Gratitude

Harvest Festival Sunday

A Festival of Thanksgiving

Sunday November 3, 2024 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

Deuteronomy 16: 9-12

Deuteronomy 16: 9-12 (NKJV) - You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you. You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

Why Count? God knows our tendency to forget where our blessings come from and to hold tightly to what we have.

Jewish Tradition: Harvest Festival-Shavuot: Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Christian Tradition: Pentecost: Pentecost marks the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the beginning of the Church.

You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain-v9

Gratitude for Provision and Abundance

Reflection: The harvest reminds us that everything we have comes from God's hand. The Feast of Weeks calls us to reflect on our blessings and respond with a grateful heart, offering back to God what He has given us.

Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you-v10

Gratitude in Giving Back

Reflection: True gratitude moves us to action. When we give freely, we reflect God's generosity, acknowledging that all we have is a gift meant to bless others.

You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide-v11

Gratitude for Community and Shared Joy

Reflection: We are reminded that gratitude isn't only individual but communal. Celebrating with others, especially those in need, fulfills God's desire for a community that rejoices together.

And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes-v12

Gratitude as a Reminder of God's Faithfulness

Reflection: Gratitude deepens when we remember the hard times God brought us through. The Feast of Weeks reminds us that God has been with us, providing strength and guiding us toward His promises.

Challenge: How can we continue to celebrate God's provision and extend His blessings to others all year long, not just during the harvest season?