In Leviticus, the Thank Offering was also called a peace offering or fellowship offering. It was a voluntary sacrifice presented for the purpose of establishing or deepening friendship with God. It was a means of expressing gratitude to God for all he had done and all he had provided.
The peace offering included leavened and unleavened bread. It was to be mixed, smeared, and cooked with oil. Oil is often a picture of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit produces in us his fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. True fellowship flows out of a Spirit filled life overflowing into holiness and loving obedience. Peace Offerings were offerings of thanksgiving reflecting friendship and fellowship with God. They also expressed the truth that true fellowship with God flows out of a Spirit filled life overflowing into holiness and loving obedience.
The entire offering was to be eaten that day. The meal was to be enjoyed. To never take pleasure in what God has provided is to be ungrateful. God takes pleasure in seeing us dance for joy over the gifts he has lavished upon us.
Our Thanksgiving Day traces back to the foundation of this country. May a part of your Thanksgiving Day be a time of giving thanks to God from whom all the blessings flow. May you thoroughly enjoy the blessings God has provided. But not everyone will have a great day. Friends and loved ones are missed with deep grief. Each of us has experienced, or knows someone who has experienced pain. But sometimes, even in the pain, we need to take time to say, “Thank you!.”
Thanksgiving takes time to enjoy the blessings God gives, reflects on friendship with God, and expresses itself in a fellowship with our Lord that flows out of a Spirit filled life overflowing into holiness and loving obedience. This year let us take time to give thanks!
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