Thanksgiving! A time to thank God for all the blessings that He has given to us. Even though we should thank our loving Father every day, it’s nice to have one holiday that’s dedicated to reflect on our blessings. As Christians, we should have a better understanding than most people about what it means to be blessed, whether or not we understand every minute detail about the first thanksgiving. Because we know what God has done for us, we should have a lot to be thankful for. We have salvation, we have comfort, grace, mercy — all these blessings which come through Christ’s death on the cross, and our Father’s mercy.
While those are important things to be thankful for, I wanted to take some time to talk about something that we don’t usually talk about when we “count our blessings.” And that is, the new covenant that we live under.
I’m thankful for the new covenant. Sure, that’s similar to the grace and mercy that we talked about, but I want to take our thoughts down a different road. I’m grateful that we’re not under the Old Law today, but I’m even more grateful for the fact that we are under the New Covenant!
The Old Law, The Old Covenant
Why was the Old Law put in place? Why was it needed?
Let’s look at Galatians. In chapter three, Paul admonishes the Christians in Galatia, and tells them that should not be keeping the Old Law. Galatians 3:19 says, “Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made…” Later, it says, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” Galatians talks about the Law being a tutor, to lead people towards the law of liberty.
So, the Law did have a purpose, but it’s not in effect any more.
Just to point out: there are some great principles in the Law that are excellent, and two of those principles is faith (Romans 3:30-31). and another is obedience. 1 Samuel 15:22 says, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” With that in mind, let’s talk about the blessings of the New Covenant.
Thankful For A Better Covenant
Being Able To Be Close To God
The covenant that we live under is so much better, and we should be extremely grateful for it! Let’s look at Hebrews 10:1-4
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
We should have confidence to go to our Father, if we have been cleansed by Christ’s blood. We no longer need to have a lamb or a goat to go to our Master. Isn’t that in of itself a blessing? Do we understand the trouble it would have taken to keep that lamb from bruising or hurting itself? Do we understand how messy it would have been to sacrifice it? Even from a shallow standpoint, not having to sacrifice animals is convenient. But let’s understand that Christ’s death was worth much more than the death of lamb.
Don’t forget that in this verse, it says that we should draw near “with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” God can give us this faith, as we draw closer to him. We can pray to God and ask Him to increase our faith. Hasn’t God blessed us with so much? We have a lot to be thankful for!
“Let us draw near.” The Israelites in the Old Testament communed with God by offering sacrifices. But were they really “close” to God? They couldn’t even enter the holy parts of the temple! And only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holy place, and only once a year!
Forgivness
We also have true forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 10:4 says:
Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Because our high priest, Jesus Christ, offered the sacrifice once, and for everyone, we can go boldly to the throne of grace in our times of need. That’s such a wonderful thing! If we understand this, we should be demonstrating to God our appreciation.
What Can We Do To Show Our Thanks?
Be THANKFUL! Give thanks! God wants to hear us, that’s part of why we are under a new covenant! Give thanks for the people around you! Paul often thanked God for his fellow soldiers in Christ, and he told others to thank God for those workers. Your turkey, your car, your house, your cell phone, your spouse, your children, your chance of eternal life — these are all things that God blessed you with.
Paul says in Philippians 4:11, “…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” We should be that way, too. We can’t really be thankful if we’re always complaining about wanting stuff that we don’t have.
So, thanksgiving is nearly over. I hope you’ve praised God this holiday!
