¹³Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" ¹⁵But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

                                    Matthew 3

God calls and saves for a purpose.  While we trust ourselves into the love of God, where it will lead and how it may affect others is known only to God.  Indeed “We walk by faith, not by sight”.  John the Baptist had walked a long way by faith.  Even before his birth it was known to his parents that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and that through him God would work “to give knowledge of salvation to God’s people”.  But who could have foreseen John’s years in the wilderness, his asceticism, his fiery and fearless preaching?  Who could imagine that the Messiah—whose way John was to prepare—would come to him and submit to a baptism of repentance?  John at first said ‘No’.

 For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God…?   (1 Thessalonians 3:9)

             Thanksgiving permeates St. Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonika, for thanksgiving filled his heart whenever they came before his mind.   He begins “We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

‘You all’ for St. Paul was not a speech pattern from the American South, but expression and evidence of the way he could bring every face and person before God in prayer.  And when Paul says ‘constantly’, he means it.  The Christians in Thessalonika were dear to him, many converted by his preaching and nurtured and taught by Paul as their faith deepened.  Paul calls them his hope and joy and glory – no wonder he gave such thanks.

Thanksgiving is far more than words or feeling.  Like love and faith, it requires action to be full and alive.  In the heart of his letter Paul asks “For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before God?”  Paul’s question is our teacher as we approach Thanksgiving Day and look at the situation where God has placed us.  What thanksgiving can we render?  And ‘render’, after all, means doing something purposeful.