Enduring Love, Enduring Thankfulness
This week, many Christians gathered with loved ones. We laughed, told stories, ate food, and shared memories. We (hopefully) took some time to look around us, see what we were thankful for, and give glory to God for what he has given us. Some believers had many things on this earth to thank God for, and of course, others had a hard time being thankful this year for various reasons. Some are suffering from fear and anxiety, others from job loss and uncertainty, still others from the pain of a first Thanksgiving without a cherished loved one.
We all sat at unique Thanksgiving tables this year, but as believers, we all shared the thankfulness and gratitude of the utmost importance. In a time when fear and uncertainty reign and when anger and offense are the status quo, we have the wonderful gift of eternal peace, brought on by the certainty of eternal salvation through a risen savior. We have the superpower, in a world that is being steadily consumed by the enemy, of perpetual thankfulness.
Christians receive blessings and we rejoice. Believers are persecuted and consider it pure joy. God sees fit to bless a family with a newborn baby and we celebrate. A loved one is taken home to live for eternity with Jesus Christ and we thank God for our eventual reuniting. Nothing can stop God and God lives within us. And even though our earthly flesh fights to discourage our immortal souls, we persevere because of the fruit of the Spirit being produced inside of us.
Take the time to set your mind on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2) and you will always find something to be thankful for. Forever is a hard concept for the human mind to grasp, but we should try, because we will live forever, and the love of our God will endure forever. Psalm 106:1 – “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures FOREVER.” I am so thankful for the body of believers at Northside, especially our wonderful teens, and I am thankful for many other things this holiday season. But no matter what the future holds on this fleeting Earth, I am the most thankful for the enduring love that sent the perfect Son to die in my place, so I could be an heir of eternal life.