“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man. . . . He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him.” (Daniel 7:13,14)
Stories of Thanksgiving Day take us back to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe shared their skills in fishing and farming with the Pilgrims. At the end of the harvest, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag shared food during a thanksgiving celebration.
Still today, Thanksgiving is known as a time of sharing. Turkeys are given away. Community meals are served. People volunteer to help. This is good. Christian love helps our neighbor in need.
But we have so much more to share than cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Our King reigns, and he does not limit his kingdom to a certain nation, ethnic group, language, class, or economic status. “All peoples, nations, and men of every language worshiped him,” Daniel writes.
Bridging the gap between others and us is challenging. We are most comfortable with people similar to ourselves. But how can those from all peoples, nations, and languages worship the King, unless we tell them about him? Share his kingdom. Support mission work in places you cannot go. Reach out to those who are near you with acts of kindness, ready to give the reason for the hope that you have. For you have experienced the great love of your King. He shared our humanity and humbled himself to death on a cross so that we may reign with him. Share his kingdom.
The Thanksgiving holiday marks the end of the harvest. But another harvest is still ready and ongoing. As Jesus looked at the crowds and saw that they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd, he said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37). Look at the field of faces that have come to our shores from many nations and languages and are filtering into our communities. How great the need to share Christ’s kingdom! Think of that as you sing “All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto his praise to yield” (CW 613:2).
Share his kingdom. Share the words and promises of our King. These alone are the food that feeds souls and brings eternal life.
Prayer:
Give me a caring heart, O Lord, to love and seek the lost. Overcome my fear, and grant me courage to share my hope of salvation with those who have no hope. Make me faithful in my daily life so that all I say and do may glorify you. Amen. (CW p. 136)
From Meditations Daily Devotional. All rights reserved.
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