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A Different Kind of Thanksgiving
W
by Dr. Alan Hix
ith the coming of November, when we are not
things to pale in comparison. He understood, as did C.S.
stressing over what to do for Christmas, we
Lewis, that Christ in us is all we need.
remember that somewhere in all this holiday
I have had the privilege of worshipping with believers
planning is Thanksgiving. When we pause and consider
in many other countries. In one particular village, the people
what we are thankful for, we often focus on things like
lived in mud huts and had to walk a day just to collect
family, friends, home, and more than enough to eat. The
water. By Western standards, they would be considered
opening lines of Laura Story’s song “Blessings” reflect this
among the poorest of people. What struck me as I spent
longing: “We pray for blessings; we pray for peace—comfort for family, protection while we sleep. We pray for healing, for prosperity. We pray for your mighty hand to ease our suffering.” As Christians, we usually focus on all the things God has done for us or given us. In other words, we tend to be thankful for those things outside of ourselves. C.S. Lewis, in his book The Weight of Glory, offers believers an important reminder: “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.” In 2 Corinthians 4:7, the Apostle Paul compares our physical existence to being like “jars of clay” that are fragile and easily broken. The true treasure that we have is not all the things we hold on
time with them was that they carried a joyous attitude
to so tightly. The true treasure we have is the presence of God’s
about them. The source of their joy was their salvation in
Spirit within us. Our fragileness allows His glory to shine
Christ. These people who had little by our standards had
through. Later in that chapter, he will declare that “For this
everything they needed by theirs—for they had Jesus.
light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV). Paul is able to express a certain hope for eternity
This Thanksgiving, as we gather together around our tables set with enough food to feed our entire block, let us first thank God for the only thing that really matters. In
because of the presence of Christ within him. Writing from
Colossians 1:27, Paul expresses it this way: “To them God
prison toward the end of his life, Paul expresses a sense of
chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the
contentment that goes beyond any physical circumstance.
riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you,
In Philippians 4:11, Paul declares, “…for I have learned in
the hope of glory.”
whatever situation I am to be content.” Instead of pining that the indwelling presence of Christ caused all other
36 // November 2021
About The Author
over how his circumstances could be different, Paul rejoiced
Dr. Alan Hix is an Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Shorter University. In addition to being and educator, he has served churches as a pastor, been involved in mission trips to Africa, Canada, and Alaska, and participated in archaeological excavations in Israel for several years.
