Your World Has a Flip Side 11/8/98
Acts 16:24-31
Page 1622 Come Alive Bible
JESUS CHRIST’S mandate to take the gospel to the world was taken seriously by the young emerging church. It must be today.
Acts 16: 11 is an epoch passage. It marks the beginning of Paul’s second missionary journey. Summarily, it chronicles the first venture with the gospel into Europe as we know it. There was no Europe or Asia then. The invasion of Europe wasn’t on Paul’s mind, but it was what the Lord had in mind. Thus, Europe became the springboard for the gospel to go into all the world.
Spiritually, their world, like ours, had been turned upside down. They confronted it with such zeal and practical wisdom that it was said of them, “These people who have turned the world upside down have come here also” (Acts 17:6). Their reputation as revolutionaries preceded them.
You have a reputation as a Christian also. What is it? Are you considered a compromiser of the faith; a chameleon Christian; or a champion of the faith? Is consistency a virtue for which you are known?
We confront militant revolutionaries with ardor equal to that of our predecessors of the First Century. In Big Sur, California, is the Esarline Institute which is dedicated to New Age philosophy. In one of their publications, “Psychological Journal,” this statement appeared. “The revolution has begun. The world will be changed. How it will be changed is up to us.”
That is an inscription that might well appear above every church house door. We are to be missionaries to our topsy-turvy world. Humpty Dumpty couldn’t put his broken world back together again. With our resource of Jesus Christ we must begin the reconstruction of ours.
Our current passage of study reveals three aspects of the mission of Christ’s church.
I. IT IS A CONVERTING MISSION
Paul and his companion Silas were put in prison in Philippi for sharing the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. That dingy little cell can be visited today. On the wall is a significant extraction from the writings of Paul.
Upon being falsely accused, improperly condemned, and cruelly imprisoned Paul and Silas didn’t throw a pity party. They didn’t question, “Why did this happen to us?” They didn’t act like the Holy Spirit had departed and forgotten them. Observe verse 25, “they were praying and singing hymns.” Suddenly it was choir practice time. They were “joyful in tribulation.” Suddenly the cursing quieted, the base oaths ceased, weeping and gnashing of teeth became silent.
Note what the other prisoners were doing, “the prisoners were listening to them.” Sure they were. Nobody acted like that under those circumstances.
Oh, by the way the reason they could respond with such confidence is indicated in that plaque on the cell wall today. It reads: “For me to live is Christ.” In effect they were saying we are Christ’s proxy in this cell. We are no less His proxy where ever we are.
Their message of conversion through Christ was so dramatic that members of an excited mob in Thessalonica spoke of them as turning the world “upside down.” That is conversion.
There is an automobile that helps our understanding of the word “conversion.” It is the convertible. With its top up or down it is two different cars. It changes. A life with Christ is changed — converted.
When appealing to a person to enjoy what is known as conversion we are offering them a gift which can’t be imagined. It is heaven. Perhaps if we could help persons grasp the inevitability of an after life and the contrast of the two states they would respond all the more immediately. In reality there is no way we can grasp the grandeur of heaven. We can only compare it with what we know and that limits our understanding. It is like two caterpillars crawling along having a conversation. Fluffy says to Crazy Legs, “I don’t feel well.” “What’s wrong?” asks Crazy Legs.
“I think it must be about time for me to spin my cocoon and crawl in and die and I don’t want to.” “Why not?” presses Crazy Legs, “you will be born again.”
“Yeah, but in the after life I won’t be able to eat green stuff.” “You won’t! What a downer.”
“True, but that’s not all. I won’t have but six legs.” “Six, legs? Bummer.”
“Right, and I won’t be able to crawl around I’ll have to fly.”
“Fly? That is a downer. I didn’t know the next life was so different.”
The next life, the after life, is much more superior to this life than the life of a butterfly is to a creepy crawling caterpillar. We just haven’t experienced it.
Paul had an unsettling reputation. In the city of Philippi it resulted in opposition as he sought their conversion to “spiritual butterflies.”
Philippi was a city in which Roman soldiers loyal to Caesar were stationed to colonize the area. It was a luxury assignment. It was totally Romanized. The citizens were given Roman citizenship. They became a part of Roman culture.
There were few Jews there and those who were there had to gather at the river to worship. There was evidently no synagogue.
A. Lydia, a wealthy business woman from Thyatira, and her household were the first saved. The work of the Holy Spirit in her conversion is described as “The Lord opened her heart” (Vs. 14). She immediately did two things.
-She was immediately baptized. Baptism doesn’t save us, Jesus does. He asked us to be baptized as an evidence of faith in Him. Thus, it is an act of obedience. Recently I baptized a young adult in a wheel chair (Kathy Dean). It took a great effort of her part to be baptized. For her it was really no effort because of her great faith and ambitious desire to comply with Christ’s command. How about you?
-Once the Lord opened the heart of Lydia she opened her house to the apostles and became a “base camp” for the gospel.
B. There was a slave girl who was an occult medium in the city. When a decadent society turns its back on God, it soon turns back to the gods of decadence, and Philippi had.
She followed Paul and his friends around saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation” (Vs. 17). What a compliment!
A battle of gods is about to occur. The Greek text uses the word PUTHONA to describe the girl’s condition. This fortune-telling girl was actually demon-possessed. People with soothsaying gifts were given great honor. It was thought the spirit of a god had inhabited them. There was a superstition that the mythological Greek god Apollo was embodied in a snake at Delphi. This embodiment was called Pytho for python, a snake.
The masters of this slave girl had made of her a pitiful plaything for profit. They used her fortune telling to make money. She had a physical and spiritual need. She was twice a captive. She was the property of her slave master and possessed by a demon. Paul saw her as being in need of exorcism. He confronted her and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” (Vs. 18).
Her problems were over. Paul’s were just beginning (Vss. 19 – 40).
C. Paul and Silas were arrested, tried, beaten, and thrown into jail. They had upset the economy.
This would have been an ideal time to throw a pity party. It was a grand moment to complain about God letting them down. They found the good in the bad. They were in with Roman soldiers. That wasn’t their preoccupation. From their perspective the guards were bound to them. That meant they had a captive audience with which to share. These were members of the elite Roman legion, the Praetorian Guard. Thereafter they were reassigned to Rome. Unfolding now is the answer to a question. Later Paul wrote a letter to the church at Rome giving his regards to “those in the household of Caesar.” How did converts get in the palace of the Emperor? They were won to Christ in that jail. Talk about a chain reaction!
In jail they conducted a prayer and praise service (Vs. 25) at midnight.
This impacted the entire jail. The Lord sent an earthquake and burst open the jail. The beautiful story of the jailer’s conversion follows (Vss. 27 – 34).
He questioned, “What must I do to be saved?” (Vs. 30).
Paul’s answer is simple, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…” (Vs. 31).
Being saved not only involves being absolved of sin. It not only means having Christ righteousness credited to your account. Those are marvelous realities. It also involves Christ coming to dwell in you. He becomes spiritually embodied in the believer.
I like you have seen some strange things. I saw something recently that alerted me to a great spiritual principle. I saw a rabbit carrying an attaché case. He put it down as he passed a basketball goal and shot a three pointer. Upon going in a building I saw a marvel. It was cold in there but he played a piano. Strange as all that seems the wonder of it all is that the rabbit that did all that was dead.
He died and was made into a glove. As a glove a talented human hand entered him and the ability of that hand became the ability of that dead rabbit.
When we die spiritually Christ comes to live within us and His ability becomes our ability. Upon being saved he – – –
- Engaged in an act of mercy. He washed their stripes.
- Shared with his family.
- They were all baptized.
II. A MINISTRY OF CONSERVING
Paul and Silas were actually run out of town. However, they had been successful in beginning what became a burgeoning church. To conserve the faithful, he later wrote them the book of Philippians.
We each need to be involved in a “conservation program” of Bible study and Christian fellowship called the church. Therein, we need to close unthreatening companionship of Sunday School where God’s word is studied with friends who form our spiritual support system.
The gospel had resulted in a conservative revolution in the city. Paul hadn’t dealt with cultural and social issues. However, once the gospel was applied, these issues were successfully dealt with. He didn’t confuse the end and the means. The gospel resulted in a reordering of priorities. Layers of distorted thinking were peeled away and the good news applied to man’s emptiness.
Christ calls for a radical to-the-root change in lives. Such a change is called new life. It calls for repentance, faith, and obedience.
This same kind of conservative revolution has occurred several times throughout the history of the Christian church. A period known as the Reformation was one of the most dramatic. The Reformers saw that their church had been corrupted by indulgences, inquisition, and a quest for political power. They didn’t want to start a new church. They wanted to reform the existing one.
The church must establish a firm doctrinal stance for Biblical integrity and then energetically get on with answering the jailer’s question with the simple answer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…”
It must be noted the answer is “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…” not about Him. We begin by believing certain things about Him and them believe on Him.
In Scotland there is a term lippen. It expresses the condition of a person who is entirely unable to protect or support himself and commits his life, interest, and safe keeping to another.
It is even used of a person crossing a great chasm by walking on a log over the abyss. That person in that act is said to lippen the log. That is, the person is completely dependent upon the log for safe passage. When Paul said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…” he was saying lippen Him, commit your life, interest, and safe keeping to Him.
What Does God Require of You? Part One
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).
Jesus spoke of “justice, mercy, and faith” and of them said we “ought to” do these things. That means it is to our advantage to live with these three attributes as our character traits.
Visitors to our nation’s capital enjoy the beauty of the Library of Congress Building. In it are beautifully decorated alcoves providing reading rooms. The various alcoves are dedicated to different disciplines: art, history, science, philosophy, and religion. Each alcove has a distinctive design and motto. The committee responsible for choosing the motto for the religious alcove requested prominent ministers to make suggestions. The one chosen: “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
When President Jimmy Carter took the oath of office as our nation’s leader he quoted the prophet Micah: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
The prophet Micah, our Great High Priest Jesus Christ, and our former President Jimmy Carter all appeal for us to make these traits our habitual lifestyle. In our current carnal culture these attributes need to be modeled.
At a time in the life of ancient Israel when moral depravity and religious decadence corrupted the people, God sent forth four prophets simultaneously to preach to His people.
Amos and Hosea were His heralds in the North.
Isaiah and Micah sounded forth the truth in the South.
Amos preached justice.
Hosea struck the note of love.
Isaiah called for reverent, humble fellowship with God.
Micah gathered the gist of all three and summarily said, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, To love mercy, and walk humble with your God?” (6:8).
Three virtues are mentioned in our text that are described by God as “good.” It should also be noted they are required of us by God. Jesus confirmed this when He said of them we “ought to” do them.
Pause and reflect on how these virtues are lived out by you. Resolutely determine to demonstrate them daily.
I Can Do All Things
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me….” (Phil. 4: 13)
This popular iconic verse needs to be understood to relate to contentment, not conquest. It is not intended to relate to all activities and actions, but to the result of the outcome whether prosperous or the pits. It should be understood to give meaning to the things listed in preceding verses and be content with the result because of the strength Jesus provides. To achieve this contentment, he needed the strength of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, many people take this verse out of context and use it to reinforce a “triumphalist” or “super-Christian” mentality, instead of seeing that the strength of Jesus in a life is evident in our ability to be content when we did suffer.
With that confidence builder in mind don’t be reluctant to undertake those things perceived to be within God’s will. Flush from your mind old defeatist attitudes. Drive out the would-be tyrant, failure. Recapture your mind and stock it with positive principles.
There is no such thing as an idle thought. All thoughts work for either or bad. Positive thoughts can make you stronger. Negative thoughts can exhaust you.
Two extremes exist at this point. One is positive thought can achieve anything. Not! The other is Jesus can do it all for me. Not! Together with Jesus as the master of the two wonders can be achieved. Be positive and be dependent. An example of optimum optimism is French statesman of yesteryear George Clemenceau who in his youth fought a number of duels. His second went with him to the railway station to purchase tickets to a duel and was shocked to see him buy a one way ticket.
One way ticket? Said the shocked second. “Pessimistic?”
“Not at all,” said Clemenceau cheerfully. “I always use my opponent’s return ticket.”
No person can live long without realizing that life deals some losses, defeats, and disappointments to all. The optimist is well aware of this and is prepared to accept a share of both. It is at this point Jesus strengthens us most by enabling us to be content.
An aside to contentment is physical health. If you look on the bright side, you just might live longer — much longer, according to some upbeat research. A new study finds women who characterize themselves as having the highest level of optimism live 15% longer than the least optimistic women, and have a 50% greater chance of reaching the age of 85. The most optimistic men live 11% longer.
Not only do they live longer, they live better and are living witnesses of the contentment derived from faith in the Lord. To be content in our chaotic culture is not humanly possible. Therefore, where it exists it is a testimony to the grace of God.
“Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his statue?
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own thing. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6: 25-27 & 34)
Life Goes On 4/26/98
Ephesians 3:14-16
Page 1710 Come Alive Bible
Jesus Christ said, “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).
To validate the statement that there is life for us after death He gave us proof by going out and being resurrected. It was a rare occasion that morning when the old door of death swung on reverse hinges and He walked back into life through the portal of the grave.
Occasionally at the time of death of one not closely associated with a person it is heard to be said, “Life goes on.” That statement can be made flippantly and sound callous. However, it is true. Before anyone gets the impression I am passing off grief lightly let’s think about it. Life does go on for the believer.
Our text refers to “the whole family in heaven and earth.” Our brothers and sisters in Christ constitute our spiritual family. Did you note the fact members of the family are in two different places: “heaven and earth.” When a beloved one in Christ dies they are transferred to a heavenly home where life for them goes on. WOW, is that a fact!
Easter, the acknowledgment of resurrection, is the only holiday celebrated 52 times a year. Every Sunday the Christian community gathers to celebrate the fact life goes on. Think of any of your beloved who died with faith in Christ. That one is today more alive than any one of us. For that one life goes on in heaven as ours goes on here on earth. Rejoice!
During World War II when persons in England were notified of the death of a loved one the note started: “Your loved one has been posted to a higher command.”
Thank the Lord the resurrection encourages hope in eternity.
Heaven is a real place awaiting those with faith in Christ. It has inspired art, music, novels and even humor. In that vein consider the golf game being played by Moses and Jesus. Moses hits an approach shot that clears a water hazard and lands near the green. Jesus takes out a six iron for his shot. Moses says, “Jesus, that isn’t enough club to clear the water. You are sure to land in the water.”
Jesus replies, “If Jack Nicklaus were playing this hole he would use a six iron and I am going to use a six iron.” Again Moses assures Him the club won’t clear the water.
Sure enough the ball lands in the water. Moses goes down and parts the water to retrieve the ball for Jesus. Upon returning it to Him once more Jesus chooses a six iron. Again Moses warns Him that isn’t enough club to clear the water and says he isn’t going to retrieve it again.
Again Jesus replies, “If Jack Nicklaus were playing this hole he would use a six iron. If it is good enough for Jack it is good enough for Me.”
Sure enough Jesus’ shot ends in the water again. Jesus goes down and as He is walking across the water to retrieve the ball a couple of new comers to heaven see Him walking on the water and asks, “Who does that fellow think He is, Jesus?”
“No,” says Moses, “that is Jesus. He thinks He is Jack Nicklaus.”
Jesus, having said, “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live,” continues His encouraging comment: “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:26).
“Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” (John 8:51)
A skeptic may well ask why then do Christians die? There were seven Greek words from which Christ could choose one to be translated “see.” The one chosen means to stare at or be preoccupied with. Thus, He is saying when a believer dies that one walks right on by death without being preoccupied with it or fearful of it. They don’t even notice the event because of a greater preoccupation.
Have you ever driven some place and on route come out of a haze to question yourself as to exactly where you are in route? Perhaps, to even wonder if you have passed a certain place. You have been so deep in thought you did not even notice if you had passed it. That is the way it is with Christian death. One minute we are here and the next we are in heaven.
One parent explained it to his child this way. “Do you remember when we would return from visiting your grandparents? Often we would travel at such a time as to get home after your bed time. You would go to sleep in the car soon after leaving grandmothers. When you would wake up the next morning you would be in your own bed.”
In the moment this “earthly tabernacle is destroyed” we enter into what Christ referred to as “My Father’s house.”
Most of us have a little wholesome fear of death. It is a wonderful preservative of life. It keeps us from doing most risky things that would be foolish. One of the blessings of Christian death is that when it comes there is no fear of it. Perhaps most of your life you have been quoting Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for Thou art with me…” There it is “I will fear no evil.” The fear of death is removed in that moment.
With Paul we can taunt death by saying, “Oh, death where is your sting…” When a bee stings a person the bee loses its stinger. On Calvary Satan stung Christ and the sting of death has never been the same.
“They shall not see death.” One reason is there is a preoccupation with Christ. Scripture says, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8).
If an American teenager were translating that Greek text it would read, “The moment you die you are eyeball-to-eyeball with God.” That, rather, than death is our preoccupation in the moment we expire. Life goes on!
In the Roman Arena, Emperor Nero watched as Christians were faced with the cruel mocking death. He was amazed to see many of them bow and look heavenward with a radiant glow on their faces as though seeing the invisible. Nero asked, “What are they looking at? What do they see?” One standing by who was sympathetic with the Christians said, “They see the resurrected Christ.” They never saw death.
In the moment life escapes from the prison of this body we are inducted into “The Society of the Just Perfected.”
In a novel by Henry James there is a character referred to as “eminently incomplete.” That’s us. In this life were are indeed eminently incomplete. Death admits us into “The Society of the Just Perfected.” Life goes on — on a much higher plane.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4: 16 – 18).
Living in a world of “instant everything” we tend to become spiritually nearsighted. This has robbed us of a proper perspective of time and things. Out text contrasts the “moment” with “eternity” and the “visible” with the “invisible.”
Time and eternity has a way of showing us what is temporary and what is permanent; what is valuable and what is useless. Measure the things of your life in this light. Adjust your schedule accordingly. Rearrange your priorities in light of this.
When Horatio Nelson, one of Britain’s greatest leaders, was wounded and lay dying his last words were, “Thank God I have done my duty.” What an incomprehendible joy!
Can you say the same?
A new and exhilarating ride was introduced. It was so revolutionary people were reluctant to ride it. It was called the Ferris Wheel. It is a familiar tame ride by today’s standards. However, initially its novelty caused people to fear the baskets would turn upside down and let them fall out. Finally, one day a gracious lady got on and rode it to the amazed satisfaction of the large crowd of on lookers. Her name was Mrs. Ferris. After she rode it others were reassured and had no reluctance to ride.
When Jesus Christ got on life’s Ferris Wheel and went through the cycle of birth, life, death, and resurrection it took away fear and made life a grand joy ride. Enjoy!
In his book, A Severe Mercy, Sheldon Vanauken, whose wife died of cancer, tells of the last day he saw his friend, C.S. Lewis. They had lunch together and talked about death or, as he says, “the wakening after death.” Vanauken suggested that death would be a sort of coming home, and Lewis agreed. When it came time to part, he insisted that they keep in touch and said with a cheerful grin, “We’ll certainly meet here or there.”
The two shook hands and Lewis turned to make his way across the busy street. Then he turned to Vanauken, raised his voice above the traffic, grinned and shouted, “Besides, Christians never say goodby.”
We don’t need to because life goes on and the resurrection of Christ proves it.
Prior to his death the superb British leader Sir Winston Churchill planned his own funeral. The ceremony was conducted in the expansive St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in London. At a striking moment a trumpeter in one end of the vast vaulted assembly hall played taps. The stirring notes of the familiar score echoed through the chamber signaling the final rest of the deceased. Just before the end of the ceremony another trumpeter at the other end of the room played reveille. That rousing sound used to awaken sleeping troops was chosen by Sir Winston as a confident reminder of his belief in the resurrection.
Some grand day the trumpeter of the Lord will sound forth God’s reveille and the dead in Christ shall be caught up to be with Him and we who are alive shall accompany them.
There is a grand resurrection awaiting those who have died with saving faith in Christ. The resurrection of Christ confirms this.
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (I Corinthians 15:20).
Persons in the Bible era knew what was meant by “the first fruits.” By learning we should be encouraged. As the time of harvest neared farmers expectantly looked for the first grain to ripen. As soon as it did it was immediately harvested. They had a grand celebration. All of the farmers brought the first shocks of grain harvested to the house of God. In procession they waved the grain back and forth over their heads praising the Lord. It was a celebration of gratitude. It was a thanks for the growing season that produced the grain as well as a praise for what was to come.
The resurrected Christ is seen as the first fruit from the grave. That is, His resurrection gives us reason to celebrate life and rejoice over our own forthcoming resurrection.
In light of what you have heard here in these moments listen again more carefully than before to John 3: 16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16). Life goes on!
As Christ is the first fruit of the dead resurrected there are subsequent resurrections coming. Revelation 20: 6 says, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.” This is a reference to the forthcoming resurrection of all believers.
There is another resurrection which follows the first resurrection. It also is spoken of in the Revelation. There are indications there may be as much as a thousand years between the first and second resurrection. The second is of non-believers.
Every person will be in one of the two. In which will you be numbered? Do not leave any room for doubt. Settle the issue today, once and for all.
Regardless of how long or how difficult life’s road you will stand at the end when the resurrected Christ who also met the apostle John who recorded his encounter with the triumphant Lord in Revelation 1: 17, 18: “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.’”
A Thankful Disposition
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thessalonians 5: 18)
Simply stated, “It is God’s will for you to have a thankful disposition.” He not only wants you to have moments of giving thanks, He wants you to be thankful perpetually.
Giving thanks is an act of the will.
Feeling thankful is an act of the emotions.
What is your disposition? Not what you wish it were, but what is it? What do persons conceive of your disposition as being based on what they have seen and heard?
Our predecessors realized the expediency of giving thanks and set aside for doing so. It is a good thing. Charles Dickens, however, may have had a better idea. He suggested that we reverse the practice and have a special day for griping and use the rest of the year for expressing thanks.
If you choose to change your mind and disposition to being by nature a thankful person it will amaze you and refresh your friends as to what a difference it will make.
When we start to count flowers,
we cease to count weeds.
When we start to count blessings,
we cease to count needs.
When we start to count laughter,
We cease to count tears.
When we count happy memories,
we cease to count fears.
We live in a society of ingrates. When was the last time you saw someone bow before a meal and give thanks in public. Do you? Will you?
A nationally prominent lawyer was responsible for sparing 78 men from the electric chair. Not one ever thanked him. Daily our Lord spares us. Do we thank Him?
The only way to consistently give thanks is for our focus to be on God. He is the constant that affords emotional equilibrium. If our focus is on things and happenings our thanks will vacillate.
Demonstration must accompany declaration. The difference in saying thanks flippantly and demonstrating thanksgiving is the difference in lightening and a lightening bug. Note thanks is only part of the word thanksgiving. Giving is also part of the word. One of the three offerings exercised by ancient Jews was a thanksgiving offering. One can offer thanks without giving. However, the Lord instituted the offering so persons could demonstrate the devotion of their hearts.
Leonardo da Vinci neared the completion of one of his masterpieces. He called one of his students over and giving his said, “Here, you finish it.” The student, feeling unworthy, protested. Da Vinci said, “Will not what I have done inspire you to do your best?”
If what Jesus has done does not inspire us to be, do, and give our best, nothing will. Resolve now to demonstrate a thankful heart to the Lord daily.