Thanksgiving

Because we live in a world that isn’t great at saying “thank you,” we tend to think that gratitude is an extra-credit Christian virtue. Like our temptation to send a “thank you” note in response to someone’s “thank you” note, we might secretly believe that God should be grateful for our thanksgiving. The Bible, of course, reveals a different perspective. Jesus showed us that gratitude is the minimum expectation of those who are enriched by God’s gifts. When ten lepers are healed of their malady Christ doesn’t praise the one who returns to say “thank you,” he disappointedly asks, “Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17). The Bible tells us that it is “fitting” and appropriate for his people to praise God (Psalm 147:1). Certainly we, of all people, should recognize the “gracious hand of God that is upon us” (Ezra 8:18). We should habitually respond with heartfelt thanksgiving, not just on special days and special occasions, but everyday and in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18). May God enable us to always fulfill our fundamental duty to express our joyful thanksgiving to our gracious and generous Redeemer!

--Pastor Mike

Faith

Faith in Christ as we walk through this life can easily be mistaken for optimism. Don’t misunderstand, faith is not some worldly pie-in-the-sky glee. It is instead, a thoughtful confidence that our God is in charge of everything in our lives and his sovereign purpose for us will prevail. The words of Romans 8:28 (“God works all things together for good”) are not a license to live recklessly, but a reminder that the twists in the road “for those who love him” are adjustments that God has ordained to take us where he intends. We can be confident that God not only “called us according to his purpose” but he is actively using a variety of means to accomplish it. Where does that leave us? Looking pretty optimistic! We love him, he directs our lives and we entrust the outcome to him. So shun the temptation to fret or complain, and keep trusting our King!

Doubt

When we experience uncertainty, doubt or insecurities that the world is sure to bring, let us be sure that the cause is never our equivocation about God’s faithfulness. Let us always remember that God is true to his word. With Peter, let us affirm that even if God seems slow about keeping his promises, it is only an illusion because as it has always been so it will always be that God never forgets what he says and never fails to deliver on his promise (2 Peter 3:9). To that, add the fact that nothing ever surprises our sovereign God. He knows the end from the beginning and nothing is too small to escape his notice. If God our omniscient God has revealed it in his perfect word we can be confident that he is sure to follow through.

--Pastor Mike

Boldness

When we think of what it means to be a godly person, several virtues are likely to come to mind. Unfortunately, we often fail to include the key biblical ingredient the Bible calls “boldness.” In our “kinder, gentler” version of Christianity we are tempted to think “timidity” is what God esteems. Nothing could be further from the truth! In the pages of Scripture God is continually prompting his heroes to “be strong and very courageous” (Joshua 1:7). When his people are bashful they are chided (2 Timothy 1:7-8). God’s values couldn’t be clearer: “the righteous are as bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). Let’s see the fear of man for what it is and be counted with those who care more about what Christ thinks (Proverbs 29:5; Galatians 1:10). May we always stand up for truth and be quick to commend those who boldly do the same.

--Pastor Mike