“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1Thess.5:18)
Lord Jesus, since gratitude is more a heart-habit than a warm-fuzzy, I want to start this Tuesday remembering a few of the “good and perfect gifts” that are expressions of your matchless generosity—starting with the best and most perfect gift of all—you, Jesus.
To have you alone would be 10,000 reasons enough to slay my self-pity and stay eternally grateful. You are the definitive “Yes!” to the question, “Can I be certain God loves me?” By your life, death, and resurrection—we have received tons of “newness”: The new birth, new hearts, a new and perfect record—your own righteousness. A new citizenship in heaven above and the soon-to-arrive “new heaven and new earth” (Rev.21:1-5). Hallelujah for the Gospel!
Jesus, I also thank you today for Gospel-friendships that age like fine cheese—better, richer, and more aromatic as time advances. Thank you for your absolute sovereignty over history, kings, every crisis, and all our kids and grands. Thank you for already defeating the devil and death, and for the closer-than-ever eradication of cancer and cancerous attitudes, narcissism and nukes, worry and wars, hunger among children and greed among adults.
Thank you that the global advancing of the Gospel is more heart-encouraging than global warming of the earth is disheartening. Thank you for the colors blue and green, the taste of gooey cinnamon buns and pistachio gelato, for tight lines when we fish and multi-color leaves when October gets here.
Lastly for today, thank you for not exaggerating when you told us you are working in ALL things for our good and that you are actively making ALL things new. Jesus, turn our whines into worship and our fears into faith. Hallelujah on Gospel-steroids, and So Very Amen.
