Ponderingwithjames
Still Grateful | November 25, 2011
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
The meal from yesterday has been promoted to nibble-away-the-leftovers status. And I find I’m also still chewing on a bad sermon I heard on “Christian” radio yesterday morning.
A well-known and respected speaker very disturbingly coupled the above Scripture with:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (ESV)
…and said we could give thanks because we can be sure God is going to do great things for us.
He was riding the shoulder of the road where it falls off the prosperity gospel cliff. Although he never promised me a new car if I supported his ministry, he did suggest that anytime things don’t go my way I simply have to figure out what wisdom God’s trying to gift to me, send up a “popcorn thank you” prayer and God will make certain I have smooth sailing until the next lesson.
For the record, I don’t see anywhere in Scripture that God is longing to be either my cosmic butler or motivational coach. In fact, in His final sermon before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus said:
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (ESV)
And I really believe this is the point of what Paul was saying to the people of the church at Thessalonica and in turn to me as I continue to be eviscerated by the twisted, jumbled message coursing yesterday’s airwaves under the guise of Christianity.
I wish he had given the point of the Scripture more like this:
No matter what situation I am in, I am to have a grateful attitude toward God.
He didn’t have to send Jesus and I don’t deserve the shed blood of Christ applied to my sin-stained life. This world is still a dark, fallen and falling place, but this world is no longer my home, just my temporary residence.
He didn’t have to do that either.
But he did.
How could I ever be anything but grateful?
Like this:
3 Comments »
amen! Thanks James! God bless you and your family!
Comment by SH — December 10, 2011 @ 9:16 PM
I like your imagery:
He was riding the shoulder of the road where it falls off the prosperity gospel cliff.
Good post. It never hurts to be reminded that we will suffer in trying to do good.
Comment by Steven Sarff — November 25, 2011 @ 2:43 PM
Thank you for the comment. Thank you, also, for your posts on the book of James… I’m looking forward to reading more as you continue offering Godly exhortation…
Comment by ponderingwithjames — November 26, 2011 @ 1:24 PM