The Magnitude of Gratitude
Ephesians 5:20, Ephesians 1:16, Thessolonians 5:18, Psalm 97:12
What does it mean to you to give thanks for all things? When you mind spare change, give thanks? When you thought you'd miss the bus, but you just made and you say "Thank God." Do you praise the Lord when you or a loved one are healed of an ailment?
What about when you don't have the spare change? When you miss the bus? When you stay sick and get sicker? Do you thank God then? Do you cringe at the idea of thanking God for what we call terrible things? I can relate to that, but no matter how hard it is, it is a principle we must all practice.
What if you don't find that spare change and it keeps you from buying a cup of coffee that you really wanted, but God knew hiding those coins would mean keeping you from drinking a cup that the worker sneezed in? Gross, but plausible. Boy, you'd thank God then.
What if you missed the bus to an important job interview for a job that would eventually drain the life out of you, but having you look harder and longer you find a job that brings you far more peace of mind. You'd thank God then.
What if by staying sick and being hospitalized you are put in a position to share your faith with nurses, doctors, or other patients? You'd realize God gave you an illness to make you a missionary. Thank God! Romans 8:28 says God works ALL THINGS for the best. Sometimes, we don't know about it. We simply don't know that the missing change or missing bus are God's gifts to us and we get frustrated and ungrateful. How much of a slap in the face is that?
If you want to trust God, you must have faith in the unseen workings He does behind the scenes that always work for the good. We may never know how it did until Heaven, and there we need faith. But we must thank God for ALL THINGS because He works ALL THINGS for the good! It is the antidote to depression, the remedy to rage, and the cure to "bad days." There are no such things as bad days, simply days of grace, where we trust in the Master of the Universe that He knows what He's doing. The world is addicted to methods and drugs that are meant to fix the growing epidemic of depression and apathy. I think the real issue is so many are simply ungrateful to the greatest Gift-Giver ever.
I challenge you, next time it hurts, it's awkward, you're upset, frustrated, doubtful, enraged, or wronged... thank God.
For information about my Christmas novel about the original Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, a devout Christian who gave for the glory of God, visit www.nicholasthenovel.com
For more devotionals/sermonettes visit my blog at codywurban.wordpress.com
Created almost 2 years ago
