The idea behind having a day for thanksgiving, as North Americans do, is an excellent one. It is a day set aside when individuals stop to reflect on the goodness of God, and with a grateful heart, thank Him for His many blessings. It is a day shared with family and friends, a festive occasion for most, topped off with the traditional thanksgiving dinner. However, once the day is past, it is easy to go back to things being business as usual. Yet while it is wholesome to pause, reflect, and give thanks on the day, it is even better to do it every day.
A common theme in the Psalms is giving thanks to God. In five of them we read "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever" (106:1; 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1), words echoed from 1 Chronicles 16:34. It is interesting to note the reason we are admonished to give thanks to God - "for his mercy endureth forever". The blessings we receive from God are all the result of His mercy, and so even before we start listing the things for which we are thankful, we have to begin with his mercy. Jeremiah reminds us "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is [his] faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23, KJV).
In his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul wrote, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (5:18). Many sermons have been preached on this text, but it is a constant reminder that we should give thanks in all situations. It is easy to be thankful in and for the good times, and for benefits that are to our immediate advantage, but harder to do so when everything seem bent out of shape. Yet even in those difficult circumstances we should give thanks, because in the midst of our thanksgiving are the seeds for our breakthrough.
As we go through today, and the rest of our days, let us do so with hearts of thankfulness to God. And while doing so, let's not forget to thank him most of all for his "unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15), our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
No Other Day Like Today
When we woke up this morning, for most of us in the familiarity of our homes, doing the same chores, doing the same commute, basically following the same routine, it is easy to lose sight of an important fact; today is a day like none other. Yes, in today's case it is another Friday, but it is not a Friday we have seen before, nor will we ever see it again. Every twenty four hours, God graciously give us a clean sheet of paper to write on, and it is up to us what and how we choose to write. For sure on some days there will be all kinds of aggravations and temptations, but in the final analysis, we alone determine our response to the situations we face.
Reaching for that first cup of hot beverage, listening to the news, checking our email, making that first phone call, or whatever else we do all have their place, but the greatest way to start any day is with the right attitude. In Psalm 118:24 David wrote, "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." From the moment we shake ourselves from our slumber, and realize that we have been blessed to see another day, clothed in our right minds, there should be an attitude of praise and rejoicing. When we stop and consider that many who went to bed didn't make it through the night, we realize just how gracious God has been. We didn't wake up because of anything we did, or because we're that special, but all because of His mercy. The prophet Jeremiah declared, "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (3:22-23, KJV).
As you go about your business today, it is my prayer that amidst the hustle and bustle of things around you, there will be a quite place within from which will flow a steady stream of praise. The heart that is full of praise will not be easily distracted by much else. The added bonus is that the peace of God will stand guard over our hearts and minds thus making it a bit easier to deal with the challenging situation.
Today is the day which God hath made; rejoice and be glad in it! At the end of the day, God willing, you will be pleasantly surprised at what you were able to "write" on the sheet of paper, called today, that you were given.
Reaching for that first cup of hot beverage, listening to the news, checking our email, making that first phone call, or whatever else we do all have their place, but the greatest way to start any day is with the right attitude. In Psalm 118:24 David wrote, "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." From the moment we shake ourselves from our slumber, and realize that we have been blessed to see another day, clothed in our right minds, there should be an attitude of praise and rejoicing. When we stop and consider that many who went to bed didn't make it through the night, we realize just how gracious God has been. We didn't wake up because of anything we did, or because we're that special, but all because of His mercy. The prophet Jeremiah declared, "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (3:22-23, KJV).
As you go about your business today, it is my prayer that amidst the hustle and bustle of things around you, there will be a quite place within from which will flow a steady stream of praise. The heart that is full of praise will not be easily distracted by much else. The added bonus is that the peace of God will stand guard over our hearts and minds thus making it a bit easier to deal with the challenging situation.
Today is the day which God hath made; rejoice and be glad in it! At the end of the day, God willing, you will be pleasantly surprised at what you were able to "write" on the sheet of paper, called today, that you were given.
"My Grace Is Sufficient..."
In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul speaks of his thorn in the flesh. Theologians have long speculated on what that might have been, but regardless of what it was, we know that Paul asked the Lord to remove it three times (v.9), however the answer wasn't what he might have expected. The Apostle wrote, "And he [Christ] said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (v.10, KJV).
Space limitation does not allow for a full discourse on this compelling portion of Scripture, however there are at least two very important lessons we can take from it. First, our fervent prayers are not necessarily answered in ways we would expect, and second, whatever God allows us to bear, He provides the grace for us to do so successfully. It is understandable that we, like Paul, would ask God to remove physical, emotional, psychological, or mental stressors, but in His wisdom and as He seeks to shape our lives to conform to the image of Christ, He may choose to leave us with those issues and the resulting pain. This does not mean that we are left to fend for ourselves. We have the assurance of Christ Himself that not only do we have the Holy Spirit as our Helper, but that the measure of grace that He has made available to us is sufficient. This grace will manifest itself in our moments of weakness, enabling us to rise above our challenging circumstances - no matter how painful, or how difficult.
Paul continued, "Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size--abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become" (vv. 9b-10, The Message). The KJV renders the last clause in verse 9, "that the power of Christ may rest upon me." On the word "rest", Albert Barnes wrote, "The word properly means to pitch a tent upon; and then to dwell in or upon. Here it is used in the sense of abiding upon, or remaining with. The sense is, that the power which Christ manifested to his people rested with them, or abode with them in their trials."
Have you been given a thorn in the flesh? A situation that seems far more than you can bear? God has not lost your address; He knows exactly where you are. Amidst the many struggles and discouragement is a supernatural power resting on us, and an abundance of grace that He promises is sufficient. Take hold of those truths; go forward and conquer!
Space limitation does not allow for a full discourse on this compelling portion of Scripture, however there are at least two very important lessons we can take from it. First, our fervent prayers are not necessarily answered in ways we would expect, and second, whatever God allows us to bear, He provides the grace for us to do so successfully. It is understandable that we, like Paul, would ask God to remove physical, emotional, psychological, or mental stressors, but in His wisdom and as He seeks to shape our lives to conform to the image of Christ, He may choose to leave us with those issues and the resulting pain. This does not mean that we are left to fend for ourselves. We have the assurance of Christ Himself that not only do we have the Holy Spirit as our Helper, but that the measure of grace that He has made available to us is sufficient. This grace will manifest itself in our moments of weakness, enabling us to rise above our challenging circumstances - no matter how painful, or how difficult.
Paul continued, "Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size--abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become" (vv. 9b-10, The Message). The KJV renders the last clause in verse 9, "that the power of Christ may rest upon me." On the word "rest", Albert Barnes wrote, "The word properly means to pitch a tent upon; and then to dwell in or upon. Here it is used in the sense of abiding upon, or remaining with. The sense is, that the power which Christ manifested to his people rested with them, or abode with them in their trials."
Have you been given a thorn in the flesh? A situation that seems far more than you can bear? God has not lost your address; He knows exactly where you are. Amidst the many struggles and discouragement is a supernatural power resting on us, and an abundance of grace that He promises is sufficient. Take hold of those truths; go forward and conquer!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Keeping It Real
I love reading the Scriptures, especially from different versions. There is the Victorian richness in language and expression in some, while others bring the Word in today's English that makes it easier to understand. When I read the latter, especially the Psalms, I feel more "real" before God and that is not a bad thing.
Recently I was reading Psalm 51 from Eugene Peterson's "The Message", and here I found David's expressions of such that I thought, "God, if only we could be that real before you all the time!" Peterson's paraphrase of verses 1-12 read:
"Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down.
You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you're after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.
Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don't look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!"
We do not need to use those exact words next time we pray, but how about we try to keep it real before our Heavenly Father? Let's call a spade a spade, and trust His redeeming grace to not only forgive and cleanse, but to lead us in ways that are pleasing to Him.
Recently I was reading Psalm 51 from Eugene Peterson's "The Message", and here I found David's expressions of such that I thought, "God, if only we could be that real before you all the time!" Peterson's paraphrase of verses 1-12 read:
"Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down.
You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you're after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.
Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don't look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!"
We do not need to use those exact words next time we pray, but how about we try to keep it real before our Heavenly Father? Let's call a spade a spade, and trust His redeeming grace to not only forgive and cleanse, but to lead us in ways that are pleasing to Him.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
A Guiding Light
A fellow student at the Bible College I attend is blind, and uses a guide dog to get around. On a couple of occasions, I watched his (we'll call him Paul for our purposes) interaction with the dog, and how he quietly issued commands to "sit", "stay", "here", and so on, to which the dog would immediately respond. Once they were moving, the dog was Paul's eyes. He seemed to know where everything was, and as the master moved around in a world of darkness, he relied on his 'best friend' to guide him around obstacles and whatever else was in the way. It was obvious that the bond between them was one of trust.
In Psalm 119 we read, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (v.105, KJV), and in these words we find a similar kind of relationship. As the believer goes about in a darkened world, we need our own "guide dog", and we have the light of God's word to show us the way. In his commentary on this verse, Matthew Henry wrote, "It [the Word] discovers to us, concerning God and ourselves, that which otherwise we could not have known; it shows us what is amiss, and will be dangerous; it directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. It is a lamp which we may set up by us, and take into our hands for our own particular use...to direct us in the right ordering of our conversation, both in the choice of our way in general and in the particular steps we take in that way, that we may not take a false way nor a false step in the right way. We are then truly sensible of God's goodness to us in giving us such a lamp and light when we make it a guide to our feet, our path."
The Christian cannot afford to go about our business without the security of God's word lighting our way. In his notes on the Bible, Albert Barnes wrote, "He who makes the word of God his guide, and marks its teachings, is in the right way. He will clearly see the path. He will be able to mark the road in which he ought to go, and to avoid all those by-paths which would lead him astray. He will see where those by-roads turn off from the main path - often at a very small angle, and so that there seems to be no divergence. He will see any obstruction which may lie in his path; any declivity or precipice which may be near, and down which, in a dark night, one might fall. Man needs such a guide, and the Bible is such a guide."
Because the Word of God is so encompassing, it has something to say about every area of our lives. Every step we need to take, every decision we need to make, we can trust it to guide us in the right direction. A lamp unto our feet, and a light to our path. As you go day to day, are you making effective use of it?
In Psalm 119 we read, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (v.105, KJV), and in these words we find a similar kind of relationship. As the believer goes about in a darkened world, we need our own "guide dog", and we have the light of God's word to show us the way. In his commentary on this verse, Matthew Henry wrote, "It [the Word] discovers to us, concerning God and ourselves, that which otherwise we could not have known; it shows us what is amiss, and will be dangerous; it directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. It is a lamp which we may set up by us, and take into our hands for our own particular use...to direct us in the right ordering of our conversation, both in the choice of our way in general and in the particular steps we take in that way, that we may not take a false way nor a false step in the right way. We are then truly sensible of God's goodness to us in giving us such a lamp and light when we make it a guide to our feet, our path."
The Christian cannot afford to go about our business without the security of God's word lighting our way. In his notes on the Bible, Albert Barnes wrote, "He who makes the word of God his guide, and marks its teachings, is in the right way. He will clearly see the path. He will be able to mark the road in which he ought to go, and to avoid all those by-paths which would lead him astray. He will see where those by-roads turn off from the main path - often at a very small angle, and so that there seems to be no divergence. He will see any obstruction which may lie in his path; any declivity or precipice which may be near, and down which, in a dark night, one might fall. Man needs such a guide, and the Bible is such a guide."
Because the Word of God is so encompassing, it has something to say about every area of our lives. Every step we need to take, every decision we need to make, we can trust it to guide us in the right direction. A lamp unto our feet, and a light to our path. As you go day to day, are you making effective use of it?
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