Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 21; 1 Peter 2; Jonah 4; Luke 9
1 Peter 2:11-12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Isn’t it fitting that in God’s providence we would be reading this chapter of Holy Scripture on Thanksgiving Day? As followers of Christ we truly have many things to be thankful for. One of the important ones is the fact that our Pilgrim forefathers took a verse like this seriously. While living in Holland, they made their decision to try to settle in America. Their reasons for doing this were several. One of them was the fact that the culture was drawing their children away. The fleshly lusts of their time were warring against their souls.
But that which was more lamentable, and of all sorowes most heavie to be borne, was that many of their children, by these occasions, and the great licentiousness of youth in that countrie, and the manifold temptations of the place, were drawne away by evill examples ii.to extravagante and dangerous courses, getting the raines off their neks, and departing from their parents. Some became souldiers, others tooke upon them farr viages by sea, and other some worse courses, tending to dissolutnes and the danger of their soules, to the great greefe of their parents and dishonour of God. So that they saw their posteritie would be in danger to degenerate and be corrupted. William Bradford Of Plymouth Plantation
When this group of Separatists by God’s providence and grace established a settlement in the New World they proved another reason for their decision to move to America. They wanted to spread the gospel or at least pave the way for others to do so. Their example lived before the Indians proved to be good works that reflected the glory of God to the Indians. These brave men and women took the Bible seriously and saw themselves as pilgrims in this world. Like Abraham, they followed the Lord to land that He would show them.
Do you live as a pilgrim in this world? This world is not our home. If the love of the Father is in you, you will not love this world (1 John 2:15-17). To live as a stranger and a pilgrim is to live with a sense of mission. Jesus said:
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Lastly, (and which was not least), a great hope and inward zeall they had of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way therunto, for the propagating and advancing the gospell of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea, though they should be but even as stepping-stones unto others for the performing of so great a work. William Bradford Of Plymouth Plantation
Happy Thanksgiving – Pilgrim!
In Christ,
Rody
