Thanksgiving in the United States was observed on various dates throughout history. The dates of Thanksgiving in the era of the Founding Fathers until the time of Lincoln had been decided by each state on various dates.
The first Thanksgiving celebrated on the same date by all states was in 1863 by presidential proclamation. The final Thursday in November had become the customary date of Thanksgiving in most U.S. states by the beginning of the 20th century. And so, in an effort by President Abraham Lincoln (influenced by the campaigning of author Sarah Josepha Hale, who wrote letters to politicians for around 40 years trying to make it an official holiday) to foster a sense of American unity between the Northern and Southern states, the date was proclaimed as the final Thursday in November.
It was not until Dec. 26, 1941, that the unified date changed to the fourth Thursday (and not always final) in November—this time by federal legislation. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, after two years earlier offering his own proclamation to move the date earlier, with the reason of giving the country an economic boost, agreed to sign a bill into law with Congress, making Thanksgiving a national holiday on the fourth (not final) Thursday in November.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. We will gather with family and friends to give thanks and eat turkey and stuffing and, in the process, stuff ourselves.
The title of this week’s article may seem a little strange. What does daily Bible reading have to do with Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is a day when we are supposed to be thankful to our God who has given us all things richly to enjoy. It is a day that we are to be grateful to God for all of the blessings that He has given to us.
Last week I probably ruffled a lot of feathers with my article and the premise that God mostly speaks through His Word. I have heard the stories: “So and so said this and it came true,” and “Doesn’t God speak in many ways besides the Bible?”
Of course God speaks in many ways, but do we have the discernment to know if it is God speaking or not? No, we don’t. That is why we have the Bible. We have the Bible so that we can discern truth from error, light from darkness, and right from wrong.
In speaking to people in my lifetime who have disagreed with the Bible being the main way that God speaks in the last days, I have discovered that none of them could tell me where they are in their daily Bible reading because they don’t read the Bible daily! How can you expect to know if God is speaking if you aren’t reading His word? No wonder people are impressed by signs and wonders today. They don’t know the voice of God when they hear it. How can you know God‘s voice if you don’t read what He has said?
I know a few small churches that may not have a lot of great music or programs. They may not have a lot of money or resources, but I dare say that most of their members could tell you where they are in their daily Bible reading! They love the Bible, they study the Bible, and they read their Bibles. God is blessing them in ways that cannot be seen or understood. It’s called peace, assurance, discernment and inward joy! They are bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God that one day will spring up a bountiful harvest of God’s blessings in their children, their grandchildren and the people around them.
The greatest gift God has given to man (besides the gift of His own dear Son to die for our sins, of course) is the most neglected book in the history of the church! We should be thankful to God for His unspeakable Gift, the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the gift of His word to us. Where are you in your daily Bible reading?
Listen to Pastor Jack’s sermons on the way to church every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on 98.9 WSIP FM. To read more of Pastor Jack Ward’s articles and hear his sermons at Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church go to tomahawkmbc.com. Watch his sermons on his Facebook page. Find him on Rumble, Bitchute and Brighteon video platforms.