"Under the Circumstances?"

Something you will no doubt hear said this thanksgiving is "I would be thankful but under the circumstances it's too hard." It’s easy to give thanks for the fun things, the things that make our lives trouble free, the things that we enjoy. That list is a very long list. But as believers there is something far more important going on in our lives than the superficial fun stuff that the world celebrates. The Christian has learned or is learning that the most important thing going on in their life is on the inside not outside. God is working to conform me into the image of his Son Jesus Christ. Wow. When we understand this we begin to look at circumstances differently. We begin to recognize that our God is working all things for good. However, that good is not financial prosperity or good health or a life with no setbacks or problems. The good that God is working in us is Christlikeness, there is no higher good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28-29 ESV)

When we begin to wrap our minds around this glorious principle we begin to give thanks not just for the good “stuff” but also for the things that cause us pain because we realize that they come from a loving Father’ s hand and are sent not to condemn us but to conform us into Christlikeness. Learning this lesson allows me to say with David, Paul and others...


It is good for me that I was afflicted,that I might learn your statutes. Psalm 119:71 ESV

For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:10-11 ESV)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)

Boasting in our weakness, being able to say it is good that I was afflicted, understanding God disciplines us for our good means that on thanksgiving I can truly give thanks in everything. My life is not in the hands of random fate, chance, or some disease but rather my life is in the hands of a loving God and nothing touches me unless it passes through Him first. Anything that drives me to my knees, weakens my flesh and helps me understand God’s Word is a good thing. So give thanks with a grateful heart. Why?

“I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6 ESV)

Don't forget to say "Thank you"

Tomorrow is thanksgiving, but as I write that it makes me wonder what today was. Was not today supposed to be filled with thanksgiving as well? The obvious answer the biblical answer is yes. And it was to some degree, just as tomorrow will be to some degree. At least i recall saying thank you a couple times yesterday and even today. I think the great battle in our lives as believers is being honest enough to admit how much there is in this life we just take for granted. Things like family, friends, food to eat, nice homes to live in, children, grandchildren. We enjoy relatively good health, live in a free country, are able to read our bibles, worship, and witness without fear of imprisonment or worse. These are all good things, and there are many more to numerous to mention. James tells us “that every good thing comes down from the Father of lights in whom there is no shadow of turning.” So all these good things are from God. My taking them for granted robs God of the praise and thanksgiving He so rightly deserves. So why do we do it? Why do we take all these good things for granted, why do we fail to give God the Thanksgiving for all these things. The answer is as sad as it is simple. The answer - We think we deserve all the good things we get. We fail to see ourselves as who we truly are and in light of what we truly deserve. We don’t thank our boss for giving us our paycheck. We deserve it. He owes it to us. And If I am to be honest with myself that is the attitude I carry around with me far to often when it comes to the good things God has brought into my life. I really believe I deserve them. They are not gifts of grace they are wages I think I deserve. But how deluded we can be. If you want to test yourself to see if this is true in you - take note of how you react when things don’t go like you think they should , or one of these good things is taken out of your life. If your like me you are tempted to react like we would if our boss said he was not going to pay us this week. We would be angry and upset, WE DESERVE TO BE PAID, YOU OWE IT TO ME. The reality is, we deserve nothing from God but judgement, but instead he gave us His Son to die in our place because he loves us. Then he blesses us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, adopts us into his family, give us His Spirit to indwell us and empower us, and blesses us daily in ways to numerous to mention. And it is all because of HIS amazing grace not my merit. Thanksgiving should make us sit and reflect about all the good things in our life. They are all from God. They begin at the cross and flow outward from that. Without the cross we are lost, hell bound sinners. People who do no good, do not seek God but only the things God gives. People who are self-centered, self serving, self-legislating, self-deceived into believing we are something when in reality we are nothing. Paul said he would boast in nothing save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such a life understands what it means to give thanks. This thanksgiving don't’ just go through the motions of being thankful. May our thanksgiving flow from a heart touched by God’s love, changed by God’s grace and resting in his finished work on the cross, amazed at what God has done and continues to do in our lives. Give thanks …”for the Lord is Good, and HIs steadfast love endures forever.”