What Are We Grateful For?

What Are We Grateful For?

Good Morning Friends,

Maybe you want to be famous. Maybe you want to have a Bentley to drive. Maybe you are seeking happiness through things and wondering why, when you are wealthier than you have ever been, that you are not happier. Friends, we are called to count our blessings and paradoxically they come in ways we may least expect. For the word blessed can mean happy or fortunate but has a deeper meaning than either. With that in mind we ask today’s question. What Are We Grateful For?

Scripture: I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NRSV)

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

Message: I have a friend who, as part of the hiring process, would ask prospective employees to write 50 things for which they were thankful. If they could not complete the task it would raise a question about their character. Interestingly, shortly after Jesus chose the apostles, He laid the ground work for the transformation of their characters by preaching the Sermon on the Mount. He clearly taught them, from the heart, what was expected of them if they were to continue to be his disciples. He stressed the personal characteristics they would have to develop, in their relationship to God, and in their relationships to others. And the surprising beauty is that the traits presented in the Sermon on the Mount are respected by God and are relevant for us today. Simply put God values and blesses those who have them. You see, the beatitudes turn everything upside down and then friends, we experience something amazing that turns it all right side up. Yes, it is a blessing for here we enter the Kingdom and it makes perfect sense. Here in the experience of life, we are given more than a glimpse into the character Jesus expected in His followers, His true disciples, members of His family…the citizens of the Kingdom of God. For here we are blessed with the comfort of belonging to the only thing that really matters. Sure, it is contrary to the way of the world. But it is the only way to a lasting happiness. So be happy for the blessings of being a peacemaker. Be joyful in the tears of life. Be hopeful that Jesus will change the way we believe when it is not in our best interest. Friends, we are even to find purpose in persecution. So, learn that a relationship with God is not about trying harder. It is about believing differently.

Pray we realize the conditions necessary for God’s grace. Pray we mourn over spiritual poverty. Pray in the face of challenges we become joyful. Pray we are grateful for thousands of little things but especially thankful when we we exhibit the characteristics Christ counts as blessed. Pray we have the personal and social qualities of a Christian citizen of the Kingdom of God. Pray we are comforted by the Holy Spirit. Pray we are blessed to exhibit power under control. Pray our hunger and thirst for righteousness would be satisfied. Pray we are filled with mercy and love. Pray we have pure hearts. Pray we exhibit the right attitudes. Pray we realize that we have been blessed to be a blessing to others. Pray we are grateful for Jesus.

Blessings,

John Lawson