Monday, July 2, 2012

A Time to Count Your Blessings

Scripture Verse that Caught my Attention today: Psalm 116:12 What shall I return to the LORD
for all his bounty to me?

Observation: A Time for Counting Blessings.

Application: At the heart of the Christian life is one simple attitude: Thanksgiving. This thanksgiving, when authentic, runs deep.

A lot of people say that Christianity is about love. But love still takes second place the thankfulness. “We love” the bible tells us, “because [God] first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) So when the Bible also speaks of love being able to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things (from the famous ‘love’ chapter--1 Cor. 13), well, that love is still rooted in thanksgiving. In fact, chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians speaks of spiritual gifts which, of course, are GIFTS from God. So love is the expression of thanksgiving.

The Psalmist has it right. In light of what God has already done, how might we best express our thanksgiving. Actually, the Psalmist gets more personal than that, using the terms “I” and “Me.” What shall “I” do for all that God had done to/for “ME?”

In some ways that might be the best question of the morning every morning. Start the day being thankful and then spend the rest of the day acting out the part. Start the day with a question and the rest of the day expressing the answer.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for such a wonderful question with which to start this beautiful day. Help me to answer it in a very thankful way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Isaiah 4-5, Psalm 115-116, and Jude)

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