(Ephesians 5:20 ESV)
In today's marketing blitz world , dissatisfaction is the word. We are bombarded in print media,radio,TV and even Internet with the illusion on newer,better ,faster everything. They want to create in the consumer a longing and hunger for the new . Every time you see an add it seems to tell you that you need this device or that car or TV . Don't be happy with what you have . Hey even Kraft dinner is new and improved .
What this has led to is a society that really isn't very thankful for what they have . Being thankful can only come from a heart that is satisfied. A soul that is content with what one has. If you are always wanting , always desiring , than you generally will be a ungrateful person.
As Christians, one of the marks that should be evident in our lives is a spirit of thankfulness. We are told to be thankful for everything to God . If we find our contentment,life,joy and love in God , being thankful will be the overflowing state of our heart. Just realizing everyday is a gift from God , to glorify Him , should be enough to be thankful. But one thing that can truly anchor the heart in a thankful state is to focus on what Jesus did on the cross.
Realizing the state we were in , dead in sin, with the wrath of God abiding on us but then by grace , set free ,forgiven and reconciled by the death and resurrection of Christ.
It can be real easy to become ungrateful. The habit to look around and see others doing better can cause one to be very covetous . But our thankfulness can only be fulfilled in the one who never changes . If God is your anchor , then flowing out of the heart will be thankfulness.
So what are you thankful for?
1 comment:
Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” Sometimes, it's far too easy to covet your neighbour's stuff. I've found myself guilty of that, at times. It's a rare person who hasn't, at every economic level.
We often mouth the platitude, "Be thankful. At least, you've got your health." When you're faced with the possible loss of it, do you realize what that means? It's scary how easy we take that for granted.
On a personal level, I am thankful each morning to still be here. To be able to see, hear, talk, swallow and even walk (my brush with cancer included it having a little dance at the edge of my spine). To hear my hubby tell me I'm still pretty may sound shallow until your faced with it all being gone. Finally, to the wonderful God given hubby who fattened me up and nursed me back to heath without ever making me feel like a burden, I am eternally grateful.
In this rich country, we live in, it's sometimes easy to forget how rich we really are. So, I ask you, to go do the following tasks around your home.
1. Switch your lights on and off.
2. Flush the toilet.
3. Turn on the tap and have a drink of water.
4. Open the 'fridge door and pantry cupboard then CHOOSE what you're going to eat.
5. Next time you have a headache, take a pill. Next time you cut yourself, put on a bandaid.
6. Finally, look at your well fed, innoculized from diseases that kill millions of little children in this world, designer label wearing children, hug them and be thankful. I know that I am.
Love you, Mrs Reg
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