Christians can view Thanksgiving as an opportunity to intentionally thank God for who He is and what He has done, practice gratitude in community, and reflect Christ’s love, always keeping the focus on God’s goodness.
Christians in the U.S. should view Thanksgiving as a special opportunity to thank God for His faithfulness, provision, and eternal goodness. The Bible calls believers to reflect God’s love and grace by cultivating a continual attitude of gratitude, both individually and in community. Old Testament festivals, like the Feast of Tabernacles, remind us to celebrate God’s provision, while the New Testament emphasizes giving thanks in all circumstances and keeping Christ central. Historically, Thanksgiving began as a Christian celebration of God’s protection and blessings, a tradition Christians can continue by focusing on faith rather than cultural distractions. Ultimately, Thanksgiving should inspire us to praise God for all things, especially the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Nearly four hundred years old, the tradition of Thanksgiving in the United States directed people to God to offer thanksgiving for His goodness, protection, and provision. The pilgrim settlers held the first Thanksgiving in December of 1621, which was their second winter in Massachusetts. Their celebration was decidedly Christian. Though they started with 102 colonists, the first winter saw forty-four of them die. At one point, the colonists had only enough food rations for five kernels of corn per person, but they were resupplied unexpectedly by a trading ship and the summer's crop brought hope. They also gave thanks for God's guidance to a place with cleared land, friendly natives, and for Squanto, who served them as an interpreter and guide. The three-day feast was attended by the colonists and about eighty natives, who brought wild turkeys and venison to the feast. The festivities included feasting, games, prayers, sermons, and praise songs.
Different days have served as official days of thanks in U.S. history. Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November 1863 "as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father." In 1941, Congress made the fourth Thursday of November the legal holiday called Thanksgiving Day.
On a national Thanksgiving Day, we have a choice as Christians. We can focus on non-substantive things such as football, important things such as family, or eternal things such as faith. We can complain about the things that go wrong in our festivities or focus on the many reasons we can be grateful. All good things come from God (James 1:17). The best thing that comes from God is eternal salvation through His Son Jesus (John 1:12; 3:16; Romans 6:23; 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9). If we belong to Him, we know that even those things that do not appear good to us can be redeemed by God for His glory and our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). God deserves our thanks always. As Christians, our focus on Thanksgiving should be God and His goodness.