time you’re on campus, or anytime at www.gabc.org/give.
I want to invite you to join my wife, Katie, and me on a journey of a lifetime. We are going back to visit the sites primarily focused on Paul’s second missionary journey,October 26-November 4th, 2025. I have mentioned these sites in my sermons from Philippians because it was on Paul’s second missionary journey that the Lord brought him to Philippi. However, there is much more on this trip! Here is the itinerary of all the places we have planned to visit. This is certainly a trip that will help the Bible and the Apostle Paul come to life!
Come and join us on this incredible trip! You can sign up here! Space is limited, so please sign up as early as possible. Register HERE.
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett