Saturday, November 27, 2021
“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 1:18
My thoughts today are about, “heartfelt thanks.”
When you hear the word, “benediction,” you may think of the closing prayer or final word of dismissal at church? A benediction is, “a good word or saying.” Gratitude for God and others is a good lifestyle. Heartfelt thanks is where a true spirit of gratitude begins and deepens in your life.
It is a good feeling when you appraise what you have done and can confidently feel pleased with the results. When you know you have given your best effort, you feel satisfied with a good outcome.
Our God does all things well. In the Garden of Eden, the Creator surveyed the beauty and bounty of all He had made, and declared, “It is good.” That is the emotion God felt when He created the world and all that is in it.
Then the Creator finished with His masterpiece, Adam and Eve. With even greater delight, God pronounced, “It is very good.” My reason for writing today is to shift the focus from God’s creation to yours and my salvation.
Jesus gave the ultimate benediction at Calvary. Our Savior hung upon a cross to die for yours and my sin. To the Father, Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” The single Greek word that phrase is translated from was really a benediction, “that is my best effort and finest result.” Can you imagine Jesus’ joy, even amid His anguish on the cross?
When you were created by the hand of God, and again when you were redeemed through faith in Christ, Heaven heard the Eternal Creator say again, and just as true as at Creation, “It is very good.”
Think about this. God looks at you and speaks a wondrous benediction of grace, “very good!” Paul understood. “Long ago, even before God made the world, He loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.” Ephesians 1:4 NLT. It is never your right to disagree with God, nor to contradict what He chooses to prophesy over you in grace and love.
My question is this. Will you be able to give a benediction about your life, what you have done with your time, talents, gifts, and opportunities, and how you have lived your life? I pray that you can and will.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful occasion to look beyond whatever struggles of the moment and future. Celebrate the full brilliance of His grace, abounding nature of His love, and generous supply of His daily provision. Our Father and Savior are worthy of continuous, robust, and heartfelt thanks.
You will discover that you have more for which to be thankful than things about which to complain or regret. Your best life is when you look beyond what is distressing to see all that are blessings. The sincere giving of thanks is your fitting response for God’s goodness to you. “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
“let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the]Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12”1-2 NKJ. In life, there can be more that blesses you than distresses you.
My prayer today is for your life to be an amen to God’s will.
EDL Communications 2021-11269
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