The thing I want is gratitude!
I love the scriptures, I want to obey the scriptures
I want to live by the Bible
Especially when it is challenging.
So today as I sit here recording a message when I'd much rather be anticipating delivering it in person. While the doors of our church's building are closed and our church is spread out over the county. When things are not as I wished them to be, I am asking you to decide along with me
I will be thankful
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
How do we find gratitude when we experience things we never experienced before?
1st have to realize it is an act of the will
John 14:1 - Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
Don't let your heart be troubled, Jesus said. Don't let that happen.
Two things to do
1 Recite - Meditate - Scripture - I have made scriptures and put on a key chain and can pull them out and read throughout the day.
2. Choose to find things to be thankful for
Some of the things I have chosen to be thankful for.
I am thankful for a greater appreciation for Scripture
2 Timothy 3:16 - 17 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
I have preached this and believed this passage for a long time. But if I'm honest there are scriptures that did not seem really applicable at times. Book of Leviticus for example
Leviticus 13 - Bible says if someone is suspected of having a contagious disease they should be isolated for two weeks.
Wow the very thing we are considering has a Biblical precedence
That brought me comfort
And caused me to realize there are things in the scripture that
are profitable. We just haven't lived in a time when their wisdom has come to light.
Personal Example
Scriptures of Fatherhood meant less until I became a father.
I am thankful The Bible gives instruction for difficult situations
Romans 13:1-7 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
I am grateful that while leading a church through something I have never experienced before that there are some practical Biblical advice for me to hang on to in making decisions.
Two Side Notes
