| By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5 |
Those of us whom the LORD is pleased to use say: "The LORD is my Helper! I
thank You LORD that You are always near. I thank You for guidance. I thank You
that my path of suffering was marked out in advance by our loving burden bearer. I
thank You that all things work together for good to those who love You and are of
the called according to Your purpose. I thank You for the grace sufficient which is
supplied as needed. Enable me to make use of that grace, so that I may not give
way to doubt or despair, or to feelings of depression. Enable me to take up my
cross to follow in the footsteps of our beloved LORD and Saviour, and do it
cheerfully."(Heb. 13:6, 1 Pet. 2:19, John 15:20, Rom. 8:28, 2 Cor. 12:9, Matt. 16:
24, John 16:33)
Maintaining this attitude will surely please God. By it we acknowledge our
insufficiency and His sufficiency. With everything that life throws our way trusting
in Him. It involves thankful acceptance of His favors granted to us with His loving-
kindness. It means trying to show others that God's grace is real, not a delusion.
It means overcoming our natural disposition to irritability, grumpiness or sulkiness
through Jesus' living in us. It means living with a cheerful countenance as befits
the LORD’s children. It is proof that we want to be copies of God's dear Son. Our
imitation of His virtues recommends those virtues to others. (1 Pet. 2:9) “But you
are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,
that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His
wonderful light.”
We praise the LORD when we diligently respond to "the upward calling of God in
Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). How wonderful that we are invited to joint-heir ship in
Jesus' Kingdom (Rom. 8:17), to live and reign with Him in everlasting glory (2 Tim.
2:12). We can show our appreciation of this calling by zealously making our calling
and election sure. (2 Pet. 1:10)
“He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe
the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he
gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives
God thanks.”
(Romans 14:6)
We are to thank the Lord for everything that happens in our lives, not just what
you consider good things that happen, but give thanks for all things. But how can
we praise God for His wonderful goodness when fiery experiences befall us? Praise
becomes possible when we realize that He permits suffering, anxiety and trouble
as part of our discipline (Heb. 5:8,9, Rom. 6:16, 1 Pet. 1:14, 2 Cor. 10:5). They are
permitted to try us, to see of what sort we are. If we are dross (Isa. 1:25, Ezek. 22:
18), we will imitate the Israelites of old. We will weary God with continual
complaints. (Num. 14:22, Heb. 3:8,15) Let us not complain but thank God for
everything even the bad things, because they are permitted to build us up all for
the glory of God.
You and I are promised that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). God no longer promises temporal prosperity as He did
before "the kingdom of the heavens" was introduced. Today's believer often
experiences poverty and distress. Suffering for Christ's sake is still to be endured.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you
for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the
degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at
the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the
name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon
you.” (1 Peter)
So then let us Thank God continually everyday as we continue our Christian walk.
Praise God that He loves us, and we are chosen to partake in what is the glory of
God. Live, learn and thank the LORD! Let us pray:
thank You LORD that You are always near. I thank You for guidance. I thank You
that my path of suffering was marked out in advance by our loving burden bearer. I
thank You that all things work together for good to those who love You and are of
the called according to Your purpose. I thank You for the grace sufficient which is
supplied as needed. Enable me to make use of that grace, so that I may not give
way to doubt or despair, or to feelings of depression. Enable me to take up my
cross to follow in the footsteps of our beloved LORD and Saviour, and do it
cheerfully."(Heb. 13:6, 1 Pet. 2:19, John 15:20, Rom. 8:28, 2 Cor. 12:9, Matt. 16:
24, John 16:33)
Maintaining this attitude will surely please God. By it we acknowledge our
insufficiency and His sufficiency. With everything that life throws our way trusting
in Him. It involves thankful acceptance of His favors granted to us with His loving-
kindness. It means trying to show others that God's grace is real, not a delusion.
It means overcoming our natural disposition to irritability, grumpiness or sulkiness
through Jesus' living in us. It means living with a cheerful countenance as befits
the LORD’s children. It is proof that we want to be copies of God's dear Son. Our
imitation of His virtues recommends those virtues to others. (1 Pet. 2:9) “But you
are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,
that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His
wonderful light.”
We praise the LORD when we diligently respond to "the upward calling of God in
Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). How wonderful that we are invited to joint-heir ship in
Jesus' Kingdom (Rom. 8:17), to live and reign with Him in everlasting glory (2 Tim.
2:12). We can show our appreciation of this calling by zealously making our calling
and election sure. (2 Pet. 1:10)
“He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe
the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he
gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives
God thanks.”
(Romans 14:6)
We are to thank the Lord for everything that happens in our lives, not just what
you consider good things that happen, but give thanks for all things. But how can
we praise God for His wonderful goodness when fiery experiences befall us? Praise
becomes possible when we realize that He permits suffering, anxiety and trouble
as part of our discipline (Heb. 5:8,9, Rom. 6:16, 1 Pet. 1:14, 2 Cor. 10:5). They are
permitted to try us, to see of what sort we are. If we are dross (Isa. 1:25, Ezek. 22:
18), we will imitate the Israelites of old. We will weary God with continual
complaints. (Num. 14:22, Heb. 3:8,15) Let us not complain but thank God for
everything even the bad things, because they are permitted to build us up all for
the glory of God.
You and I are promised that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). God no longer promises temporal prosperity as He did
before "the kingdom of the heavens" was introduced. Today's believer often
experiences poverty and distress. Suffering for Christ's sake is still to be endured.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you
for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the
degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at
the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the
name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon
you.” (1 Peter)
So then let us Thank God continually everyday as we continue our Christian walk.
Praise God that He loves us, and we are chosen to partake in what is the glory of
God. Live, learn and thank the LORD! Let us pray:
| The Lords Church.org Ministries Website All Rights Reserved 2005-2008 |
|
|
|
