A Thankful Heart changes Life

 

Last week we took some newcomers to an event that they had never experienced in their part of the world. They thanked us with gracious words that deeply touched my heart. It made me desire to know them better and even do even more for them. Is this how God feels when we thank Him? 

The Bible is filled with expressions of thankfulness and its importance. This is likely the source of the quote that I’ve often repeated: “All the problems in the world would be solved if everyone was thankful.”

As my daughter responded, “Instead of greedy” yet there is even more. Thankfulness suggests that someone is being appreciated. We thank servers for bringing our meals, drivers for delivering us safely, friends for inviting us to their home, and a host of other blessings on our lives. Being thankful draws us closer to other people.

What about God? Reading Romans 1:18ff carefully shows that unthankful people are on a slippery slope downward into sin and that “God gives them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity.” Lack of gratitude is serious stuff.

Instead of going that route, thankfulness should also acknowledge the source of all goodness. 

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:16–18)

All that is good comes from the Lord. He loves me and wants me living as His image-bearer. I am certain that God does not grumble and complain like I do. Not only that, when I am thanked, I know that I have done something good and whatever it was, God's Spirit was involved. It is really God who should be thanked, not me. 

He urges a thankful attitude because when I am grateful, I am honoring Him and am communicating to Him appreciation for who He is and what He does. He deserves thanksgiving.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2)

Jesus thanked His Father, and I am to be like Jesus. He was thankful at meals, thankful for answered prayer, and thankful for the way God worked to draw people to Himself:

He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. (Matthew 15:36)

. . . .  Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me…” (John 11:41)

. . . .  Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children…” (Matthew 11:25)

While I am thrilled to be thanked for doing what God put on our hearts to do, those that thanked us are people who are always thanking God too. This is one of the reasons that we love to spend time with them. Imagine if everyone was like that! It would put an end to antagonism and strife. No more wars, only glad hearts.

PRAY: How can I say thanks for all that You have done for me? Things so undeserved — to prove Your love for me. The words to a song, and my own words from a heart filled with gratitude — rather than complaining, wanting more, never satisfied, bring joy. You are an awesome God. You hear me, provide good things for me and for those who trust You. You open our hearts to know truth and see what is hidden from those who are not grateful. Work in their hearts too. May the people of this messy world become totally genuinely thankful for You and for all that You do. 

 

The Perfect Gift

 

Last night’s Christmas Eve Service brought words like, “This was perfect.” I saw a young child and thought how perfect he looked. We bought some goodies yesterday that we thought were perfect. Obviously, God’s work and law are perfect as He is perfect. However, the definition of perfect can vary depending on who is defining it.

In Scripture this word “perfect” is used for all sort of things, including buildings. Each verse that uses the word must be considered in its context and how it aligns with other Scripture. The idea of perfection cannot contradict other passages. Those who study original languages say this:

perfect — adjective. being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish.
to perfect — verb. to make complete of its kind and without defect or blemish.
to be perfected — verb. to be or become in a perfect or consummate state with respect to a specific attribute.
perfection — noun. the state of being complete and without defect or blemish.
complete — adjective. perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities.
perfect thing — noun. anything that is without flaw or defect.
perfecter — noun. a person who brings something to completion without defect or blemish.
perfection — noun. the act of making something complete and without defect or blemish.
perfection — noun. an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept.

The New Testament depicts perfection or completion in terms of maturity or being fully grown into the design that God has for humanity. This means to be in the image and likeness of Christ, a designation only for those who are “in Christ” and part of His forever family.

The NT speaks of imparting wisdom to the mature: “Yet among the mature (perfected) we do impart wisdom…” (1 Corinthians 2:6) and it tells of power made perfect in weakness: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ((2 Corinthians 12:9) Both verses strongly say that perfection is not being without a need for wisdom and having weaknesses. 

Paul, who seem to be the epitome of a complete and totally devoted believer, also said of himself: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Philippians 3:12). He knew he was not yet perfect.

James calls for believers to “be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4) and other NT writers proclaim that we find perfection and completeness not in our own efforts, but “in Christ” who “by a single offering … perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14).

In other words, perfection is a goal but it is not obtained by my efforts nor will it show up in this life as a goal reached.

The Galatians tried and Paul told them: “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) John encourages his readers with:

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2–3)

From these verses and many more, I get the message that Christ is my perfection, that He is using all things to conform me to His image so that I think, talk, and live as He did, but I will not reach that level of completion until I see Him as He is. Further, no one can claim perfection in themselves for this is a gift from God. Jesus is not only the founder and perfecter of our faith, but abides in us to perfect our love for one another, and give us all that He is so we can glorify Him.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. (James 1:16–18)

PRAY: Every good and perfect gift arrived as a Baby — and today we celebrate Your birth and rejoice in God’s gift to us — Your perfections are mine, now and forever. Today my weaknesses and flaws remain, even as Your perfections work to transform me. Needless to say, any maturity that shows up is still a gift from You and not my doing. For the gift of You, I am so grateful!

Godly Choices?

This week I’ve been trying to decide a purchase. It to my creative bent but the big question is will I have time to use it. I am already creative with art quilts and other things. To use this purchase would require additional time and energy which is scarce these days. If I bought it, would it be a waste of money?

I asked my hubby. He said that if I purchased this product and never used it, I would be out a small amount of money. If I didn’t buy it, I might wonder for a long time if I should have. (It is on sale for only a few days). His logic didn’t answer my real question: Why do I want it? Is this an opportunity or a temptation?

Yesterday’s devotions were about temptation. It does not come from God and usually reveals a weakness in me. This morning in my ‘read through the Bible’ passage, Jesus was tempted by Satan who offered Him the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship him. Is this where my desire is coming from? As soon as I read it, I was willing to drop the idea, but then my devotional reading put me back in James where I read this:

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:16–18)

Is this desire to be more creative a good gift from above that God can use for His glory? Or is it the enemy trying to deceive me into something that will distract me from doing the will of God and put extra pressures in my life?

I know that whatever my decisions involve, I’m to be yielded to God, willing to do what He asks or tells me rather than insisting on one way or the other. The problem is being uncertain what God wants me to do.  When I thought this might be the devil dangling part of his kingdom in front of me, I was abhorred yet a little disappointed. James says to ask for wisdom but not be double minded about it.

I prayed several times asking God to clear the confusion. The Bible says He is not the source of confusion and He will answer my prayers. Later in the day, the Lord reminded me of the word I’d asked for 2019. He gave me PEACE and an acrostic to help me make decisions. It looks like this:

PRIORITIES – Put the important stuff first

EGO ISSUES – Will it stroke my ego or glorify God?

ADVICE – Check it out with godly friends who I trust.

COMPETENCE – Is it something God has gifted me to do?

ETERNAL – Will it produce something of eternal value?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord, this purchase is not a priority. I’m not sure its use will glorify You. It doesn’t seem to involve an ego-trip but only one person said to go for it. I am skilled in this area, but only You know if it will produce something of eternal value. My time is nearly filled with activities that You have assured I should do. I’m still on the fence so will keep praying.

Today’s thankful list . . .

A lovely ‘sew day’ with quilt guild members as we designed and assembled charity quilts.

Sunshine that mocked the wind.

Color. Life would be dull without it.

Friendships.

Email and texting messages.