Spiritual Gifts; November 18, 2023

Posted on November 19, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

I can’t read this verse without remembering what my mother’s younger sister said about her response to her many suitors when she was the youngest child of an esteemed seminary professor. Changing only the location of a comma, she quoted (at least in her mind) the KJV translation of this verse: “I would not have you, ignorant brethren.” That tale is tempered by the fact that my father was one of the many seminary students who proposed to her, but my mother was away in college at that point. All humor aside, believers should not be ignorant of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but sadly, very many are. And to be honest, that includes many “Pentecostal” Christians. The problem is twofold. First, many don’t really understand that such gifts are available, and second, even those who know about such gifts have no grasp of their purpose and how they operate in the Body of Christ. This whole chapter is worthy of a lot of thought and meditation! I’m reminded of when I was in Basic Training in the Army, and we were taught to familiarize ourselves with our weapons. We could literally disassemble and reassemble an M16 rifle blindfolded, and many of us could do the same with an M60 machine gun and the 45 caliber pistol of the day. The same could be said of many craftsmen with their tools; it’s not limited to weapons. We all need to be familiar with what our Lord expects us to use in His service, and how to apply each item. To go back to the military analogy, I wouldn’t try to use a grenade launcher for precision targeting, for example, but a rifle isn’t much good against something that is out of sight. In the same way, some Christians misuse spiritual gifting. As the saying goes, when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Having said all of this, the most important point is listening to the One who gives us the gifts, that is, Holy Spirit. He knows what He’s given us and why, and He knows how those gifts should be used. The point that I think is most often missed is what Paul stresses later in this chapter, that everyone is gifted differently but all the gifts are necessary. We have a strong tendency to want and expect everyone to be like us, when as Paul points out, that would end up with there being no Body at all. It is wise and important to know and recognize gifts, in ourselves and in those around us, but our focus isn’t to be on the gifts but on Jesus Christ our Head. (Ephesians 4:15)

I have been very grateful to have worked with Don and Katie Fortune, interpreting for them several times here in Japan and knowing them as dear friends. Their ministry was focused on what they called Motivational Gifts, based on Romans 12:6-8, but they also talked about the list here, which they called Manifestation Gifts, as well as the short list in Ephesians 4:11, which is individuals given to the Body, rather than gifts given to individuals. That experience has helped me understand myself and those around me much better, making me more tolerant of differences and understanding of how to cooperate with others. I have been tempted to focus on such teaching myself, but I realize that isn’t the role the Lord has for me. I have experienced all of the gifts listed in this chapter at least once, but I do find that the Lord grants them when and as needed, and they aren’t continuous. As a pastor I want everyone in the congregation to know and utilize their own gifts, as well as recognize and appreciate the gifts of others, but interest and understanding vary widely. As in every other area of my life, I am totally dependent on the Lord! All I can do is express the truth in love, and ask Holy Spirit to work it into the heart and life of each believer.

Father, thank You for this reminder. There really is so much I want to teach the congregation, yet I feel such limited opportunities to do so. Help me be faithfully obedient to whatever You want me to do, wherever and whenever You want me to do it, so that the Body of Christ may be built up indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Differences; November 17, 2023

Posted on November 18, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 11:19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

This is a very interesting statement, particularly in view of the strong things Paul said earlier in this same letter about factions in the Church. However, there is also a lot of logic behind this, so there is a tension between the two truths. As Paul said to the Romans, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) At the same time, we aren’t to compromise God’s truth on essential things. As Paul again wrote to the Romans, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) The NIV translates this verse as, “which of you have God’s approval,” but the Japanese says, “who is a true believer.” We tend to use “true believer” in casual, secular ways, but this is deadly serious. The fact of the matter is, there are assorted heresies in every Christian grouping, and as C. S. Lewis famously said, when we get to heaven we can be sure that we will find out that we were all wrong somewhere. We are to hold to our faith strongly and sincerely, but with humility and love. Paul dealt with that repeatedly in regard to dietary matters. There are things, like throwing Biblical standards of sexuality and marriage out the window, that automatically create divisions, and we need to be very careful of those. That’s the sort of thing Paul is talking about here.

This is something I have thought much and felt strongly about for a long time. As I have written before, there are various Christian traditions I could not join, but I still have brothers and sisters in Christ who are in those traditions. I will let God be the judge of who is a “true believer,” but I need to focus on the essentials of faith and not the peripherals. As I quoted Ben Wong just recently, “The important thing is to keep the important thing the important thing.” I am not to deny for a moment that Jesus is the divine Son of God, the only Savior who died to take the penalty for our sin and rose again to demonstrate His victory over sin, death, and the devil, but I am not to reject a brother or sister who holds to that truth while differing with me on other points. Pride is the big danger here, because I can certainly be proud that I am “right.” God is the judge of that! (1 Corinthians 4:3)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me be an instrument of Your grace and love to all, while holding fast to Your truth, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Sharing the Gospel; November 16, 2023

Posted on November 17, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 9:16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

I find it difficult to write on this verse, not because I find it in any way offensive, but because emotionally I don’t see how any believer could be any other way. That said, the sad fact of the matter is that the vast majority of believers never share their faith with anyone. I personally find I tend to doubt the depth of their faith, though that isn’t necessarily fair. The title song from a Christian musical of 50+ years ago comes to mind: “It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up to its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love: once you’ve experienced it, you spread His love to everyone. You want to pass it on.” America has the problem of Christianity being cultural, so you expect everyone to know the Gospel, whereas Japan has the problem of faith being very private, and for most people largely irrelevant to their daily lives, so no one ever talks about it. (There’s certainly some of that in the US, too.) The actual fact of the matter is that no one knows God’s truth as completely as they could, and you just might have that piece of God’s truth that they are missing. Likewise, just as the song says, God’s love is so magnificent that when we get a real taste of it, failing to tell others about it becomes an exercise in self-centered narcissism. This doesn’t negate the principle Paul states just before this, that Christian workers should be materially compensated for their labors, but it is very clear, to me at least, that the clergy/laity divide is artificial at best. Expecting the “professionals” to do all the evangelizing makes everyone lose, which is why the devil encourages that attitude in any way he can.

As several people have pointed out, there are a lot of parallels between Paul’s life and mine. I did receive a salary when I pastored a church in the US before coming to Omura, but in the 40 years this church has been in operation I have never received, over the course of a year, as much from the church as I have given to it in offerings. Like Paul, I’m proud of that! However, that’s a pretty silly pride. I feel like this verse expresses my own attitude very well. I don’t know that I’m a very effective evangelist, but it’s pretty obvious that as soon as I open my mouth, what comes out quickly becomes a sermon! I have friends in ministry with different gifting who labor over sermon preparation, when I tend to feel like I could burst if I don’t get to preach! That makes it awkward when it comes to passing this church on to the next person, because as much as I might enjoy another person’s message, I still want to preach! However, just yesterday I was asked to speak at a 3-day conference in February, so the Lord does have other avenues for me to pour out what He pours into me. Whatever happens, I need to remember that I’ve got to apply God’s truth before my sharing that truth will have any power. Like Paul said, I’m the chief of sinners, and I need God’s truth in my own heart and life!

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for the incredible privilege of sharing Your truth. Help me be faithful to receive, apply, and share it as You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Marriage; November 15, 2023

Posted on November 16, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

This is a statement of immense importance and practicality. Since the marital bond is one of the strongest possible on this earth, this is an issue that cannot be avoided. I know of quite a few couples to whom this applies, both personally and at a distance. (I’m very grateful it has never applied to me personally.) I deal with marriage a great deal, performing weddings at a local “marriage palace” and conducting counseling with each couple before the ceremony, so I am constantly reminded of the factors in a Biblical marriage. Sadly, such marriages aren’t all that common, for quite a number of reasons. Divorce is a huge issue, especially in America but increasingly so in Japan as well. I know of couples where one partner is a believer and one not a believer who started out that way, others where one partner became a believer after their marriage, and some where both seemed to be believers at marriage but one discarded their faith along the way. All of them have their problems, and all of them need this verse. As the next verse says, you don’t know if you will save your partner, but the possibility is always there. To a degree, this counterbalances what Paul famously said to the Philippian jailer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” (Acts 16:31) It makes it clear that the offer of salvation is open to the whole household, but each one is responsible to accept that offer for themselves. This verse makes it clear that if someone, even a spouse, declines that offer we can’t force it on them, nor should we try. However, we are always to speak the truth in love to them. As Peter, the only certifiably married apostle, said, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) Life with an unbelieving spouse is far from ideal, but God can work miracles in it even so.

As I said, I’m very grateful not to have had to deal with this in my own marriage, but at the same time, I am aware that our respective level of faith has not always been equal. Each of us has had times of needing to support the other’s faith, and we should always be encouraging each other in faith. That’s because neither of us is perfect; we both have plenty of room to grow. I am not to put my wife down, either verbally or in my own thinking, and I pray she would express the same grace toward me. As I always tell couples, God designed marriage so that we would help each other out in our weak areas, because those are different for each individual. My wife and I are to be an example and an encouragement to the many people who are watching us, to let them know how good marriage can be.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for the privilege of interacting with so many couples. May I point everyone with whom I interact to You, whether they have a partner or not, so that they may open their heart to receive all that You have prepared for them, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Forgiveness; November 14, 2023

Posted on November 15, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Verses 9 and 10 are currently some of the most politically incorrect in the whole Bible, because they not only say that homosexual behavior disqualifies you for God’s kingdom, they lump that in with various other despicable behaviors. People ignore the marvelous grace expressed in this verse and instead want their sins affirmed as not sinful, as even normative. How foolish! All sins require repentance, but if that is present on the basis of faith, then forgiveness is available for all sins. As countless teachers have pointed out, we always think the other guy’s sins are worse than our own. Having been a flagrant sinner in the past is nothing to be proud of, but it is also not to be denied, because God’s grace is sufficient. This verse is actually triumphant, declaring that we are not trapped by what we have done in the past, but in Christ we are purified and made holy and righteous. How glorious, and actually miraculous! I personally know some examples of this, and I know this verse to be true indeed. The point is, we are not to remain in such behaviors, but rather repent. A recent case in point is that of Kat von D, a tattoo artist with a reality TV show who was noted for her occult, demonic obsessions, which she has recently said were rooted in alcoholism. God got through to her and she has discarded all of that, quite literally, and has posted a video of her baptism. That sort of thing scares some people to death, because it points out very clearly that they have no excuse, because “they weren’t as far gone as she was.” For that matter, God has always been in the business of saving the “dregs of society.” Jesus was noted for associating with “sinners,” and Himself proclaimed, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32) Until we recognize that we too are sinners, none of us will be saved.

Of course this applies to me. I’m in the process of writing my autobiography, and I’m having to ask the Lord what to include and what not, because I don’t want anyone saying, “If he did that and it was OK, then it’s no big deal if I do it.” I too am “Only a sinner, saved by grace,” as the old hymn expresses it. None of my sins have been OK, but none have been too big for the blood of Christ to cover. For that matter, I still haven’t achieved “sinless perfection;” repentance is an ongoing thing. As I have received forgiveness, I need to extend forgiveness to those around me. Jesus said a number of things that are pretty scary if you think about them, and one of those is certainly, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15) I cannot insist that someone else’s sins are worse than my own, but rather seek to lead them into the same repentance and forgiveness that I have experienced.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I believe You are bringing many more people into this church, and we all need to maintain this awareness. Help us all rejoice in Your grace toward us and extend that grace toward all, never excusing sin, in ourselves or others, but always remembering that “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Gratitude; November 13, 2023

Posted on November 14, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

This is an extremely important principle that is sadly lacking in society today. Particularly young people, but people in general seem to expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter. Luxury has become commonplace, and people seem to have no appreciation for what is genuinely valuable, like human relationships and particularly, a right relationship with their Creator. We brag about having the latest iPhone, when we don’t really have anyone to talk to on it. The devil, hating mankind because God loves us, does all he can to foster this, encouraging us to seek handouts and get-rich-quick schemes of one sort or another and denigrating faithfulness in every area, from work to parenting to marriage. We need to wake up and resist his lies, recognizing the grace of God and being grateful. It is ironic that we focus so much on the material and the physical, when even human psychologists tell us that the key to happiness is gratitude. That’s precisely what Paul is talking about here. Even if what we have is because of our own efforts (and not much of it is) we need to be grateful that God has enabled us to put in the effort necessary. Without God, we wouldn’t even exist! I have long said, and still do, that without God we wouldn’t be able to draw a single breath, but it actually goes even deeper than that. Without God, not even our atoms would hold together! Physicists have gotten pretty good at describing the physical universe, but they get stuck on the why of a lot of things, throwing around terms not even they understand, like “dark energy” and “strong force” and “weak force.” Human intellect is a marvelous gift, but it certainly has limits, and it is hubris to think otherwise. The ultimate key to happiness is humble gratitude toward our Creator, seeking to know and do what He desires of us, for His glory.

This is something I have had to learn, and to be frank, I am still learning. I love to know stuff, but the more I learn, the more I understand that I don’t know. The term, sophomore, has applied to me for much of my life: “wise fool.” Because I have known some things, I have felt I knew all things! That’s the very definition of foolishness. I have a wide variety of abilities, but just as Paul says here, every one of them was given to me, sometimes with my involvement but often not. I didn’t ask for my genetics, or my home environment, or the many life experiences that have shaped me. I am to be grateful for all of the above, but not proud. I am not to think or feel that what I have been given makes me any more valuable or superior than the next person.

Father, thank You for Your incredible patience with me. As I have commented many times, if I had been You, I would have squashed me a long time ago! Help me indeed recognize Your grace, toward me and toward all Your children, and walk in the humble gratitude You intend for me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Church; November 12, 2023

Posted on November 13, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

A lot of people confuse this passage with another famous passage in this same letter: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) The difference is very easy to overlook in English, because “you” and “your” can be either singular or plural. This passage is talking about the corporate Body, all the believers together, whereas the one in chapter six is talking about our individual bodies in terms of sexual purity. We are indeed accountable for our stewardship of our physical bodies, but the language there isn’t nearly as dire as what is said here. Few people deliberately destroy their own bodies, but the same can’t be said of churches. Whether or not it is deliberate, there are countless cases where a few people, or even one person, have done things that tore apart a local church. Without repentance, their end is dire indeed! We are so prone to associate “church” with a physical building, when the Bible never uses that terminology. The words in both Hebrew and Greek that have been translated as “church” actually mean “congregation,” a gathering of people. Numbers of teachers have rightly talked about “the church assembled” and “the church dispersed,” because we are no less the church when we are going about our daily lives than we are in a worship service. Since Jesus prayed for unity among believers just before He was crucified, (John 17) we must never take that unity lightly. That’s not to say that we aren’t to stand for truth, or that church splits are always wrong. As in cellular biology, sometimes division is a method of multiplication. What Paul is talking about so strongly is destruction, through jealousy, pride, or any of a number of very human faults. If we are all humbly connected to our Head, (Colossians 1:18) then such destruction will not happen.

I have never been involved when a local church was actually destroyed, but I have had people attempt it even with this congregation. It’s neither pretty nor fun, but God is faithful. Right now I feel God is about to do some pretty remarkable things with this church, and I can only guess at some of them. I need to be a faithful “sheep dog,” protecting against attacks and rounding up strays, so that God’s plans, and His alone, may be fulfilled on His schedule for His glory.

Father, I am in awe of just the little bit that I am seeing. I pray that all of Your plans, not just for this congregation but for the whole Body of Christ, may be fulfilled indeed, destroying the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and bringing Your rule and reign, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Power of God; November 11, 2023

Posted on November 12, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

The Greeks were used to orators, and tricks of oratory were something of a hobby for them. Many commentators have pointed out that Paul went to Corinth right after his experience in Athens, as recorded in Acts 17:16-34. He certainly preached an eloquent sermon there, but got very sparse results. That taught him a lesson, which was not to rely on his training and gifting but on the power of God. That’s a lesson we all need to take to heart! It’s not that training and gifting are meaningless or useless, but just that they aren’t the main thing. Ben Wong frequently says, “The main thing in ministry is to keep the main thing the main thing.” We very easily get distracted! It is only when we keep our focus on the Lord that our words become His words and work His will in the hearts and lives of our hearers. Some have taken this passage to mean that only “miracle ministry” is valid, but there are many more manifestations of God’s power than visible miracles. Yesterday I was saddened to hear Dennis Prager, whom I respect and admire very much, talk about salvation from a Jewish and a Christian perspective. As a Jew, he can’t imagine a genuine assurance of salvation apart from works, and he essentially insulted God’s holiness by saying that God’s OK with our being less than perfect. By human logic that’s entirely reasonable, but it totally misses the greatest miracle of all time, which is the atoning work of Christ. When a person receives that atonement by faith, that is indeed a demonstration of the power of God. Miracles are nice, and can indeed confirm the words we speak, (Mark 16:20) but the greatest miracle is in the human heart.

I have had assurance of salvation for many, many years, and I am deeply grateful. That has been even when I have stumbled badly, with no excuse. That in itself is a miracle! Our Verse for the Year in this church is Ephesians 2:10, which talks about the good works that God has prepared for us to do, but our salvation isn’t dependent on those good works, as the previous two verses so famously declare. As I proclaim the Gospel to people, specifically here in Japan where there is no cultural framework for it, I must rely always on the power of God, because my powers of persuasion certainly won’t cut it. I am to speak what, when, where, and as the Lord directs, but know that the power is entirely His. His power is certainly up to the task!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the incredible privilege of being an agent of Your power in proclaiming the Gospel. May that proclamation be more and more effective, bringing many into Your family, Your kingdom, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Power of the Cross; November 10, 2023

Posted on November 11, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The moment I read this just now it struck me that all the people who ridicule the Christian message are proclaiming that they are headed for destruction. That has recently been very much on display in the US, with all the response to Mike Johnson being elevated to Speaker of the House. He has been clear and open about his strong Christian faith, and both politicians and media people are having fits. You would think he was advocating having barbecued babies for breakfast! Human intellect and logic have given us many good things, but they have also given us terrible horrors. The Holocaust, for example, was run very efficiently, as was the recent attack by Hamas. As this verse and those that follow point out, there are limits to everything human, but not to the things of God. This verse brings to mind the very wise words of Gamaliel, who was Paul’s mentor before his Damascus Road experience: “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39) I would hope that before he died he acknowledged that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but at least he was not an active enemy. The same cannot be said for a lot of the people who are attacking Mike Johnson. All believers need to get it through their heads that we will have opposition, but that doesn’t mean we are wrong. On the contrary, as the military expression has it, it means that we are “over the target.” Every preacher experiences the truth of the words God speaks through them, and Paul had a very strong lesson in the power of God when he pleaded with God three times to get him out of a particular situation: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) We aren’t to depend on human resources of any sort, however many we might think we have, but rather depend fully on God, who is the ultimate Source of every good thing. (James 1:17)

This is something I have had to learn, sometimes painfully. I have been gifted in many ways, and at one time in my life I was foolish enough to think I deserved it! Now, I have far more peace in knowing that all of those things are totally insignificant when compared to God’s perfection, and since He guides and carries me along, it’s no big deal when some of those gifts depart, from age or for any other reason. I have been particularly proud of my relationship with my wife, but just yesterday I proved that I can be insensitive and even cruel, and He reprimanded me for it. I think my repentance was real, but I am never to be surprised at my own imperfection. Rather, just as He has told me to, I am to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, so that His power may be manifested in my weakness.

Father, thank You for this reminder, putting a focus on the events of yesterday. You are indeed incredibly gracious. Help me let that grace flow through me, rather than hogging it to myself. If I do that, it ceases to be a blessing even to me! May I be an undistorted channel for You to flow through, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Blessing; November 9, 2023

Posted on November 10, 2023 by jgarrott

Romans 16:25-27 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him–to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

This is the longest benediction/doxology in all of Paul’s letters, which is perhaps fitting since it is the longest letter! I personally prefer Jude’s more succinct doxology: “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy–to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25 I can’t read that without hearing Don Francisco’s musical setting in my head and heart.) In most church services the one from 2 Corinthians is used: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14) The distinction between a benediction and a doxology is the focus. A benediction is focused on blessing the recipients, whereas a doxology is focused on God, Who is the source of all blessing. When it came to praising God, Paul certainly didn’t limit himself to the end of his letters. In writing to the Ephesians he couldn’t hold himself back, and in the middle of the letter he burst into, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21) All believers have the privilege of verbally blessing those around them, that is, pronouncing a benediction. (Benediction means precisely, speaking blessing.) However, for such blessings to have genuine power they need to be rooted in the One who is the source of all blessing, God. (James 1:17) When we really grasp what God has done for us in Christ, then like Paul to the Ephesians, we won’t be able to hold back from praising and thanking Him. And actually, that’s a very good thing for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that numerous studies have shown that gratitude is the absolute key to happiness. When we focus on all that God has done for us, and thanking Him for it, we can’t help but be happy!

I have certainly experienced the blessings of gratitude, and I had the huge advantage of being raised in a home that knew and praised God. I have also learned the joy of speaking blessing to and over people. I generally use the benediction from 2 Corinthians in formal settings, not only because it is compact but because I know it expresses something that God desires for each of His children. After all, we were created to be recipients of grace and love, in full and consistent fellowship with God. It is a joyous thing to be an instrument of the blessings God loves to pour out. Blessing people is fun, in word and deed!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for being able to bless the sister who moved here from Canada. She is grateful, but we are grateful to be Your agents. May we all be instruments of Your grace and love, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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