‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. ‘ Colossians 3:15-17
I imagine throughout human history, gratitude and thankfulness is not something of consistency in most people’s life. I know it’s certainly not in today’s time. We are surrounded by a culture of selfish wantonness, covetous attitudes refusing to look at what is. Instead, most often, the focus is on what isn’t. And why not? After all, we live in an age and a nation that throws away what people in other countries and ages past might have killed for. Taken as a whole, we have far more to be thankful for than we take the time to realize. Are there hardships? You bet. Are there trials? Absolutely. I live every single day with fairly unpleasant and, at times, miserable side effects from the medications I’m on. When I focus on those, I loose sight of the fact that those medications, though unpleasant, keep my body from attacking my new kidney. I can live a healthy, productive life, feeling miles better than I did just over 1 year ago. There’s a cost to that. In this case, side effects. “Scott, be grateful”.
As I prepared to write this, I spent a great deal of time trying to think of something that doesn’t have a cost associated with it. I couldn’t think of a single solitary thing. Everything cost something. Time, money, blood, sweat, tears, heart break, sacrifice, commitment, you name it… there’s a cost. God’s grace? Yes, it cost. The blood of Jesus was that cost. He paid it. The things I have been focused on, as I prepared for this were all physical, material things, health, money, property, experiences… The things of this world. All things, good or bad, we should be able to see reason to be thankful. What I wasn’t focused on was the most important reason we should all be grateful, ALL the time. Eternity, paid for by the blood of Jesus.
If you find yourself struggling to rejoice, turn your focus to the most important reason to do so, something that never changes, never ends and will never be undone, and “do all in the name of Lord Jesus”! Have a blessed weekend.
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy
