November 3, 2025

What plans did/do you have for Thanksgiving? I put that in past and present because Canadian Thanksgiving was on Oct 13 and American Thanksgiving is on Nov 27. Were you able to invite a Muslim colleague, friend, or neighbor to your celebration? Would you consider inviting someone to join you? I know that many of us find great joy in gathering as families, and Thanksgiving is a great time to allow Muslims to see this warm interaction. One tradition we have in our family is going around the table and sharing what we’re most grateful for over the past year. Whether it’s simple or profound, it’s always good to remember and give thanks for God’s blessings.

Of course, God’s greatest gift was giving us new life in him through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can become his spiritual children if we just believe and receive him as Lord.

Muslims don’t believe that we can just believe and receive. They believe that one has to earn God’s favor and merit. I’ve had more than one conversation where Muslims are baffled by the idea that followers of Jesus can “just believe” and become a child of God. They feel an urgency to do something, finding it somehow unfair or too simple to just believe and receive.

Of course, I explained that followers of Jesus, once they believe and receive him as Lord, are called to live surrendered to him each hour of every day. But they do that out of love, not to gain God’s favor or merit.

Can I challenge you to have a Muslim friend or family over for Thanksgiving, or perhaps Christmas, if you have already celebrated Thanksgiving? Very few Muslims ever make it inside a Christian home. Your invitation will really bless them, allowing you to reflect and be thankful together for God’s blessings!