Giving Thanks

GIVING THANKS

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Here in America, the fourth Thursday of November is set aside as a holiday known as Thanksgiving. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be a national day of thanksgiving. In 1941, Congress set the fourth Thursday of November as the permanent Thanksgiving holiday.

Sadly, this holiday has lost a great deal of meaning. For most Americans, Thanksgiving is all about food, family and football. It is sad that few people actually give thanks on the day designated for this purpose.

For the Christian, every day should be a day of thanksgiving. The Scriptures abound with many verses that encourage us to give thanks. Of all people, we have the most to be grateful for. We often make the mistake of using a calculator to tabulate the number of our blessings. We are tempted to think like pagans, believing that the more money and possessions a person has, the more blessed they are. While we should be grateful for finances and possessions, these pale in comparison to other blessings. Our greatest treasures cannot be held in our hands or calculated with a slide rule.

I believe that gratitude is a sign of a healthy soul. According to Philippians 4:7-8, thanksgiving is one of the actions we should take to combat anxiety and worry. Gratitude is a mark of a mature Christian. When we meditate on the blessings of God, our fears and complaints tend to shrink in size. Our faith grows as we consider the great things God has done for us.

I don't consider myself to be an expert on anything, but I will share this with you. In my time of morning prayer, I will often thank the Lord for at least three specific things. It may vary from day to day. I know this seems rather small, but we tend to give thanks generally and not specifically. We will say things like, “Thank You, Lord, for my blessings,” or “I am grateful for everything You do for me.” While there is nothing wrong with either statement, they are rather vague. I think it is good to be specific with your gratitude. If your spouse or boss praised you in front of others, it would mean so much if they listed specific things they appreciated about you. I think we should do the same with the Lord. He has given us specific blessings, so we should thank Him specifically as we give thanks.

First of all, we should thank Him for the past. In the past, He has done great things for us. He demonstrated great patience with us as we lived in sin. He worked in our hearts and showed us our sinful condition. He pointed us to the cross and the redemption provided there. He saved us by His grace and for His glory.

Furthermore, He has blessed us since then. He has taught us great things from His Word. We have grown to love Him more. We have been blessed to know other believers who have invested in our lives. He has answered our prayers. He has met our needs and encouraged us when we were down. He has been good to us!

Secondly, we should thank Him for our current blessings. Today, you awoke to a new day. You didn't deserve a new day, but He granted it to you. You have a roof over your head. You have food on your table. You have a natural family and a church family who love you very much. In spite of all the problems and pain you may be enduring, He is giving you grace to persevere. You are able to breathe. Your heart continues to beat. You continue to have a sane mind. These are blessings you enjoy today!

Finally, we can give thanks for the blessings that are yet to come. This requires faith, but shouldn't we be people of faith? We can thank Him for the promises He will soon keep. The promise of His return. The promise of the resurrection. The promise of heaven and so much more. The best is yet to come! Let's thank Him in advance for this!

We are to give thanks, “... for all things.” Even the bad times have been training experiences. Our tough days have strengthened our faith. Our pain has brought us to our knees so we could seek Him for help. Our grief has given us a desire for heaven, our home. Looking back, we are stronger today than we've ever been because of the storms He's brought us through. Although we didn't enjoy the painful process, we should thank Him for the grace that has sustained us through it all.

Don't be a grouchy church member. Be a grateful saint. Let God and others know how much you appreciate the Lord and all His blessings.

Give thanks for all things.

Amazing Love

AMAZING LOVE

“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” - John 17:23

The word, “love,” may be the most misused word in our vocabulary. Secular music has often abused the word. Television and movies use this word in shallow ways. “Love,” is a word that some wrongly use as a synonym for lust. Others use the word in hyperbole. We say things like, “I love chocolate ice cream.” Sadly, even in religious circles, the word, “love,” has lost its impact.

Thankfully, genuine love still exists. A good mother loves her children. An honorable man loves his wife. Christians should love each other. In spite of this, we need to be aware that counterfeits do exist, causing a great deal of pain and heartache. Some are weary of “love,” because they have been mistreated by those who've selfishly used the word without having the true commitment that genuine love produces.

Yet we must admit that there are different types of love. The love a man has for his wife differs from the love he has for his children. Yet in both cases, love exists.

In light of all this, we must consider “love” in its deepest form. The Bible says that God is love. Note that the Bible doesn't say that God has love. It says He IS love. Certainly, the Lord has love, but love is the true essence of His being. Our experience of love is due to the fact that our Lord graciously provided such love for humans. He created man to have the capacity to give and receive love.

In John 17, Jesus prays to His Father. During this time of prayer, Jesus intercedes on our behalf. In verse 23, Jesus said, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” In this verse, Jesus again prays for His followers to dwell in harmony, just as He and the Father enjoyed such unity. He also knew that such unity would get the attention of the world.

I want us to focus on the last part of John 17:23. Jesus said, “... thou … hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” We tend to think that the Father loves His Son with the highest degree of love and that His love for us is less than this. That is not what this verse teaches. Jesus specifies that the Father loves us with the same degree of love that He loves His Son.

This seems rather scandalous, or even blasphemous, doesn't it? For God to love us just as He loves His Son, seems rather outrageous. How can this be?

First of all, His love is a divine love. Since He is God, His love cannot be fully grasped by our finite minds. Since He is love, He has bestowed enormous love on us. He freely gives such love because it is nature to do so.

Secondly, He loves us because of Christ. We have the righteousness of Christ. We are accepted because of His Son. We have been lovingly adopted into His family. He has received us as His own children. He has set His love on us. The blood of His Son merits His attention. We've been purchased by the Lord Jesus. In salvation, we came to the Father through the Son.

The Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The cross of Calvary is vivid demonstration of God's radical love for us. He gave His Son to purchase our salvation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

God has lavishly poured out His love on us. We did not deserve such love. We still don't. Our salvation is due to His grace and magnificent love. He has invested heavily in our lives. He continues to love us.

How should we respond to such incredible love? By loving Him in return. John put it this way, “We love him because he first loved us.” It is easy to love someone who loves you. This is certainly the case with our love for the Lord. He has set His love upon us. We are His treasured possession. We are greatly loved and we love Him right back. We enjoy fellowship with Him with great affection.

The Lord knows our flaws, failures, sins and mistakes. He knows the worst about us … and yet still loves us greatly. He is on the throne --- and yet in our hearts. He has the entire universe to govern and yet He makes time for you and me simply because He loves us.

That kind of love is truly amazing.

Glory!

 GLORY

“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” - John 17:22

As Christians, we use the word, “glory,” to indicate many things. On one hand, we refer to heaven as “glory.” Many of our songs and hymns use this description of heaven. The word, “glory,” is also used to refer to praise. We should have a desire to give God glory, that is, our praise. Finally, the word, “glory,” is used to describe the divine perfections of God. That is what Moses wanted to see when we prayed, “Show me your glory.” Psalm 19:1 speaks of this glory when it says, “The heavens declare the glory of God...”

In John 17, Jesus is praying to the Father on our behalf. In verse 22, Jesus said, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them ...” What “glory” is Jesus referring to? Obviously, He is not referring to His deity. Jesus has always been divine. This glory was not given by the Father, but eternally enjoyed along with the Father. We have not been made divine ourselves. Although we have been made children of God, the trinity has not been expanded to include us. We are still mortals. We are sinners saved by grace. Thus, the glory that Jesus has given to us is not His eternal, intrinsic perfection.

Certainly, one day you and I will have a home in heaven. Because of the saving grace of God, we have a better place waiting for us. We refer to heaven as “glory,” but this is not what Jesus was referring to either. Heaven was not given to Jesus. It has been, and continues to be, His home. It is the abode of God. While this “glory” awaits us beyond the grave, that is not the “glory” Jesus is referring to John 17:22.

2 Peter 1:3-4 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Notice that the promises of God were given, “that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.”

God has made us partakers of the divine nature --- His glory. No, we are not divine. We still dwell in temporal bodies. We struggle with sinful flesh. Yet because of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus, we've been given a position in His family. We are His children. Hebrews 2:6 says that He “... hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” What a position we enjoy!

Furthermore, the Spirit has imparted to us fruit that mirrors the character of our Lord. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Additionally, we are being molded to be more and more like Jesus. Romans 8:29 states, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” You see, our salvation was more than a deliverance from hell. It is a transformation of our lives by the power of God.

This glory was described by Paul in Colossians 1:27: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Notice that the Bible refers to “the riches of the glory of this mystery.” Too bad that most believers are satisfied to enjoy only part of their salvation without entering in the massive storehouse of God's provision and bask in the riches of His glory.

When the King takes residence in our hearts, He brings His glory with Him. It is one thing to be pardoned by the King, it is even greater for Him to move within and abide there. Christ in us, the hope of glory. That is true glory. The ramifications of our salvation are so massive that it overwhelms the minds of those who focus on it. Too bad that we tend to be too busy to meditate on our great salvation and the God who provided it.

The Lord of glory dwells within the heart of every believer. His glory is made manifest within us so that we may dwell in harmony together, just as He and the Father dwell in harmony. We experience such glory here on earth. Yet how sweet it will be to finally see Him face to face and behold Him in all His glory and splendor. What a day that will be!

Glory!

Holy Harmony

HOLY HARMONY

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” - John 17:21

Music is a precious gift from our Creator. Music tends to soothe us when we are troubled. It can comfort us when we are grieving. Music can motivate us when we get discouraged. Although I am not a good singer, I appreciate those who are gifted in this area.

I am a fan of Southern Gospel Music. I love to hear voices in harmony. I even like some classical music, especially when a string ensemble brings a song to life. I thoroughly enjoy hearing musical harmony.

Here's a mistake many make about musical harmony. While they understand the main tune, they think that the others simply sing the notes they want to and somehow it blends. That is not the case. Providing harmony in a song requires that you sing the exact notes that blend with other singers each step of the way.

When it comes to the church, believers should be serving together in harmony. Each person has a specific role, yet his work blends with the differing effort of others. Harmony does not exist in a congregation if everyone is doing what they want to do. Instead, we are called to do God's will. When we follow the notes the Great Conductor has penned for us, true harmony will exist among believers.

That is what Jesus prayed for in John 17. As He neared the end of His prayer, He spoke of us when He prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Jesus wants His followers to be as one. Not one in unison, but one in harmony. There are times in choral music that the singers will sing in unison, but most of the time, they sing in harmony. Together as one unit, they sing different notes, but the resulting harmony provides one glorious sound.

That is the way Christians should be. Each believer serves uniquely based on gifts, talents and abilities, yet serving together as one army.

A family may consist of people with diverse personalities and abilities. Yet they come together as one, each providing for the family. One may cook, another may clean, a third may take out the trash, others may contribute financially. Yet they are one family, working together in harmony.

We are part of a spiritual family. Certainly we should work together in a church family, but overall, we are part of the family of God. We are one family, serving one God.

The problem we are facing is that the devil has believers feuding from within. Rather than concentrating on areas of agreement, we prefer to debate about our disagreements. Often our disagreements are in minor areas, but we tend to amplify them into major issues.

The devil enjoys seeing believers bicker about differences. He loves to incite people into jealousy or anger. He wants every church to split, every family to separate and every marriage to dissolve. You see, the devil fears a united army of saints, but he also knows that a divided army is a powerless foe.

Yes, we can have denominational beliefs, but our primary concentration should be on the message of the Gospel. The Gospel changes lives. The devil doesn't mind us talking about minor preferences, but he will fight against a group of believers who are armed with the Word and seek to penetrate their community with the Gospel.

Together we stand. Divided we fall. It is a simple as that. The American church is weak today because we refuse to work together to win souls. We should be pursuing the advancement of the Lord's kingdom rather than our own. Our goal should be total obedience to His will rather than accomplishing our selfish dreams and ambitions.

Jesus prayed for us to be as one. He prayed for us to live and work in harmony. Our harmony should be as unified and strong as the unity between Jesus and the Father. Jesus wants us to be one, “... as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” As followers of Jesus, we should seek to live in harmony with each other, emulating the harmony of the Father and Son. Jesus prayed that this would be accomplished, “that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” In a world of turmoil, anger and resentment, Christian harmony exalts the Lord.

Yes, I love the sound of musical harmony. Yet the proper harmony of believers is something that is pleasing to the Lord. It only takes the sour notes of one person to ruin the harmonious sound of a quartet, choir or orchestra.

Don't be a sour-note Christian!