December 22nd

December 22nd

So we have a gift that keeps on giving, are we grateful? Do we take Him for granted? Have we let Him become a source of Joy for us? Are we too distracted by “things” to recognize His gifts in our life? We can sing Joy to the World and understand what it really means. The world around us has no idea of the extent of that Joy. If they even acknowledge Jesus as part of Christmas, they limit Him to a baby in a manger and don’t even have any real understanding of that either. But we don’t fall into that category, so we should be taking time to worship Him and be grateful for ALL that He has done and will do for us.

I challenge you this year to find something different to be grateful to Him for each day. He is an unending supply of grace, mercy, healing, love, truth, peace, joy, forgiveness, redemption/salvation, sanctification, patience, holiness, …I could keep going, but why don’t you take it from here. Start a list, today, and continue from now until He returns. Everyday, find something to thank Him for and for which you can be grateful. We serve a mighty God who loves us perfectly and without end. Let us make it a point to express our thanks for His gifts to us!

Look back at the Christmas story found in Luke chapter 2. The shepherds were watching their flocks in the fields and angels came to them and announced the birth of the Savior. So the shepherds ran into Bethlehem to check it out and found Jesus in a stable just as the angels had said. Then they went and told everyone they could find and the people were amazed by what the shepherds told them.

We could learn a lot from these stinky shepherds, but let’s look at two things about the response of the shepherds. First, they didn’t keep it to themselves, instead they told others…something that we have been instructed (actually commissioned) to do.

Luke 2:17-18 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But that wasn’t the end of it for the shepherds. Here comes verse 20.  

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

They returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. God invaded their lives and they not only told everyone they could find, but they also did not neglect to praise and glorify God for all He had done.

This is another takeaway from these shepherds. We should be sure to return and glorify God for what He has done and is doing. We have SO MUCH to be thankful to Him for and we need to be sure to express our gratitude to Him…often!!

Look at one more thing from the ministry of Jesus on earth. One day Jesus healed ten men with leprosy and sent them to be inspected by the priests (so they could be officially declared “clean” and not live as leppers anymore.) As those men started walking toward the temple they were healed.

Luke 17:15-18 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Jesus deserves our thanksgiving, our gratefulness, our praise. Let us not neglect this, He has given us SO MUCH!

Revelation 19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!”

Jesus, thank you so much! There are not enough words to express how grateful I am to you for saving me. Forgive me for taking you for granted and for not expressing my gratitude more often. Remind me of all you have done for me and of your boundless love for me. Thank you for how your salvation echoes through time and keeps on saving me and transforming me. Help me to walk in your plan with a grateful and open heart.