Be Thankful

Are your basic necessities provided for you? Do you have them readily available? If so, do you still complain? Are you complaining against someone, perhaps whomever is standing in front of you, or are you complaining against God? Have you given it much thought?

Most of us have are necessities provided. We have food, drink, clothing, and a place to live. We may pay for them, but we have been given a job that allows us to do so. Regardless, we like to complain that we don’t have more. We complain that we do not have all our wants.

The Israelites were complaining they did not have the necessity of water. If you have ever been extremely thirsty and had nothing to drink, you can understand. Their mouths were dry. They may have barely been able to speak at all. Their lips were dry and maybe cracked. Moses had no way to provide water for them, yet they complained to him. Our natural human reaction is to complain against leaders, even if we know they know they can’t fix things.

When we complain, often we are complaining against God. Why is that? Too often, we want something we do not have and God is our provider. Oh, we like to think we provide for ourselves. However, that is incorrect. God provides everything. He provides our jobs, our homes, and all our necessities. He also provides for our wants, just not all of them. Why? Having all we want is not good for us and God works for our good.

I pray we all work on reducing our complaining. I pray we are thankful that God is our provider. I pray each one of us will be happy we have some of our wants and thankful we do not have all of them. Reduce complaining. Be thankful to God. Be happy with what God provides.

Exodus 17:2 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”

Saved in Hope

What is your hope? Who do you hope in? Do you know you need to be saved? Are you assured of being saved? Why are you confident in being saved? Do you question whether you have been saved or not? Is your hope only in what you can see from a distance?

Hope and being saved are interconnected. Our world desperately needs hope. It also desperately needs saving. The good news is that hope is available and so is being saved. For it is through our hope that we are saved, if our hope is in Jesus Christ and His promises.

The Apostle Paul states that we are saved in our hope. That may sound contrary to our beliefs. After all, we have been told over and over that we are saved by Jesus Christ. Jesus certainly came to save the world. What we may miss is that people can reject Jesus. For those of us who have accepted Him, it is our hope in Him that saves us. Jesus is implied in the hope that Paul speaks of. For that hope is trust and belief in God/Jesus fulfilling His promises.

We also hope in something we cannot see. We do not see Jesus with our own eyes. We see Him in the description of Him in Scripture and in our minds’ eye. We cannot see heaven now but trust in its existence. We do not see God what God is doing all the time but can see the effects of his work in our world and our lives. We can see evidence but not the real thing. Even though we cannot see, we believe and we wait for God to fulfill his promises with patience.

I pray we all put our hope in Jesus and God’s promises. I pray we trust and have faith in what we cannot see. I pray each one of us sees the evidence of God and wait patiently for him to fulfill what he has promised. Put your hope in Jesus. Trust God. God will fulfill his promises. Wait patiently for God.

Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Working for God

Does jealousy ever creep into your thoughts? Are you sometimes jealous of what someone else receives? Have you considered some situations to be unfair? Have you accused your employer of being unfair? Have you acted in a way that others consider to be unfair?

Our idea of fairness can cause us to deem some situations to be unfair. However, we do not always know everything about the situation. But that doesn’t keep us from becoming jealous, especially if it is in the workplace and we discover someone else received a bigger pay raise.

Jesus uses an employer-worker example to make a point. The employer hires people at different points of the day. Some early in the day. Some in the middle of the day. And some late in the day. The employer decides to pay them all the same. It seems natural to us that those who worked longer would be paid more, just as Jesus points out in the story those who started working early in the morning thought. Yet, Jesus is making a point about God’s reward and him rewarding all the same with eternal life.

Many of us may think those who have worked for God their entire lives will receive more than those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior late in life. That line of thinking is incorrect. But that doesn’t mean we should delay working for God. We should decide to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and begin working for God as early in our life as possible. We also should continue working for God for as long as we can. Of course, this should not be done out of compulsion but out of our love for God.

I pray we all stop being jealous of others. I pray we understand God’s prerogative to reward as he sees fit. I pray each one of us will begin working for God as soon as possible and continue. Stop being jealous. God will reward as he determines. Begin working for God. Continue working for God.

Matthew 20:13-16 “But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Chosen for Work

Are you a business owner? Are you in a position to hire employees? Do you look for specific skills in candidates? Do you have different pay scales depending on skillset and skill level? Are employees with tenure paid more than newly hired employees? Where do you fit in?

Today’s businesses have a variety of pay scales for different skillsets and skill levels. They must pay a minimum wage as set by law. However, they can pay as much as they need above that. The rarer the skillset and the higher the skill level, the higher the pay scale.

We think in transactional terms. Work for an hour and get paid an agreed upon amount. Each job has its required set of knowledge, skills, and abilities. There are tasks that must be performed as defined in the job description. Quality control measures are implemented to ensure the products produced meet expectations and regulations.

Jesus turns our world upside down. He tells the parable of the vineyard owner who hires workers throughout the day. He doesn’t seek specific skillsets. He doesn’t ask about their experience. His only requirement is that the worker is willing to work in the vineyard. He assigns the workers to their tasks and gives them the training they need to accomplish the work.

This is how Jesus builds His church. He welcomes everyone. Each person brings specific skills, or what we call gifts of the Spirit. Each gift is used for the work assigned to the local church the person is a member of (or should be). Each person is to desire to work. The Spirit has gifted each person. God draws each person to his church and assembles the gifts for the mission he has given each local church. He continues to draw people throughout the life of the church as its specific mission changes. We simply need to be willing to put our gifts to work.

I pray we eliminate our transactional mindset within the church. I pray we know we are gifted by the Spirit. I pray each one of us are willing to work in the local church to accomplish our mission. You are gifted. You are chosen by God. Be willing to work. Participate in the church’s mission.

Matthew 20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.”

Living and Dying

How are you living? Are you living your best life? Is everything going along well? What is your approach to living? What is your daily attitude? Is it positive? How do you feel about dying? Does it scare you? Do you think about it at all? Do you know where you will be when you die?

Living and dying. Many people do not think about either one as much as they ought to. Some will think about their life and how they want to live it. Others simply go from day to day merely surviving. Few will think about dying. Many do not ponder death until they become old.

Paul tells the church in Philippi that, for him, living is Christ and dying is gain. As people who follow Christ, our lives are to be imitations of His. Imitating Christ includes showing compassion, mercy, forgiveness, caring, serving, and teaching others. It also includes submitting to and honoring God.

Death, on the other hand, few want to ponder. We often hear people say living is better than the alternative. However, if we are followers of Christ, dying means being with Him for eternity. We leave a world of divisiveness, destruction, and brokenness to be live forever in a perfect place. So, the alternative is far better than our current life. Yet, that does not mean we should seek death. Instead, the alternative spurs our hope to live this life as examples of Christ.

We all should take a little time to think about our lives and our deaths. We should think about how we want to live our lives and implement the principles by which we will live. We should be confident in where we will spend eternity and not fear death but use it to build our confidence and hope for this life.

I pray we all take time to think about how we will live our lives. I pray we understand that death means eternity with God. I pray each one of us will choose to live for Christ and be confident in where we will be for eternity. Think about your life. Live for Christ. Be confident you will spend eternity with God.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.

Sing From the Heart

What are you thankful for? How often do you give thanks? Do you like to sing? Do you sing regularly? Do you sing along with the radio? Is there joy in your life? Do thanks and joy resonate throughout your life? Is it evident in your interactions with others?

We have many things to be thankful for. The first thing to be thankful for is we woke up this morning. We often take that for granted. It is not until we become elderly and our health is declining that we start thinking our days are limited. Yet not one of us is guaranteed tomorrow.

We have many reasons to sing with joy. First and foremost, for those of us who are committed to Christ is the promise of eternity with Him. He has promised to never leave us. He is with us every day, every step we take, every experience we have. Most of us have family who love us. We are blessed to have relationships with others who care for us. Our hope in Christ is filled with trust that He will fulfill His promises.

Our joy is not wishful thinking but built on our faith in Jesus and God the Father. Our faith is built on our understanding of Scripture, our experience with God, traditions of the church passed on to us, and our reasoning or logical thinking, putting those pieces together. In our joy, we can sing praises to God for the blessings we have and the promises he has made. Our song can be a song of praise from our heart, one that is unique for each of us.

I pray we all are thankful for the blessings we have received. I pray we are filled with the joy that comes from God. I pray each one of us sings God’s praises from the depths of our hearts. Thank God for your blessings. Be filled with joy. Sing God’s praises. Sing from your heart.

Psalm 105:1-2

O give thanks to the Lord; call on his name; 

make known his deeds among the peoples. 

Sing to him, sing praises to him; 

tell of all his wonderful works.

Unexpected Provision

Have you asked for something and received it in a different form? We used to joke about giving someone a car, then give them a matchbox car. The person was all excited with a full-size car in mind, only to have their hopes dashed. Has something like that happened to you?

Something similar happened to the Israelites. They were complaining about having nothing to eat. So, God said he would provide for them. However, God provided in a very different way than they expected. So much so that they had idea what it was they were seeing.

God provided manna for them every morning. It was a fine flaky substance left on the ground after the dew had lifted. They were to gather up what they needed for the day, twice as much the day before the Sabbath. They could then make the manna into bread, just as they would flour. The Israelites had to adjust to gathering what they needed each morning. If they attempted to keep it overnight, it would become wormy, with the exception of the night before the Sabbath. God was working in multiple ways as he provided for and taught the Israelites.

So, what is God trying to teach you? Has he provided something in an unexpected manner? Perhaps God has provided for a need you have, but not in the way you expected or maybe wanted. You might have missed it because you were looking for something else. So, stay alert and look for ways God is providing for you.

I pray we all ask God to provide what we need. I pray we accept what God provides. I pray each one of us will look for the myriad ways in which God provides, often different than we may expect. God provides for your needs. Accept what God provides. Look for ways God provides.

Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”

Who Are You Complaining To?

How often do you complain? Who do you complain to? Are you complaining to the wrong person? What are you complaining about? Is it something the person you are complaining to can do something to fix it? What if you are really complaining to God without realizing it?

We like to complain. When I was in the Marine Corps, we used to say we were only happy when we were complaining. It was only half a joke. Regardless, it seems we are hearing more complaining now than ever before. Perhaps it is perception, but it seems everyone is complaining.

The Israelites complained, too. They complained to Moses and Aaron. They complained about being hungry. They wished they had died in Egypt. They complained that God had drug them out into the desert to kill them there. Can you hear the complaints? We must remember that the Israelites took the flocks of sheep and goats with them when they left Egypt. Sounds like us, we don’t want to eat the same thing every day.

God hears their complaints and calls on Moses. He tells Moses what he is going to do to provide the Israelites with food. Ultimately, Moses tells the Israelites that they were not complaining about him but complaining about God. There are times we are complaining about God, too. We may be complaining to someone who has no control over the situation; only God has control. Yet, we complain about it anyway. Perhaps we should take time to think before complaining.

I pray we all recognize how often we complain. I pray we decide to reduce our complaining. I pray each one of us will take time to think about the situation and determine who can make a difference. Recognize your complaining. Reduce your complaining. Take time to think.

Exodus 16:2 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

Steadfast Anchor

How many of us are tossed about on the waves like a ship without an anchor? How many of us are willing to listen to what tickles our ears? How many of us quickly become depressed when things do not go our way? How many of us go through life without hope?

There are more opinions available to us today that we can fathom. There are slants put on truth, half-truths, and falseness all around us. We can quickly fall prey to them. If we are seeking someone to agree with us, we can find someone if we look long enough.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that we have hope in Jesus, that He is our steadfast anchor. We are to hold onto the truth of God. No, the Bible doesn’t speak about our current world situations with specifics. However, it does speak on truth as it pertains to God, to human frailties, the lures of Satan, and our need to digest God’s truth. When we are fully educated in God’s truth, we can discern the truth and falseness being spouted today.

How to educate ourselves in God’s truth? We study the Bible. We spend time diving deep into the meaning of the original language. We understand the context of Scripture. As we do, we gain wisdom in God’s Word. It is as we gain understanding that the hope we have grows stronger. For it is understanding that provides clarity of what that hope is. Realizing, truly comprehending, that God stepped into his creation to save us is mind-blowing.

I pray we all dig deeper into God’s truth. I pray we spend time studying Scripture to gain a better understanding. I pray each one of us grows in hope, understanding what it means that God stepped into his creation to save us. Dig into God’s truth. Study Scripture. Gain a better understanding. Grow in hope. You have been saved.

Hebrews 6:19-20 We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Choose Forgiveness

How many times have you forgiven someone? Are you willing to forgive? Or do you hold a grudge? Does forgiving someone feel like you are giving in to them? Have you considered what the lack of forgiveness is doing to you? Do you know Jesus has instructed us to forgive?

Forgiveness is a challenge for us. Even if we think or say we are forgiving someone, we can still hold onto a piece of the offense. We may not fully forgive. Some of us do not want to forgive but prefer to hold a grudge. We may seek revenge or retribution. We damage ourselves.

When Peter asked Jesus if we should forgive seven times, Peter thought he was being overly generous. Jesus responded with a number seventy times greater. Jesus’s point was not a number but to continually forgive. His instruction is for our well-being. We cannot be truly free unless we forgive. Holding a grudge is like putting ourselves in a prison cell while holding the key. We have chosen to lock ourselves into a bad place. By forgiving, we set ourselves free.

Forgiveness does not mean we forget. If someone has repeatedly offended us, we are not required to put ourselves in a bad situation with them again. We can learn from the offenses and make different choices as we move forward. Yet, it is the forgiveness we give that is the key to setting ourselves free.

I pray we all choose forgiveness. I pray we realize we are only imprisoning ourselves by not forgiving. I pray each one of us will forgive our offenders and set ourselves free. Choose forgiveness. Do not imprison yourself. Forgive your offender. Set yourself free.

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”