Thankful For What God Didn't Do

When we think of thanksgiving we naturally think of the great things which God has done and the blessings He has showered upon us.

The other day I was reminded that we should also be thankful for the things God DIDN'T do. Warren Wiersbe in his devotional book PRAYER, PRAISE & PROMISES quotes Psalm 103:10 to make his point. "He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities."

Wiersbe goes on to say, "The psalmist says that God "has not dealt with us according to our sins." On what basis does He deal with us? On the basis of the cross, the grace of God. Jesus Christ died for our sins, and God forgives them through the blood of His Son. We can come to Him and ask Him to forgive any sin. But the knowledge that God does not deal with you the way you deserve to be dealt with should not tempt you to tempt Him. Do not be fast and loose with sin. Hate sin, and rejoice today that you're walking with the Father on the basis of the cross of Jesus Christ."

Dear friends, be encouraged today that God sees us through His beloved Son. Thank Him for not dealing with us according to our sin. Grace and mercy have been extended to us from His loving hand. Rejoice in that fact today! Let's praise Him and graciously offer forgiveness to those who have wronged us.

HAVE A GOOD AND GODLY DAY!

Thanksgiving

Just a short note to express our prayer that our dear American friends will celebrate a wonderful thanksgiving holiday. We all have much to thank God for!

Be encouraged today, my friends! We serve a mighty God "who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." - 1 Timothy 6:17b

Gratitude Leads To Encouragement

My good friends Stephen and Brooksyne Weber posted the following words of encouragement on their Daily Encouragement Net site. On the eve of the American Thanksgiving they are encouraging us to be grateful. Let me pass along their thoughts:

"Where Are The Other Nine?"

Jesus often asked questions to get his hearers to think, although He obviously knew the answer. In today's text (Luke 17:11-19) He had healed ten lepers but only one returned to say, "Thank you". I've wondered what excuses the other nine might have had in failing to return to give Jesus thanks. I came up with nine possible excuses they might have used. Notice they are all pertinent to today!

Perhaps:

1) One was too busy. (Self-importance)
2) One forgot. (Ingratitude)
3) One was planning to do it later. (Procrastination) 4) One thought somebody else would do it. God does not accept vicarious praise. "Let everything that hath breath…" (Lazy)
5) One wanted to see if the healing would last. (Skeptical)
6) One had a religious prejudice. (Superiority)
7) One thought it really didn't matter. (Thoughtless)
8) One thought "I still have a lot of other problems." Like many he saw the glass half empty. Indeed on this side whatever God may do for us we very likely have or will have other problems. (Negative)
9) One thought "I don't want to bother Him." Scripture is abundant in calls to thank, praise and glorify God. We never bother Him in calls to be obedient! (Inferiority)

(As we prepared this message we considered if it was anything like today an additional excuse could be: One leper thought, "I had to get over to the blue light special at the Jerusalem Mall before the sale was over.")

Three great truths can be derived from this message:

1) Thankfulness matters to God. It brings glory to God.
2) Thankfulness is an act of the will. He chose to return.
3) Thankfulness is an excellent testimony. He goes down in history as the one who returned to give thanks.

Will we be like the one who returned to give "Thanks"?

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber