Thanksgiving is just a week away from tomorrow. It's so hard to believe that yet another year is almost over. I suppose it's normal that around Thanksgiving time, we begin to focus more on thankfulness. In truth, we should focus on this year round.
In the Bible you will find an account where ten lepers came to Jesus. Jesus, in His mercy, healed them all. They went on their way rejoicing, but only one returned to say thank you. Think about that. One out of ten were thankful. Those aren't good odds!
I can't help but feel disgusted at the others. Why, didn't they realize that they had experienced a personal encounter with the Messiah? After all their time exiled from friends, family, and the temple, weren't they just a little bit grateful for their healing? In one moment their despair was turned to rejoicing. They were, in a very literal sense, given their lives back. Yet only one said thank you!
Remember the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness? All they did was murmur and complain. God daily met their needs, but they complained it wasn't good enough. It wasn't enough to have food literally from Heaven...they wanted the flesh and garlics and leeks of Egypt. In the end only two of the original two million made it to the promised land. That first generation died for their unbelief. Even Moses died for disobedience.
It's so easy for us to look at those Biblical accounts and pass judgment on those people. Yet if we really stop to think, many of us are just like them and worse.
Just like those lepers, Jesus touched our lives and healed our souls. We should thank Him every day of our lives that we aren't going to hell for starters, and that's not the tip of the iceburg when it comes to salvation.
There is a verse in the Bible that says it's possible to forget we were ever saved. If it weren't in the Bible, I wouldn't believe it. What a shame that there are Christians that walk away from God, who is so good to them, and live life their own way to the point they forget they are Christians.
We are also so like those Children of Israel. God daily meets our needs. I know I can testify that I don't always know where my next meal is coming from or how my bills will be paid, but never once have I gone without. God is always, always on time.
Yet I know many times I don't thank Him as promptly as I should. And at times, I'm tempted to murmur and complain about circumstances that don't please me, when really I should rest in my Lord and His wisdom.
There is so much we take for granted. I was thinking this afternoon about how I am able to go to church tonight. No one will be there to drag me to prison. No one will torture or kill me for going. We can meet publicly, and openly, rather than in secret. My dilemma isn't IF I have a Bible to take with me, but WHICH one I choose to bring.
There was a time in America when my Baptist forefathers couldn't worship freely. They were imprisoned, fined, and in some instances whipped. There are times in England's history that Baptists or Protestants were imprisoned, or burned. The same could be said of many European countries. Many of them also have a history of religious persecution.
China even today suffers. Many believers must meet secretly, fearing repercussion from their government. North Korean Christians fear death. Just the other morning I heard of a Pakistani woman who received a life sentence for telling other Muslim women they needed to know Christ. And there are other countries, other places where this is so. That's not the 1700's, or 1600's. That's not the early church era under Rome. That's not the true church seeking freedom from midevil Catholcism. That's 2010 in our world. Dear friends, we are blessed.
If we have food and raiment the Bible said for us to be content. That's more than much of the world's population has. But I would say, most reading this have a home to live in (it may not be a mansion, but it's a roof over your head.) and a car to drive (it may smoke, cough and sputter worse than a chain smoker, but it gets you were you need to go.) food to eat (so it's beans and taters? Sounds good!) and clothes to wear (maybe they did come from Goodwill...those are my favorite kind! They don't cost much!).
My point is, there is so much to be thankful for. We have spiritual blessings (salvation, religious liberty, the Word of God, a good church home, the Holy Spirit to lead us, a home in Heaven, knowing God personally) physical blessings (a home, clothes, food, transportation, and I'm sure a whole lot of extras) and the blessings of family or friends. Even someone with no family or friends left can claim Jesus if they are saved!
How blessed we are! I can't even begin to count them all! God has truly been far better to any of us than we deserve! Let's take time to thank Him!
In the Bible you will find an account where ten lepers came to Jesus. Jesus, in His mercy, healed them all. They went on their way rejoicing, but only one returned to say thank you. Think about that. One out of ten were thankful. Those aren't good odds!
I can't help but feel disgusted at the others. Why, didn't they realize that they had experienced a personal encounter with the Messiah? After all their time exiled from friends, family, and the temple, weren't they just a little bit grateful for their healing? In one moment their despair was turned to rejoicing. They were, in a very literal sense, given their lives back. Yet only one said thank you!
Remember the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness? All they did was murmur and complain. God daily met their needs, but they complained it wasn't good enough. It wasn't enough to have food literally from Heaven...they wanted the flesh and garlics and leeks of Egypt. In the end only two of the original two million made it to the promised land. That first generation died for their unbelief. Even Moses died for disobedience.
It's so easy for us to look at those Biblical accounts and pass judgment on those people. Yet if we really stop to think, many of us are just like them and worse.
Just like those lepers, Jesus touched our lives and healed our souls. We should thank Him every day of our lives that we aren't going to hell for starters, and that's not the tip of the iceburg when it comes to salvation.
There is a verse in the Bible that says it's possible to forget we were ever saved. If it weren't in the Bible, I wouldn't believe it. What a shame that there are Christians that walk away from God, who is so good to them, and live life their own way to the point they forget they are Christians.
We are also so like those Children of Israel. God daily meets our needs. I know I can testify that I don't always know where my next meal is coming from or how my bills will be paid, but never once have I gone without. God is always, always on time.
Yet I know many times I don't thank Him as promptly as I should. And at times, I'm tempted to murmur and complain about circumstances that don't please me, when really I should rest in my Lord and His wisdom.
There is so much we take for granted. I was thinking this afternoon about how I am able to go to church tonight. No one will be there to drag me to prison. No one will torture or kill me for going. We can meet publicly, and openly, rather than in secret. My dilemma isn't IF I have a Bible to take with me, but WHICH one I choose to bring.
There was a time in America when my Baptist forefathers couldn't worship freely. They were imprisoned, fined, and in some instances whipped. There are times in England's history that Baptists or Protestants were imprisoned, or burned. The same could be said of many European countries. Many of them also have a history of religious persecution.
China even today suffers. Many believers must meet secretly, fearing repercussion from their government. North Korean Christians fear death. Just the other morning I heard of a Pakistani woman who received a life sentence for telling other Muslim women they needed to know Christ. And there are other countries, other places where this is so. That's not the 1700's, or 1600's. That's not the early church era under Rome. That's not the true church seeking freedom from midevil Catholcism. That's 2010 in our world. Dear friends, we are blessed.
If we have food and raiment the Bible said for us to be content. That's more than much of the world's population has. But I would say, most reading this have a home to live in (it may not be a mansion, but it's a roof over your head.) and a car to drive (it may smoke, cough and sputter worse than a chain smoker, but it gets you were you need to go.) food to eat (so it's beans and taters? Sounds good!) and clothes to wear (maybe they did come from Goodwill...those are my favorite kind! They don't cost much!).
My point is, there is so much to be thankful for. We have spiritual blessings (salvation, religious liberty, the Word of God, a good church home, the Holy Spirit to lead us, a home in Heaven, knowing God personally) physical blessings (a home, clothes, food, transportation, and I'm sure a whole lot of extras) and the blessings of family or friends. Even someone with no family or friends left can claim Jesus if they are saved!
How blessed we are! I can't even begin to count them all! God has truly been far better to any of us than we deserve! Let's take time to thank Him!
Posts
2 comments:
Wow, your post moved me to tears-- the kind that don't actually come down the cheeks, but stay stinging in the eyes! Thank you, thank you, thank you for reminding me of all I have to be thankful for. And thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord, for all of your provision and blessing!! God bless you, sister, richly!
it's always good to be reminded to take time to be grateful and rejoice alway.
Blessings~
Post a Comment