Every country has its own important days, which are celebrated often with a nation-wide holiday – a day of rest and merriment.
In our country we have Australia Day as a national holiday.
It celebrates the process that led to the formation of Australia as a country. That process began in 26th January 1788 with the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove (NSW). This holiday belongs to our country.
More often than not, these nation-wide holidays celebrate some form of human achievement.
We have the Adelaide Cup Day holiday which celebrates “the horse achievements” of that day.
There are important days which are being celebrated in many countries, but they don’t belong to any country. Many countries celebrate Christmas Day, but the holiday doesn’t belong to those countries.
This holiday belongs to the Christian religion.
The Harvest Thanksgiving “holiday”, in its inception, it was a celebration for the freshly minted nation of Israel, as they settled in the Promised Land. Its purpose was to remind the nation that “They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights” (Psalm 36:8).
Our church celebrates Harvest Thanksgiving in the course of a Sunday morning service (end of February) focusing on God’s constant and abundant provisions of food.
Seasons and the activities associated with them are gifts from God – an aspect of God’s general grace: grace for all humankind.
Celebrations are meaningless, unless through them we cultivate an attitude of thankfulness, “…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thess.5:18).
Let us be thankful for God’s abundant provisions for us!