All that I see teaches me to thank the Creator for all of the things that I can’t see!
The Roman scholar Cicero insightfully is known for this profound statement, “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue but the parent of all other virtues.”
I do not think that it’s an understatement for me to say that throughout 2020, we all are in need of some conformity to a standard of what is right; while having moral strength and courage in our personal and public lives.
Throughout this year, I have seen more death; hate, violence, mistrust, suffering, murder, and the total failure of every social institution in our American system, [just to name some of the atrocities we as Americans are guilty of.]
Nevertheless, the most beautiful reality is that through it all, my joy and my spirit of thankfulness does not come from the world, it comes from the Kingdom of God!
The essence of this blog post is to proclaim to this world that the only reasons that I am thankful today are:
- Because each day I purposefully acknowledge exactly who and what God is in my life and my entire total existence.
- Secondly, He alone is the only required and desired source that provides me with the absolute truth of who I am in the presence of His Holiness. It is this image of myself that enables me to submit to Him and His will in spite of my many imperfections.
- Lastly, because of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness, I am daily able to work out my soul salvation through service with a spirit of faith, gratefulness, while being thankful in service to others and His Kingdom.
These three practical realities are my secret to overcoming this evil generation as I pray that it may be useful to you too in our National and global crisis. I pray that the power and the love of God will be extended to each of you during these perilous times.
In closing, I would like to leave you with one of my most endearing passages of Scripture dealing with Thankfulness.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Shout with joy before the Lord, O earth!
Obey Him gladly; come before Him, singing with joy.
Try to realize what this means—the Lord is God! He made us—we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Go through His open gates with great thanksgiving; enter His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name.
For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind and His faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation. Psalm 100
Grace and Peace