Month: November 2024

To magnify something is to make it look larger than it really is. When we talk about ourselves…our accomplishments, talents, and achievements, it’s so easy to embellish, overstate, and stretch the truth a bit. We boast about things that might or might not have happened and allow foolish pride to rule our mouth. But we simply cannot say too much about God’s goodness, love, and mercy towards us. And if you really think about it for a moment…the most exaggerated things we can think of will still be far from Who God really is and does on our behalf.

If you’re anything like me, being thankful to God can often get delegated to the back of the bus. Sure, I’m grateful to Him, but do I voice my thankfulness as often as I should? Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Thankfulness makes much of little.” That means I should be thankful for all the small blessings as much as I am for the big ones. That also means that I can’t take for granted Who God is and what He does in my life. Hebrews 12:28 tells us that our gratitude should come from knowing that our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20) and from receiving the inexpressible gift of Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 9:15) But being thankful is also a conscious & determined mindset. If we look at Psalm 69:29-30 we can see David’s transition from pain to praise. In verse 29, David is imploring God to remove the pain and anguish of a terrible affliction…his soul crying out from long-term distress. But in the very next verse we see the sudden transition, and his resolute determination to thank God. “I will praise the Name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” So today, whatever is going on in my life, I will praise God.

If we go back to the Gospel of John, this is where he first writes that no one has ever seen God. (John 1:18) In I Timothy 6:16 we read that God is invisible and without form. Moreover, if God were to manifest His glory in a form that we could behold, His divine purity would destroy our sinful bodies. (Isaiah 6:1-5) Yet, His Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth to reveal God to us…being fully man & fully God. Thus, Jesus brought the invisible and the visible together in such a way that sinful man could gaze upon our Heavenly Father. And then in perfect love & obedience, Jesus modeled for us how we are to pattern our lives, one to another… because He loves & abides in us.

King Solomon has been meditating on the affairs of God, and the fact that man cannot know or even start to understand God’s Ways. He also acknowledged that God sovereignly controls the affairs of both the righteous and the wicked, according to His inscrutable design…allowing both good & bad things to happen to all people. I couldn’t help then to think of the old African American spiritual from the 1920’s …”He’s got the Whole World in His Hands.” Talk about covering every detail in song, it does! The verses tell us that God has the wind & the rain, the tiny babies, you & me brother & sister, and ending with, “He’s got everybody in His hands.” Solomon’s reflection on the sovereignty and power of God concluded the same thing…that no matter who we are…God has us in His hands.

Take a few minutes this morning and think through each statement above. As we remember what God has done for us in the past, gratitude & thanksgiving can’t help but rise up in us…for His purpose is always good. (Job 36:24-26) And as we look forward to our future… if our hope is in Him, we will be assured of a full life…or as Proverbs 23:18 tells us, “Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” But while we’re still here on earth, we need to be an example of His hands and feet…or as Jesus said in Matthew 20:28, ” I came not to be served but to serve…” Finally, daily we need to look within ourselves as the Holy Spirit directs, corrects, and draws us nearer to the grace, wisdom, and love of the Father.

Do you believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God? If so, do you then concede that everything God does is also perfect and without fault? We really can’t accept one and doubt the other…for God and His Word are one. Psalm 12:6 tells us that His Word is pure truth…unable to mislead, deceive, or disappoint. But the same goes for His Ways, (II Samuel 22:31) every action of His (from world shakingly large to minutely small) is unerring and absolute. So just remember, God still remains in control of every detail in this world…with nothing taking place without first passing through His very capable hands.

God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush in the wilderness and had commissioned him to deliver His people. But Moses is hesitant, and objects… concerned about his abilities to persuade his fellow countrymen. God then asks Moses to lay down his shepherd’s staff and it supernaturally becomes God’s Staff. That staff was Moses’ identification, with all his skills, talents, and pride wrapped up in it. That staff was who he was…a shepherd watching over & caring for flocks of sheep. But little did he know that what God was asking of him would require a staff worthy of shepherding 3 million people in the wilderness. Now we all know that our giftings, talents, and passions are gifts from God. (I Corinthians 12:4-11) But we also need acknowledge that they are nothing compared to what God can do with them through our obedience to “Lay them down”.

When everything seems to be crumbling down around you…remember that God is still there, so call upon His Name. When your future is frightening and uncertain, call upon the One Who knows all things, the beginning from the end. Give God all your feelings of helplessness when things seem out of control, for He will be there to give you answers & strength…to guard over you when you are vulnerable (Isaiah 52:12) …to protect you when you are powerless (Psalm 32:7) …and will be a shield around you when you are defenseless. (Psalm 28:7)

Ephesian 4:32 tells us to, “Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” But have you ever considered applying this verse personally as Corrie ten Boom suggested here? Think of as part of self-care…to be kind and forgiving to yourself just as Jesus gave His example to follow. Personal unforgiveness confines and can even define who we are. It holds us captive as we only focus on the wrong that was done to us. Finally, unforgiveness deprives us of the freedom to move forward in our life, as we are chained to the past. So the key here, both figuratively & symbolically, is that forgiveness will open the prison door and let us walk free.

In these verses, Paul used a Greek word that usually was a term for the wealthy who garnered civic honor and recognition by outward displays of generosity. Instead, Paul here urged Believers to aspire for the honor & recognition that comes through humble, industrious, and decent behavior. In other words, to live a quiet life that was respectable and unpretentious among all…both Believer & unbeliever. Paul made it plain…by ordering their lives in such a way that commends the Gospel, they became a positive witness for Christ…or as I Peter 2:12 says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God…”