“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many”
Romans 5:15
The big American feast day is almost here! Thanksgiving - a time when we stop to enjoy the blessings of the harvest, of family and of friends. It is a time, more so than other times of the year when we give thanks for these many blessing and to thank the provider of our blessings – God. I was thinking about the prayers that would be said around many of our tables either before we stuff ourselves or after and how we sometimes call this a time of saying grace. I wondered what that really means since at other times - at least for Christians grace is something that is given, not said.
So I spent some time looking at what grace is really. From the dictionary one of the definitions said: “a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior; mercy, clemency, and pardon” All things that are given. Wikipedia provided a lengthy definition that came from four different theological references; in part it said that grace is the “love and mercy given us by God because God desires us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it. It is understood by Christians to be a spontaneous gift from God to man – generous, free, and totally unexpected and undeserved. Grace is given, not said. I got out my concordance and looked up the words translated as grace in both the Old and New Testaments, all of them in some way indicated that grace is something to receive as a gift, to give as a gift or to act upon in some way.
In this week’s passage Paul is sharing with the Romans how sin came into the world and with it the penalty of death, through one man – Adam and that life was restored through one man – Jesus Christ. That new life that comes from Jesus comes to us in the form of grace – that generous, free, totally unexpected and undeserved gift. Paul has quite a lot to say about grace. In his letter to the Ephesians he writes: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5) and he repeats that sentiment in verses 8-9. In 2 Corinthians Paul essentially says that grace and its ever expanding reach is cause for thanksgiving so abundant that it overflows to glorify God for His wonderfully extravagant gift.
This week whether you are seated at the table of a thanksgiving feast or simply enjoying family and friends with some excellent food and conversation remember to say thanks and to give grace.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for all you have given us – for the food on our tables, for the work you have for us to do and for the marvels of Your creation that we are blessed to enjoy. May we offer the gift of grace to those around us out of the abundant gift that you have given us – giving You all of the glory for it. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Thanks & Giving
“…Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.”
Matthew 14:19
Still challenged to explore the depth of thanksgiving I checked the dictionary for the meanings of the two words thanks and giving. The dictionary defines thanks as a verb meaning to express gratitude, appreciation or acknowledgement. Giving was defined as a verb - to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation. So we could define “thanksgiving” as expressing gratitude and appreciation as a gift without expecting anything in return. This seems like a good definition to me when it comes to giving thanks to God. The dictionary defines thanksgiving as the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgement of benefits or favors, especially to God. It would seem that being thankful and being generous goes together like oh I don’t know turkey and stuffing or mash potatoes and gravy.
This week’s passage relates an early incident of Jesus giving thanks for food and then giving that food to his disciples, who in turn gave it to a multitude of people. It was a miraculous meal. One of the things I like about this particular narrative is that this miraculous meal is sandwiched between two different sorts of storms. Jesus was trying to get away to a solitary place following the news of John the Baptist’s beheading. The loss of a loved one is always a high magnitude storm. Jesus wanted to get away for a bit – but when he got to the other side of the lake there was a huge crowd waiting for him so he set aside his personal need for a time out and cared for the people including giving thanks and giving them a meal. In the midst of that storm he practiced thanks and giving.
Jesus eventually gets the alone time he was after – only it left him “stranded” because he had sent his ride on its way to the next destination. He deals with this situation with another miracle taking a walk on the waves in a wind storm – fancy that.
So when you say thank you to the Lord for all of the amazing things He has done for you on the mountain tops and in the valleys of life give it as a gift thanking Him for who He is not just for what He has done. Then when you are done saying thanks, why not give something to someone else to share the blessing. It doesn’t have to be a big thing – maybe give away smiles or hugs, those are free. What about starting a pay it forward trend in the Starbucks or McDonalds drive thru or maybe buy a meal for someone who is hungry. Imagine what would happen if every follower of Christ gave thanks to God and then gave just one meal to one hungry person – it would be a miraculous meal as more than 2 million people would get to eat.
Thanks and giving are meant to be together.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the example your Son set for us – first giving You thanks and then feeding the multitude, then by thanking You and giving Himself for us. Acts of thanks and giving that resulted in breath taking miracles. Help us to open our eyes and hearts to the world around us – show us where we can give after thanking you for your many blessings. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Matthew 14:19
Still challenged to explore the depth of thanksgiving I checked the dictionary for the meanings of the two words thanks and giving. The dictionary defines thanks as a verb meaning to express gratitude, appreciation or acknowledgement. Giving was defined as a verb - to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation. So we could define “thanksgiving” as expressing gratitude and appreciation as a gift without expecting anything in return. This seems like a good definition to me when it comes to giving thanks to God. The dictionary defines thanksgiving as the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgement of benefits or favors, especially to God. It would seem that being thankful and being generous goes together like oh I don’t know turkey and stuffing or mash potatoes and gravy.
This week’s passage relates an early incident of Jesus giving thanks for food and then giving that food to his disciples, who in turn gave it to a multitude of people. It was a miraculous meal. One of the things I like about this particular narrative is that this miraculous meal is sandwiched between two different sorts of storms. Jesus was trying to get away to a solitary place following the news of John the Baptist’s beheading. The loss of a loved one is always a high magnitude storm. Jesus wanted to get away for a bit – but when he got to the other side of the lake there was a huge crowd waiting for him so he set aside his personal need for a time out and cared for the people including giving thanks and giving them a meal. In the midst of that storm he practiced thanks and giving.
Jesus eventually gets the alone time he was after – only it left him “stranded” because he had sent his ride on its way to the next destination. He deals with this situation with another miracle taking a walk on the waves in a wind storm – fancy that.
So when you say thank you to the Lord for all of the amazing things He has done for you on the mountain tops and in the valleys of life give it as a gift thanking Him for who He is not just for what He has done. Then when you are done saying thanks, why not give something to someone else to share the blessing. It doesn’t have to be a big thing – maybe give away smiles or hugs, those are free. What about starting a pay it forward trend in the Starbucks or McDonalds drive thru or maybe buy a meal for someone who is hungry. Imagine what would happen if every follower of Christ gave thanks to God and then gave just one meal to one hungry person – it would be a miraculous meal as more than 2 million people would get to eat.
Thanks and giving are meant to be together.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the example your Son set for us – first giving You thanks and then feeding the multitude, then by thanking You and giving Himself for us. Acts of thanks and giving that resulted in breath taking miracles. Help us to open our eyes and hearts to the world around us – show us where we can give after thanking you for your many blessings. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Amazing Gratitude
“I am in pain and distress; may your salvation. O God, protect me. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 69:29-30
Almost 30 years ago as my 30th birthday approached, a birthday that coincides with Thanksgiving, I was told that I was being laid off a job I had held for 10 years. Happy birthday to me…woohoo! NOT! Shortly after receiving that awesome news, we sat around the table of Thanksgiving; it was my turn to pray – my turn to give thanks. It was hard and emotional, but I was not alone. Throughout history people have stopped to give God thanks and praise in the midst of pain and difficulty – this is amazing gratitude and David knew what it was like.
For most of us raised with manners saying “please and thank you” is just something taken for granted, easily spoken most of the time – nothing amazing really. But the likes of King David and the prophet Habakkuk regularly gave thanks in the midst of their storms. That is the case with David in Psalm 69. While this Psalm, in my opinion could have been complete with just these two verses. The Psalmist expresses his pain, asks God to meet the need and praises him with thanks. Read all the verses leading up to this week’s passage and it is clear that David is in a dark place – he under attack from outside and from within himself, but he still finds a way to leave it with God and to practice amazing gratitude.
Habakkuk speaks with God; they are in conversation about what it coming if the people don’t straighten up. Habakkuk knows what’s coming and his response is amazing, even as the storm swirls he says: “…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:18).
Sitting at that table 29 years ago, with tears falling I thanked God for His provision, for what He had in store for me – even though I had no idea what that was. Thanked him for the new journey and His protection along the way. That journey has taken many detours, led me into the wilderness and the doldrums. It has taken me places I would have never imagined and it has taught me amazing gratitude.
Where are you in this season of Thanksgiving? Are you in pain and distress? Are you in the wilderness? In the doldrums? Walking through the valley of the shadow of death? It doesn’t really matter where you find yourself, when you trust in God it is possible to experience and express amazing gratitude.
More than a simple thank you – it’s amazing gratitude.
A Prayer
Father, you know our world and lives are filled with pain and distress. Help us to be like your servants David and Habakkuk in practicing amazing gratitude. May those expressions of gratitude overflow into the lives of those who don’t know or trust you yet – for that will please you more than anything else we can do. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Psalm 69:29-30
Almost 30 years ago as my 30th birthday approached, a birthday that coincides with Thanksgiving, I was told that I was being laid off a job I had held for 10 years. Happy birthday to me…woohoo! NOT! Shortly after receiving that awesome news, we sat around the table of Thanksgiving; it was my turn to pray – my turn to give thanks. It was hard and emotional, but I was not alone. Throughout history people have stopped to give God thanks and praise in the midst of pain and difficulty – this is amazing gratitude and David knew what it was like.
For most of us raised with manners saying “please and thank you” is just something taken for granted, easily spoken most of the time – nothing amazing really. But the likes of King David and the prophet Habakkuk regularly gave thanks in the midst of their storms. That is the case with David in Psalm 69. While this Psalm, in my opinion could have been complete with just these two verses. The Psalmist expresses his pain, asks God to meet the need and praises him with thanks. Read all the verses leading up to this week’s passage and it is clear that David is in a dark place – he under attack from outside and from within himself, but he still finds a way to leave it with God and to practice amazing gratitude.
Habakkuk speaks with God; they are in conversation about what it coming if the people don’t straighten up. Habakkuk knows what’s coming and his response is amazing, even as the storm swirls he says: “…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:18).
Sitting at that table 29 years ago, with tears falling I thanked God for His provision, for what He had in store for me – even though I had no idea what that was. Thanked him for the new journey and His protection along the way. That journey has taken many detours, led me into the wilderness and the doldrums. It has taken me places I would have never imagined and it has taught me amazing gratitude.
Where are you in this season of Thanksgiving? Are you in pain and distress? Are you in the wilderness? In the doldrums? Walking through the valley of the shadow of death? It doesn’t really matter where you find yourself, when you trust in God it is possible to experience and express amazing gratitude.
More than a simple thank you – it’s amazing gratitude.
A Prayer
Father, you know our world and lives are filled with pain and distress. Help us to be like your servants David and Habakkuk in practicing amazing gratitude. May those expressions of gratitude overflow into the lives of those who don’t know or trust you yet – for that will please you more than anything else we can do. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
A Stretch
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’”
Luke 22:19
It’s a stretching time. Our church is being stretched by growth and a vision for the future. The staff is being stretched as we seek to be obedient to the call of the Lord on each of our lives. As a writer I am being stretched to find new perspectives on being thankful as we being the season of thanksgiving. Facebook is being will with words of thanksgiving and there is nothing wrong with that to be sure, but I couldn’t help but ask myself whether or not we were just scratching the surface of what thankfulness is. I scoured scripture looking for something that would challenge my perception of giving thanks. I got the concordance out to check the original languages for clues of the true depth of what it means to be thankful.
Scripture, especially the Old Testament often speak of thanks as a sacrifice and an offering – when we give thanks are we making a sacrifice or bringing an authentic offering to God? Then I read a familiar passage and saw something I never saw before. That passage is the block that this week’s devotion is written on. I know it’s a stretch. I study and prayed a lot to get to a point where I feel like I can express what I am feeling – but it’s still a stretch. This passage comes from Luke’s rendering of the Last Supper. Jesus and His disciples are sharing the Passover meal – when Jesus does something that must have seemed odd to those at the table with him. He took bread, gave thanks – said a blessing over it and then broke it. Then Jesus handed it to them and told them it was his body being given, being broken for them. As I read this, a question flashed through my mind – did He really just give thanks for His soon to be broken body? Did He give thanks for a body that would be broken to bring healing and restoration to our lives and souls? A body that would be broken to build a bridge over the chasm that separates us from God? It’s a stretch, but I think He does.
So how do we express our thanks for such an extravagant gift? How do we throw ourselves at Jesus’ feet like the woman in Luke 8:47 or the Samaritan leper, healed in Luke 17:15-16? How do we acknowledge that all that we have, all that we are and all that we are called do comes from a God who willfully and thankfully sacrificed Himself so He could hold us close and call us friend, call us his sons and daughters?
The answer is a stretch. It may be easy to say, but it will be a stretch to actually do it. The answer is to “love others” the way that God loves us. I told you it was a stretch – will we willingly and thankfully sacrifice ourselves to love someone into the Kingdom?
It’s important to gives thanks for everything, the big stuff and the small stuff. This week, this year I want to challenge all of us, as we approach the table of Thanksgiving and race toward Advent to take giving thanks to a new and deeper place in our hearts.
It’ll be a stretch, but a good one.
A Prayer
Father, so much to be thankful for because of your generosity, because of Your Son’s sacrifice. Show us how to be so thankful that we love others to you. Stretch our perspectives on what looks like. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Luke 22:19
It’s a stretching time. Our church is being stretched by growth and a vision for the future. The staff is being stretched as we seek to be obedient to the call of the Lord on each of our lives. As a writer I am being stretched to find new perspectives on being thankful as we being the season of thanksgiving. Facebook is being will with words of thanksgiving and there is nothing wrong with that to be sure, but I couldn’t help but ask myself whether or not we were just scratching the surface of what thankfulness is. I scoured scripture looking for something that would challenge my perception of giving thanks. I got the concordance out to check the original languages for clues of the true depth of what it means to be thankful.
Scripture, especially the Old Testament often speak of thanks as a sacrifice and an offering – when we give thanks are we making a sacrifice or bringing an authentic offering to God? Then I read a familiar passage and saw something I never saw before. That passage is the block that this week’s devotion is written on. I know it’s a stretch. I study and prayed a lot to get to a point where I feel like I can express what I am feeling – but it’s still a stretch. This passage comes from Luke’s rendering of the Last Supper. Jesus and His disciples are sharing the Passover meal – when Jesus does something that must have seemed odd to those at the table with him. He took bread, gave thanks – said a blessing over it and then broke it. Then Jesus handed it to them and told them it was his body being given, being broken for them. As I read this, a question flashed through my mind – did He really just give thanks for His soon to be broken body? Did He give thanks for a body that would be broken to bring healing and restoration to our lives and souls? A body that would be broken to build a bridge over the chasm that separates us from God? It’s a stretch, but I think He does.
So how do we express our thanks for such an extravagant gift? How do we throw ourselves at Jesus’ feet like the woman in Luke 8:47 or the Samaritan leper, healed in Luke 17:15-16? How do we acknowledge that all that we have, all that we are and all that we are called do comes from a God who willfully and thankfully sacrificed Himself so He could hold us close and call us friend, call us his sons and daughters?
The answer is a stretch. It may be easy to say, but it will be a stretch to actually do it. The answer is to “love others” the way that God loves us. I told you it was a stretch – will we willingly and thankfully sacrifice ourselves to love someone into the Kingdom?
It’s important to gives thanks for everything, the big stuff and the small stuff. This week, this year I want to challenge all of us, as we approach the table of Thanksgiving and race toward Advent to take giving thanks to a new and deeper place in our hearts.
It’ll be a stretch, but a good one.
A Prayer
Father, so much to be thankful for because of your generosity, because of Your Son’s sacrifice. Show us how to be so thankful that we love others to you. Stretch our perspectives on what looks like. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)