I have not stopped giving thanks for you …
Summary: Paul is thankful for those who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus uses the people in our lives to give us opportunities to serve, and reasons to be thankful.
Please, stop what you are doing, and take a moment to bask in the warmth of these words Paul has written:
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you.”
Paul is giving thanks for you. Yes, I know he wrote these words a long time ago, but think about the context. Paul is giving thanks for people who have faith in the Lord Jesus and love God’s people. If that is you, then Paul is giving thanks for you.
A friend of mine called yesterday to say something similar to what Paul said. Ben was a neighbor of mine several years ago who wandered into our weekly men’s Bible study. Everyone who came into the presence of that study was touched by God in some way. Sometimes that touch came directly from God. At other times God used one of us in the study group to be his hands and feet.
As it turned out, Ben and I had a lot in common. We were both raised in the same kind of church setting. We both had a similar “ho-hum” reaction to church. Both of us had some disappointments with church, too.
There were other commonalities as well. It turned out that both of us had spent time in Alaska. Ben was a fisherman and boat captain. I was a tour guide and captain of a tour bus. Both of us had a few near-death experiences up there, and both of us had felt the hand of God in our lives at some point.
There is a difference between going to “church” and being the church. When we discover that Jesus is alive and well and that he is concerned for us and loves us, it changes things. Instead of looking for love in an institutional setting, we discover that God has his arms wide open and is waiting to give us a hug personally. Being hugged by God is to become the real church.
God happened to use me to bless Ben while he was my neighbor. I saw the fire of the Holy Spirit take hold of Ben and become a light in his eyes. I have seen Ben continue in faith even after he moved away, and I see God continue to bless Ben even though there are still challenges in his life.
Ben called yesterday to say, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you,” and because of that, my faith was encouraged and renewed. So Ben, today’s devotion is for you. I have not stopped giving thanks for you either, brother.
Application: Stop and give thanks for the people God has put in your life.
Food for Thought: How does having an attitude of gratitude impact our ministry to others? What does it say about our relationship with God if we lack gratitude?
Great to hear you and Ben connected yesterday. I miss him.
One thing about giving thanks – we know it is God’s will for us to do so in every situation (1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18). Complaining and arguing is not His will for us (Philippians 2: 14 – 16). And attitude does matter. It affects how we think and act.
Thank you, brother!
Yes it does. BTW – Ben wanted me to pass on his greetings to you and all the brothers in the Bible Study.
Thanks Jeff
03-04-2023, How does having an attitude of gratitude impact our ministry to others?
Our first priority is to receive God’s stability and peace in our spirit as we are assured of our salvation through Jesus Christ. To have full confidence in God, living lives content in whatever circumstances He has predestined for our current as well as future ministries.
Philippians 4:6-7, Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
As we live, grateful to God for all He has done for us, we will find our gratitude toward our God is more than we are able to contain. Our bodies have become the temple of the Holy Spirit and He will not be contained. As He directs our paths toward maturing in Christ we will find our gratitude toward God being displayed toward others as we are drawn to them and they to us by God, and He ministers to their hearts. Judgement is simply not part of this process which allows Christ in us to demonstrate our gratitude to sinners of every type.
Colossians 2:7, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Matthew 6:25–34, 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 1 Corinthians 6:19
Ron,
You paint a picture of gratitude overflowing into those around us. Being grateful does change us!