Be grateful under all circumstances!

This photo shows some of the food that our members yesterday brought to church for a feeding scheme of a less privileged congregation.  It was our Harvest Thanksgiving service.

Psalm 100 says, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; enter his gates with thanksgiving!” To worship the Lord with joyful thanksgiving is something we choose to do. And the reason we choose to do so, says the Psalm is, “The Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

We are not merely grateful in general. We are grateful to someone: to our God.

But some of us are going through tough times, and then the reason for our thankfulness is not so obvious. Yet, even if we don’t have what someone else has, we still have enough for a joyful, thanksgiving life, because the truth that God has made us means that God values us and takes care of us.  This is the main reason for our gratefulness and gladness.

Whatever makes us suffer or is our problem, we are not trapped in it.  We are going through it, yet, we are not facing it on our own. God is with us. We do not lack anything!

When we respond to God’s gracious, caring love with thanksgiving and joy, a renewed relationship with him grows and prospers and we will hear the encouraging words from Jesus:  “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17: 11-19

Faith in Christ as revealed by a grateful heart will change our relationship with God.  Eternal salvation has an immediate component.  Salvation right-now means that, because we are gratefully open to God’s love and help in our lives, we will be able to handle whatever life sends our way.

And for God’s help, we are grateful.  God values us, provides for us and keeps us going. 

Even in depressing circumstances.