The Object of Thanks

During the Thanksgiving season we are often encouraged to be thankful and that is a good biblical principle.  The Bibe says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:18). If you examine the New International Version (NIV) translation of the Bible, you will discover that the words “give” and “thanks" are repeated together 33 times.  In nearly all these cases “thanks” is more than just having a thankful attitude.  There is an object towards which thankfulness is directed.  You would assume that the object of thanks would be people.  Why?  Because people give gifts, do nice things for others, or express words of encouragement.  Common sense tells us that we should be thankful for what others do for us.  However, the object towards which we should be thankful in the verses with the two words mentioned is the Lord.  For example, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).

In these verses there are a number of occasions where thanks to the Lord is accompanied with worship.  The Bible says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song” (Psalm 28:7).  Singing to God is a way to worship.  Scirpture also says, “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High” (Psalm 7:17). These “give thanks” verses identify several important actions that all of us can take this Thanksgiving season.

1)    Direct your thanks toward God.  You might thank the Lord for His provision for you – the food you enjoy, the air you breathe, the family of which you are a part, the salvation He provides for you, the forgiveness of your sins, or the many blessings you receive from God.

2)    Include worship as you give thanks.  Praise God, as you speak, sing or as you hum a tune.  A church service would be a good place for you to worship God.  However, wherever you are – at home, at work, or on a long walk – let a hymn or words of praise flow through your mind or be on your lips as you hum or sing or pray.  If you sing, do not worry about singing on key; just make a “joyful noise” (Psalm 100:1) before the Lord.

3)    Give thanks whatever is happening to you.  You may be discouraged and lonely or “down and out.”  Even if you find yourself in these circumstances, there are many things for which to thank God like the rain that provides refreshment, the sunshine you enjoy, the cool breeze on your face.  Let’s make the Lord the object of our thanksgiving.

This year take time to think about how your giving of thanks can be focused on God.  Let the things for which you are thankful be saturated with the Lord who is the object of your faith. 

Joy of Fulfillment

Most people can think about things for which they have had great anticipation.  Maybe that anticipation was a birthday, Christmas time, a new bike, a new game player, a new car, or a new home.  Possibly, you have anticipated the visit of a friend or relative whom you have not seen for some time.  Most likely all of us can think of things for which we have anticipated and most likely there will be further anticipations in the years ahead.  Anticipation is the excitement that a person has about looking forward to something that will bring a smile to their face, provide a note of joy to their heart, and fill them with a sense of great satisfaction. 

Most of the time anticipation is positive because the fulfillment will bring much happiness to the individual.  However, sometimes anticipation can be negative, especially when the individual has anticipated something for a long but it has not yet materialized.  This might result in a feeling of “dreaded expectation” and it may also produce fear or anxiety, rather than hope, and trust. 

From a biblical perspective, anticipation is a confident belief that what God has said will take place.  Another word for biblical anticipation is “faith.”  Faith as a general term is quite different than Biblical faith.  When someone has general faith, they have a “hope so” attitude.  They expect that something may happen, but in reality, it may not happen.  When someone has biblical faith, they have a “know so” attitude.  With Biblical faith they can be completely confident that what God has said will come to pass.  Hebrews 11:1 explains it this way, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  Here are several important aspects of the statement from Hebrews.

(1) “Faith” – Is the actual anticipation of that which is expected.

(2) “Confidence” – Is Biblical faith because there is certainty in what is hoped for.

(3) “Assurance” – Is the guarantee that what is anticipated will essentially transpire – a “know so” attitude.

To sum up our discussion, anticipation is looking ahead and preparing for what God has already said and promised.  Joy comes when the result of anticipation has been fulfilled or completed. What do you look forward to?  What do you anticipate.  Is your anticipation a “hope so” kind of faith, or a “know so” kind of faith?  If you are looking for something for which you can be completely confident that it will actually happen, then go to the Bible and check out some of God’s promises such as “new birth”, “a living hope”, and “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” Here’s what the Apostle Peter says in his 1st Epistle.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”  I Peter 1:3-5

Lessons from Flowers

During the summertime, most of us have seen many different kinds of flowers and heard comments expressing how beautiful the flowers look.  The color of flowers is exquisite and in most cases the fragrance is delightful.  Seeing gorgeous flowers may evoke positive memories of beautiful people, a fragrant perfume, reflections of perfection and goodness, or thoughts of a perfect God who has so generously made things for us to enjoy.

When we look at the beauty of flowers, let’s not just see pretty flowers, but let’s take time to learn lessons for Christian living.

1)    Beauty.  Flowers are beautifully dressed.  “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these” (Luke 12:27).  They do not work or expend energy to look nice.  They are simply beautiful, because that is the way God made them.

2)    Faithfulness.  Flowers are compared to faithfulness.  “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field” (Isaiah 40:6). 

3)    Joy.  Flowers bring joy.  “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2:12).

4)    Contrast.  Flowers are contrasted with God’s Word.  “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

5)    Reminder.  Flowers are a reminder that life is short.  “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall” (1 Peter 1:24).

We ought to remember that God created the beauty that we see in the flowers, and He takes care of everything that He has created.  We should also remember that God created us and He takes care of us, too.  Listen to these words: “And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30).

When you see a beautiful flower, take time to give thanks to God for His creative power.  However, do not forget to thank God for creating you and taking care of you.

 

Friendship

The first Sunday in August is designated as national Friendship Day.  The emphasis of that day encourages us to do several things.  First, thank God for the friends that you have and which you enjoy.  Second, determine that you are going to be a good friend to another person.  Third, plan some special activities that you will share with a friend.  As we expand our thinking about friendship, it might be helpful to examine some of the interesting ideas that the Bible points out about friendship.

1)    Focus.  Friendships that take our focus away from Christ should not be made. “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4).  It seems fairly easy to make a distinction between “the world” and those who are “not of the world.”  If people are not living according to the Biblical principles and exhortations, they are “of the world.”  Those who live a godly life following the Bible are “not of the world.”

2)    Separation.  Friendships should be made cautiously, lest others pull us away from God. “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).  Those people who live in ungodly ways and contrary to Biblical principles are individuals with whom one should not associate in a social manner.

3)    Change.  Sometimes a so-called friend may turn against us. “In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.  They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship” (Psalms 109:4-5). Are there people who are accusatory when it comes to their relationship with you and other people?  Do you find them doing evil things to you and to others?  Do not begin a friendship with such a person or break off a former friendship relationship you have had with them so you can focus on that which is positive and godly.

4)    Personal.  A personal friendship with God is possible. “Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house” (Job 29:4).  Where have you found God blessing your life?  Can you identify several things that God has done for you showing his mercy and grace?  Take time to develop your relationship with God to give you the strength you need to live in godly ways.

What do these verses tell us?  Do they mean that we cannot be friends with those who do not believe like we do?  Of course, the answer is “no.”  “God loved the world (each individual) so much that he gave His one and only Son (Jesus) to die for them that they might heave eternal life” (John 3:16).  Scripture also reminds us that we are to “Love one another” (I John 4:11-12).

People who name the name of Christ and have put their faith and trust in Christ as their Savior, ought to live in such a way that their life points others to the Savior.  Jesus gave this command, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:6). Should we love the world?  “Yes”.  Should we show ourselves friendly?  “Yes.”  However, let’s make sure our friendships are those which will lead us and others to the Savior instead of away from Him.

The Wordless Book

The wordless book is a booklet with colored pages, each representing an aspect of the Christian gospel.  In London in 1866 Rev. Charles Spurgeon preached a sermon entitled, “The Wordless Book.”  He told about an elderly minister who put three colored pages together and often looked at them to remind himself of three things: (1) His sinfulness (black), (2) Christ’s blood poured out for him (red), and (3) The cleansing provided for him (white).  Nine years later, Lay Evangelist, D. L. Moody, added a page to the booklet and shared with 12,000 children “A Book with Four Leaves.”  Since then, Bible verses were added along with a gold page and a green page (added in 1875 and 1939).  The pages explained are:

1)    Gold – represents Heaven.  God loves us and wants us to be with him in his heavenly home.  Jesus said, “My Father’s house (heaven) has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3).

2)    Black – represents Sin.  Sin prevents us from being with God.  The punishment for our sins is that we cannot be with God in heaven because our hearts are not clean.  The Bible reminds us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

3)    Red – represents the Blood of Jesus.  God loves us so much that he sent his Son, Jesus to provide a way for our hearts to be made clean.  Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and make it possible for us to be forgiven.  The Apostle John says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

4)    White – represents Clean Hearts.  When we sincerely admit that we have sinned, ask God to forgive us, believe that Jesus died to take the punishment we deserved, and invite Jesus into our lives, God makes our hearts clean.  John says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).

5)    Green – represents Growth.  Once we invite Jesus to come into our lives, it is important that we grow in our relationship with Jesus. We can do this by talking to God (praying), reading God’s word (the Bible), and obeying him (doing what he asks us to do).  The Bible says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (II Peter 3:18)

Through the death and resurrection of Christ, and our hope and trust when we by faith personally receive Jesus into our lives, we can enjoy the spiritual freedom that God offers.  Let’s take time to allow the wordless book – gold, black, red, white, green – to speak to us as we respond to the message of the gospel.

Footprints Make a Difference

Every time my wife and I go to the East Coast and walk on a beach I am impressed with the footprints that we make.  We, along with many other people, have traversed seashores and left footprints in the sand.  However, the footprints that we make do not last.  A wave from the sea rushes in and erases the prints, or the rising tide soon deletes the footprints.

What is a footprint?  A footprint is an impression that is made by the feet of individuals or animals.  Human footprints do disappear, but do they ever remain?  Of course, this depends on what is meant by the word “footprints”.  You may have heard someone say that they are following in the footprints of someone they admire.  The reference is that they are following the example of someone who’s life has impacted them or somehow made a difference in their life.  Following in the footprints of someone means that they are following the attitude someone has or the action they have taken.  Throughout history, the person whose footprints have probably made the most significant difference in the lives of people are the footprints of Jesus.  What Jesus did, how He acted, and how He thought are examples which we are encouraged to follow.  In one of St. John's epistles, he says, “Whoever says he abides in him [Jesus] ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (I John 2:6, ESV).  The Apostle Peter says much the same: “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (I Peter 2:21, NIV).  Notice that according to these two verses we need to live our lives by following the example of Jesus.

You and I leave footprints for people who come after us.  Those footprints are not ones that are found in the sand or dirt on which we walk.  They are found in the great work that God has done and continues to do which we emulate.  When we follow the instruction, commands, and example of Jesus, our footprints become strategic messages that are valuable for others to implement.  When we talk about how Jesus has listened to us, how He answered our prayers, how He has healed us, or how He has helped us, and given strength or encouragement – these footprints are indelible prints that have made a significant difference in our lives.  Think about these questions.  (1) How has Jesus left a footprint in your life?  (2) What individuals have made footprints which you would like to follow?  (3) What footprints are you leaving for others?

Day of Remembrance

“Cinco de Mayo” is Spanish for the 5^th day of May.  On this day Mexicans celebrate the Mexican’s army victory over the French on May 5, 1862, in the Battle of Puebla.  The French had a much superior force which was considered one of the best in the world.  However, the Mexican forces, although outnumbered, outgunned, and not as well trained, were able to defeat the French army.  That made the day worth remembering.

We lttoo can make May 5^th – as well as every day of the year – a Day of Remembrance. The Apostle Paul shared a good pattern for continual remembrance when he said, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3).  He further said, “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thessalonians 1:3).  Notice that the Apostle Paul remembers three things about these people having to do with their faith, love, and hope.

(1) “Work produced by faith.”  Paul knew the people in Thessalonica were taking Christian action based on their faith and that was producing some dramatic results.

(2) “Labor prompted by love.”  The Apostle Paul also noticed that these people were devoted and persistent in showing compassionate love to other people.

(3) “Endurance inspired by hope.” One additional thing Paul saw was the hope these people had in Jesus which helped them bear up even through difficult times.

We should remember that God can empower us to triumph even when we feel outnumbered and less powerful than the problems we are face in life.  Although Cinco de Mayo is not a religious holiday, we can remember to pray for those we know – our families, our friends, and perhaps ourselves – anyone who needs God’s power in the face of overwhelming odds.