“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift—the boundless riches of Christ, and the width, length, height, and depth of Jesus’ love” 2Cor.9:15; Eph.3:8, 18-21
Heavenly Father, of the 10,000 things for which we’re grateful today, none surpasses the “indescribable gift” of the Gospel. You loved us so much you sent Jesus into the world—not as our moral model to follow, but as our perfect Substitute to receive and trust.
We needed forgiveness and righteousness, and you freely, fully gave us both in Christ. We’ll never be more forgiven than we are today, nor more completely justified. We also needed belonging and belovedness, so you made us your children and heirs. You cannot love us more than you already do, and your delight in us won’t increase/decrease. Hallelujah, and thank you!
We need—that’s right Abba, we are needy on this Thanksgiving Day. What do we need? We need/crave/long to live out of our belovedness—not making our joy contingent on anything outside of us. In our minds and hearts, we know what we wish/wished for this day, but you know what you’ve planned and will provide.
Free us to be less childish about what we can’t control and more childlike in our freedom, presence, and spontaneity. May your Spirit be powerfully at work in our hearts today. We’d love suspensions to be raised—like on the Day of Pentecost, when onlookers thought the newly Spirit-filled community had been drinking “liquid spirits” at 9 o’clock in the morning (Acts 2:15).
When you throw a party and banquet, Abba, it continues even when some of those invited don’t show up (Lk.14:15-22)—and when some of those present don’t enter in (Lk.15:25-32). Your mercy, grace, and love are extravagant—even outlandish. Love in us and through us, all day long, Abba. So Very Amen.