November is here and no doubt millions are anticipating Black Friday. And many have consciously or unconsciously relegated Thanksgiving Thursday as Black Friday Eve.

Although Thanksgiving is not a biblical feast it is an opportune time to reflect on the horizontal and vertical blessings that the Lord has provided. Thanksgiving is a secular or civic holiday that commemorates the first year of survival for the pilgrims that came over on the ship called Mayflower. History books note that it was a three day event set aside to acknowledge how good God had been in sustaining their lives through the first rough winter with the help of the Indigenous people called Indians by the new settlers. However, it may have been more of a political event than anything and does not consider the many other ships that came before or after.

Although Thanksgiving is a secular holiday, the saints should take advantage of the horizontal (time off from work) opportunity to gather with family and friends. It also is a great opportunity to invite someone who is isolated or less fortunate and may not have family connections or resources that you have, especially considering the current government shutdown. However, it should be noted that that the heart posture of the saints should always be one of gratitude and thankfulness for all the earthly connections, provision and resources provided. A heart posture of gratefulness that lends itself to giving to others.

The Thanksgiving season can also be an opportunity to reflect upon the impact of vertical blessings. The spiritual blessings in heaven places that have been so generously provided to us by our heaven Father and distributed to us in Messiah (Eph. 1:3-4). We can start by being grateful for salvation reflecting upon the very real invisible gifts that He has given to us by grace, that position us in heavenly places in Yeshua Messiah (Eph. 2:4-7; 8-9) and empowers us to defeat the hostels of our soul (Eph. 6:10-18).

Let us approach this month with an attitude of gratitude remembering what the Lord has done (Philip. 4:6), even though in this post-modern era Thanksgiving has become Black Friday Eve.

- Bishop AZ Jones Jr.

Hebrews 4:14-15

We often try to comfort others who are goingthrough a difficult time. But on occasion, ourattempts to console create even more pain.Well-intentioned words like “You’re in my thoughtsand prayers” or even “I understand” may feelempty to those who are struggling—unless we have endured something similar. We all long to feel understood, and today’s passage reassures us that our Savior truly sympathizes because He experienced struggles like ours.

The writer of Hebrews refers to Jesus as our High Priest. Each year the man serving in this capacity would enter the Holy of Holies and, in God’s presence, offer a sacrifice for sin. The priest was the Jewish people’s bridge to God. Christ not only took on this role, but He Himself also became the sacrifice when He died on the cross. Now He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven and intercedes on our behalf (Hebrews 1:2-4; Hebrews 7:25).

That is tremendously encouraging, but even more than that, we know Jesus truly understands our pain and our weakness. He faced the very temptations, needs, and hurts we experience. If you feel alone in the hardships you’re facing, recall Jesus’ trials and hurts. You’ll find comfort knowing that the One who loves you beyond all measure understands exactly how you feel.

Source:intouch.org/read/dailydevotions/understood-by-jesus-2

There were only two left – Joshua and Caleb. An entire generation had passed before anyone got to taste and see the land that God had promised. Alongside their family and friends, Joshua and Caleb saw the Nile turning red and heard the screams of the Egyptians who lost their firstborns. However, those family and friends were no longer around. Caleb and Joshua stood by their loved ones while standing in terror before the Red Sea with the thunder of Egyptian chariots heard behind them. But now, there were just two left who were able to clearly and vividly recall the sweetness of the first fall of manna from heaven for the first time. They also happened to be the ones who urged their fellow Israelites to remain bold and courageous enough to go claim the Promised Land decades before.

Caleb recounted this moment by saying, My brothers who went with me caused the people to lose heart, but I followed the Lord my God completely, — Joshua 14:8 By this point, he must have been like a museum piece to the others of his tribe, a relic of a different age. Yet, he carried on as if the future was rich with hope, and his eyes still sparkled with faith. Caleb proclaimed, I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then, — Joshua 14:11. Even amongst other younglings, Caleb had unmatched ferocity and unwavering tenacity. It must have left the men who fought alongside him bewildered as to where he got his strength and courage. What was the secret? If Caleb was a man of today, we’d be flocking to him for his daily regimen or assuming he’s just genetically gifted. Today, we are always looking for what makes us better, greater, and stronger. Our affinity to self-help and self-betterment can transfer to our spiritual journey, consequently making our faith all about developing and refining ourselves more than walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is common for people to seek strength and courage by turning inward and trying to discover it from within. The world offers all sorts of tips and tricks that suggest that the more we work on ourselves the more likely we will develop these qualities. However, Caleb’s strength and courage were not attained from believing in himself or exceptional because of his own giftedness. Who he became and what he accomplished were the results of following God completely.

Some other translations like the NIV or the NLT describe the way Caleb followed God as doing so wholeheartedly. Caleb attained the supernatural power to become strong and courageous by remaining wholeheartedly and completely obedient to his God. It was the willingness to say YES when the rest of his comrades said NO. It was the choice to believe in God’s faithfulness, even as his fellow friends and family members began passing away, one by one.

Have you ever had or heard of the type of friend that’s willing to drop everything to take an emergency call from you or to go with you on an impromptu trip? You know those people that are willing to try some crazy ideas with you or pray with you through uncertain times? Those are the ones that will wholeheartedly follow you wherever you go. They are with you completely. That was the sort of friend Caleb was to God. He stuck with God when it made no sense. He went into the battles that seemed impossible to win. He said yes to the sacrifice. He remained faithful to God through the wait. It was this complete obedience that gave Caleb the grace to do the things other Israelites were not able to do.

Is your life defined by a complete obedience to God? If there are areas where you’ve been compromising, then take the opportunity to bring that to the Lord in confession and repentance. If you want a God-given strength and courage to last and abound in you, you must be willing to wholeheartedly follow Jesus.

Dear Jesus,
Today, I choose to follow your commands even if I do not feel like it.
I choose to obey your words even if I don’t seefruit right away.
You are worth following.
You are worth trusting.
I will love you, not just because of your benefits, but because of who you are.
Please help me to live as Caleb lived, wholeheartedly devoted to you.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

Source: Written for Devotionals Daily by Faith Eury Cho Cho, F. E. (2025). Joshua Bible Study Guide Plus Streaming Video: Be trong and courageous. HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

In Galatians 3:28, Paul emphasizes that three major social distinctions no longer matter in Christ:

1. Ethnicity: “neither Jew nor Greek".
2. Socioeconomic status: “neither slave nor free”.
3. Gender: “neither male or female”.

First century culture was deeply divided along these lines. So was the church. But Paul stressed “you are all one in Christ Jesus” (emphasis added). Christians have become children of God through faith, which means we are all in the same family. We are no longer divided by ethnicity, social status, or gender, but have become brothers and sisters in God's family.

One powerful symbol of that new unity is baptism Galatians 3:27. As part of the baptismal ceremony, a believer affirms the lordship of Christ and his or her commitment to a new way of life. Paul was possibly quoting from a first century baptismal creed (Galatians 3:28) to remind us of our promise to put on Christ “not just in Word but also in deed”.

In the early Christian communities this meant that both gentiles and Jews could exercise their spiritual gifts. Both slaves and masters could pray or prophecy. Both women and men could enjoy full membership in the body. Christ is all and in all “Colossians 3:11). The breaking down of traditional barriers wasn't just a future hope. The early church worked to make it a reality.

Which brings us to the question: what walls of ethnicity, status, gender divide believers today? Are we willing to model reconciliation between different and even antagonistic groups? If not, then is our church truly a sign of God's Kingdom or merely a human institution?

Source: Radmacher, Earl D., edidor. New King James Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 2007.