Jude (ESV) by Wordle*

1 Corinthians 1 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Jude 1-25; 1 Corinthians 1:1-31.

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus…” (1 Corinthians 1:4).

I can hardly believe this statement. We all know that the Corinthian church is the example of weak churches. They had division, misunderstanding, immorality, weakness, confusion, questions, sin. If you want to find a church with problems, Corinth was the place to go. I’ve heard preachers rail against Corinth. I’ve heard preachers rail against churches like Corinth. And yet, Paul said, “I give thanks to my God always for you…” WOW!

I’ll tell you what I get out of this. Even as a child of God, I’m kind of messed up. I still struggle with weaknesses and sins. I have confusion, doubts, questions. Yet, this tells me that Paul would still give thanks for me. Why? Because I’m great? No, because I’m in Jesus and His grace is working on me. I’m not perfect. But I am better. And that isn’t because of me. That is because of the grace of God given me in Christ Jesus. If Paul could give thanks for me, I guess I can too.

I am so glad to be reminded of that today. If you are in Christ Jesus, I hope this is a good reminder to you as well.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Today’s reading is Luke 17:1-18:43.

“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan” (Luke 17:15-16).

God has healed me of more than leprosy. However, I find it is easy to forget about that as I press on with my daily life and routine. How quickly I can take for granted God’s precious gifts. When I take the time to write out a gratitude list and then pray it, I can’t believe the grace that fills my life. I am reminded that God really isn’t picking on me with the bad things but is abundantly supplying me with good things. How can I be depressed and despairing when I remember these blessings? My fears that God won’t take care of me tomorrow start to abate. Thanksgiving is good for me. 

An example: Right now I’m breathing deeply and there is still oxygen. My fingers are able to move across this keyboard. I am able to get out of bed and drive to the office today. I still have food in my refrigerator and pantry today. I have clean clothes to wear today. My children are sleeping healthfully this morning; so is my wife. But more than these physical blessings, I’m able to pray today, read my Bible today, be in fellowship with loving brethren today. I am cleansed today by Jesus’ blood. I am an adopted son of God. My Father owns the universe. (That beats out your Father, unless you are my brother or sister, then we can be thankful together.)

Let me quickly add something. This is not just about our relationship with God. I’ve found great benefit in being thankful to others. Write thank you notes, make thank you calls, send thank you e-mails, just plain old say, “Thank you,” when people provide a benefit to you. Be amazed at how actually saying thanks lifts your day and your outlook on life.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Jude 1:1-25; I Corinthians 1:1-30.

Paul demonstrates one of the greatest lessons about interpersonal relationships in the beginning of his letter to the Corinthians. I need to learn this lesson. I have a tendency to look on the negative side and be cynical. Paul shows a different approach.

Just think about what you know regarding the Corinthians for a moment. They were in huge turmoil. They were messing up the Lord’s Supper. They were in fellowship with one who sinned so bad even the Gentiles wanted nothing to do with him. They were fleshly minded and stuck in immaturity. Yet, read I Corinthians 1:4.

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus.”

WOW!

Despite all the terrible, awful, very bad things going on in Corinth, Paul still thanked God for that church. Maybe if we could learn this lesson, we could get along with our congregation better. Maybe if we could learn this lesson, we could get along with each other better. Maybe if we could learn this lesson, we could lose some of our own arrogance. Before we bring railing judgment against others, lets first stop and figure out what thanks we can give God for others.

We should follow this principle in every relationship, from relationships with our brethren to our relationship with our spouse. If we can learn this, we won’t solve all the world’s problems, but we may overcome a few of our own.

***Question: How do you focus on thanksgiving even when it doesn’t seem there is much to be thankful for?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. I wish I had noticed this verse and its implications all on my own. But I have to give a nod to Gary Thomas and his great book Sacred Marriage (beware the associate link or rather, just click on it).

Today’s reading is Colossians 1:1-2:23.

Colossians 2:7 says, “…rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

I don’t have any trouble with trying to be rooted and built up in Christ and being established in the faith. My struggle is with that bit about abounding in thanksgiving. I have a sad tendency to look on the pessimistic side of things. I spend too much time complaining about the blessings I have yet to receive. I spend too much time whining about what hasn’t gone my way. 

However, instead of whining, moaning, complaining, I need to remember that Jesus has done so much more for me than I ever deserve. Even when everything isn’t working out exactly the way I like, I should be covered up with thanksgiving. I need to take some time every day writing a thanksgiving list to remind me of the blessings I really have received. Here are some things that need to be on that list every day.

1. Forgiveness in Jesus
2. Strength in Jesus to overcome temptations
3. A church family
4. Brothers and sisters the world over
5. Parents who taught me about Jesus
6. A wife who also serves Jesus
7. Healthy children who are learning to serve Jesus
8. Shepherds who support me even when I mess up
9. Friends who also preach that provide a lot of help
10. An ability to work in Christ’s kingdom

No doubt, this just scratches the surface. It doesn’t even get into the material blessings almost too numerous to count. I really should abound with thanksgiving.

Thank you, God, for this opportunity to study Your word with people all over the world.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to thank Him. The question of the ages is where were the nine? Having studied all the historical records in the Syriac, Coptic and even Cryptic manuscripts in their original languages, I am able to tell you what the nine said instead of actually thanking Jesus.

• The first said, “Jesus knows I’m thankful, I don’t have to say it.”
• The second said, “I think I was getting better on my own anyway.”
• The third said, “I was the one who went, Jesus didn’t do anything.”
• The fourth said, “No one else said thank you.”
• The fifth said, “The Samaritan gave thanks for us.”
• The sixth said, “If I don’t have leprosy now, I must have never had it.”
• The seventh said, “The priest must have healed me.”
• The eighth said, “I’m going to wait and see if this healing will last.”
• The ninth said, “I’ll thank Jesus later.”

I hope you could see through my earlier sarcasm and realize I actually just made all that up. However, give thought to the above statements. How often have we refrained from giving thanks to God (or others) using a form of one of the above excuses.

We need to remember, God wants and deserves thanksgiving, not just some kind of ethereal attitude of gratitude. For what do you have to be thankful today? Don’t just be thankful, actually give thanks.

ELC