Guiding Light!
Appreciation!
Websters definition:
An expression of gratitude.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
I have a friend whom God has blessed abundantly. Through his abundance he has generously given to many people, be it money or material items. He always gives with a cheerful heart expecting nothing in return.
He shared with me about a couple of people he has given many things to, many different times and never has received as much as a thank you in return. He never, never gives expecting anything in return, but became disappointed when they didn't at a minimum acknowledge the gift and say thank you. His hear was hurt! Now he still loves the people very much and would always be there for them in an instant anytime they had a need.
This made me think of our Heavenly Father and the gifts He gives to us. He gave us life, He gave us all of our provisions, He gave us His Son to die for us, He gave us eternal life through His Son, He gave us a place in Heaven with Him. His gifts are more valuable than any earthly gift and yet how often do we take them for granted? How many times do we forget to tell Him thank you? How often do we show our appreciation for all the gifts He showers on us daily?
If, like my friend, when he became disappointed and hurt when others didn't acknowledge his gifts of love how do you think God feels when we ignore Him? When our Heavenly Father allowed His only Son to be crucified on a cross for our sins giving us the free gift of eternal life and we don't even as much say thank you, how do you think He feels?
He is weeping tears of sorrow asking, what more could I do? I never asked you to work for your eternal life, I give it to you freely as a gift. I am ashamed at how lightly I have taken the seriousness of this gift. Forgive me Father! How are you showing your gratitude and appreciation for this eternal life giving gift from our Heavenly Father?
Take a moment right now and make a mental inventory list of how you are showing your appreciation. Now take a moment to spend time in prayer thanking God for His gift of salvation and eternal life to be with Him one day in Heaven. Lets all start right now to make a vow to show God our appreciation daily for everything He provides for us. Not a vow that will only last a few days or a few months, but a vow that will last the rest of our life.
Commit today to develop a closer relationship with Him, desire in your heart to know Him more intimately than anyone else in this world. Commit to spend more time in His word learning about Him. commit to spend more time in conversation with Him, commit to seek Him first in all aspects of your life.
Today is the first day of our new journey showing God our appreciation for what He has done for us. Let us become a worthy servant of the Lord hoping to hear Him say one day, "Well done good and faithful servant."
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 26-8
Heavenly Father we thank you for your gift of eternal life, we thank you that you sacrificed your Son on the cross for us so that we may spend eternity with you. We vow today to be more grateful and appreciative of your gifts, thanking you daily. We look forward to the day we will be able to see you face to face calling you Abba Father. All honor and glory to you Lord......in Jesus name we pray...amen
In Christ's Service,
Kenny Millhouse
kenny@guidinglightministry.com
Guiding Light Ministry - an evangelistic outreach!
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