Scripture for Today: Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

I love the promotions I see in America.  My daughter’s grocery store offered a free turkey after a certain sum was spent in their store.  We came home with a beautiful twenty pounder for which we paid nothing!  That night while walking through a deserted parking lot, my daughter bent over to pick up a twenty dollar bill!  Lucky us!  This will certainly pay for all the side dishes, making our Thanksgiving feast absolutely free!

Our verse for today talks about something else far greater that is absolutely free.  We do not pay for our salvation, although it was costly.  Jesus paid that cost and so it is free of charge for us.  Being spared the punishment we deserve for our sin is an enormous gift.  But we had no part in procuring that gift.  It is a true gift of grace, or unmerited favor, and absolutely free.

Thanksgiving Day can mean many different things to different people.  Perhaps, the idea of a Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving scene seems ludicrous in some families experiencing difficulty.  Giving thanks can especially be hard after recently losing a loved one.  In times of economic stress or declining health, subjects of thanksgiving are not what come to mind.  But even in the darkest times, there is always reason for the believer to give thanks; salvation – full, rich and free!  Is not that the biggest reason to give thanks?

This Thanksgiving feast, as wonderful as it is, can not even compare to our future wedding supper of the Lamb! (Rev. 19:9)  Praise and thanksgiving in the presence of our Savior will rival any earthly feast!

Lord, I will be forever thankful!