Thanksgiving November 27, 2024
“Why Me?” Deuteronomy 7:6-11
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
The question of “Why” is a huge question for us. In every part of our life, it isn’t just the result of what happens that is of interest to us, but it is what lies before the result – the “Why” something occurred.
Since the Presidential election earlier this month many pages, many blogs and many words have addressed the issue of why one candidate won and the other lost. Answering those questions is going to be the full-time job of quite a few people. They will analyze certain states, people of certain financial positions, color, age and just about everything about everyone. And, I bet, if they asked you, you could give them the answer to all of this.
That question of “Why” becomes a deeper question when you just add a single word. The single word is “me”. Now we ask, “Why me?”. We use that term, usually, when everything has gone wrong. The car breaks down, the check book is upside down, we get a jury summons in December, we receive a “Dear-John” letter when we thought everything was going well. Why me? Why now? What else can go wrong?
“Why me?” is usually a complaint. We can’t understand why “Murphy’s Law” – whatever can go wrong, will go wrong, at the very worst time – seems to be our reality. But not today. This is Thanksgiving. Now the word is a word of amazement and wonder. “Why me” is the question pondering how God can be so good to us. It is a word of amazement and appreciation and thankfulness. “Why me” leads to tears flowing from our joy, wondering how God can be so good to me, to us.
There is an unexpected element to this reading. The whole thing seems to be a word of contrast to what should have happened. It wasn’t due to their strength or numbers, or even because they were especially holy and obedient to God that they were graced to be chosen as God’s special nation. It was all because of God. All due to His love. Listen to the text from Deuteronomy 7:6-11.Why me? Everything you have, all that you possess, is due to the goodness of God. The abilities that you have, the skills that you possess all come from the hand of God. The joys of living in this land, enjoying a bountiful life, come from Him. “Why me?”, is no longer a complaint, a word about how unfair life is, how we haven’t gotten our just due – no, it is a word of amazement. It is a proclamation of thankfulness. “Why me” is a word about the goodness of God. How can my God be so good to me? But He is, over and over again.
In these days to come many of you are going to celebrate Thanksgiving and you are going to prepare more food for one meal than you might eat in a week. You and others are going to go overboard. Isn’t that a picture of what God does for us – everyday? Psalm 136 is a responsive reading between the person speaking and the people responding. To every statement about God’s actions and salvation, mercy and love, those responding say, “His loves endures forever.” Why me? Why is God so good to me? That psalm in verses 1-4 begins,
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.”
“His love endures forever.”
“Give thanks to the God of gods.”
“His love endures forever.”
“Give thanks to the Lord of lords.”
“His love endures forever.”
“To him who alone does great wonders.”
“His love endures forever.”
Why me? Why does God treat me so well? Why does my cup run over? It is out of God’s love for you. Consider the actions of God. He made you just as He wanted you to be made. Another psalm, 139, says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Verses 13-14) Psalm 8 says, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” (Verses 4-5)
Why me? Why you? It isn’t because of us. It isn’t a reward because of how good we have been. “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it is because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers…”
Do you make lists? Wouldn’t this be a good one – make a list of what God has given you that you had no right to receive? That list would be long. I’m not just talking about things in your body – all the material things that He gives us, but how about the things of our spirit that come from Him?
This is a national holiday, a United States holiday, it is not a church festival. But it should be, and for some churches it is. These days for a Christian are times to further grow into our amazement of what grace is. Grace is an undeserved favor. We didn’t work for it. We didn’t earn it. It wasn’t ours by right. God simply opened His hand and gave us gifts in our soul. Like it says in Ephesians, “For by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” (2:8)
Why me? Why does God bless me so? Love. God’s love. He is gracious and giving because God’s heart toward us is extravagant and generous. John 3:16, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Why me? Why is God so good to me? God delights to bring us peace in our souls and joy in our hearts and surety in our minds. He desires everyone of us to spend our eternity in heaven under His care. Like Jeremiah writes of God, “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)I hope you ask that most important question on these Thanksgiving days – “Why me?” “Why is God so good to me?” If you ask that question you can spend the rest of your days in wonderment and appreciation for God’s love, goodness and kindness to you and to your loved ones.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Happy Thanksgiving. A most blessed and meaningful one to you and your family. Amen!!
