Loving the Giver
- Strength For Life
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
With Thanksgiving a few days away, this is the time—of all times of the year—where it is natural for us to obey the words of the famous hymn and count our blessings. It is not hard for Biblically informed saints to find things for which to thank the Lord. As I often say, we have literally everything to thank the Lord for and nothing to complain about. At the very least, being delivered from eternity in hell is cause enough to fill your Thanksgiving with thankfulness.
However, we should be careful that we do not miss the Giver for all His gifts. What I mean is that sometimes people love God, or show some level of interest in God, because of what He can give to them. Such people are quickly identified when they turn their back on the Lord because He does not give them what they felt they should receive. In the moment where God’s actions violate our expectations, it is revealed to us whether we love God or just what He has given. In the worst case, people treat Him like cosmic Santa Claus and walk away from Him when He does not give the gifts they expect. The children’s songwriter said about St. Nick that “he knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake!” And so people say to God, “Well, I have been good, now give me an easy life or health, wealth and prosperity.” Instead of understanding that God is Lord and Master, many 21st-century people see God as their servant. “God better give this to me or else I turn my back on Him.”
How dare we act like that! It is true that people who honestly and unapologetically treat God like a vending machine are either backslidden believers or not saved at all. However, at some point in the process of Christian maturity, every believer must reach the point where he can honestly say that, even God gives him nothing else, he can still confess God has been good. Part of Christian maturity is loving Him just for who He is, not what He can do for you.
Here is a question: Do you ever thank God for just being God? That is, you realize that He has already given us so much for which to be thankful, and so you rejoice in God Himself. Do you recognize sincerely that God has already given you so much for which to be thankful? What a wonderful place it is to be so content that God Himself is enough.
The truth is that you might not have the family that somebody else has. You might not have the finances or the physical health that others around you have. However, even if we have never personally met, but you are a Christian, I know that you have a number of wonderful gifts already. He has given you the opportunity to talk to Him through prayer, and hear from Him through the Bible. He has given you His Holy Spirit to be your Comforter. He has revealed Himself to you through His marvelous creation. He has written His law on your heart, and you can have an informed conscience.
As a Christian, you should be gathering with the church family that He has called you to, and benefit from that faith family that provokes you to love and good works. God has entrusted to your care things that you can control or exercise responsibility. He has given you purpose for life. Has provided grace through the Lord Jesus Christ. If He never gives you anything else, He’s already given you all of those biblical things, and many more things besides.
This Thanksgiving, love and thank God for who He is love. He is triune. He is holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty. He is all-knowing; He knows your situation. He knows your heart cry. He knows the beginning from the end. He is amazing! “He is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). He is God. He is to be adored, extolled, magnified, worshiped and obeyed.
Christian person, God has already given you everything eternally by giving you Christ Jesus. Because God is who He is, we have everything to thank Him for, and certainly nothing to complain about.
God bless you all, and I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving.
The above article was written by Pastor James C. Johnson. He is the pastor of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fl. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
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