And Be Thankful (Colossians 3:15b)

Scripture is full of references to thankfulness. One thing unbelievers have in common is that they are not thankful, or not to the One we owe all good things.

Romans 1 says that
"They knew God but
Did not honor Him as God
Or give thanks";
In consequence,
"They became futile in their thinking,
And their foolish hearts were darkened."

The consequences of ingratitude are not to be dismissed as trifles.

But for those who know God by His saving grace,
Thankfulness should be as regular as breathing.

"Give thanks to the LORD,
For He is good,
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
His mercy is new every morning."
His steadfastness keeps us
Through the darkest nights and
Hardest days;
He alone is worthy of our praise.

He is unchanging, and
The same can be said for
His Word--
Incarnate and
Written.

Thanks was given by the Lord
At the Last Supper, and for Him
At His presentation in the Temple.

And we also give thanks for one another,
As Paul wrote in
Ephesians 1:
"I do not cease to give thanks for you,
Remembering you in my prayers,"
And 1 Thessalonians 1:
"We give thanks to God always
For all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,"
And 2 Thessalonians 1:
"We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,
As is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and
The love of every one of you for one another is increasing."

Commanded in
1 Thessalonians 5: "Give thanks in all circumstances;
For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflecting the actions in heaven seen in Revelation,
Where all worship the Lord without ceasing,
Giving Him glory and honor and thanks,
Anticipating the Day we will join them.

Holiness

I wonder if
Holiness were specified as
A fruit of the Spirit,
We would hear it,
Would take it to heart so to speak,
Not ignore it in favor of love as the peak
Of all God is and calls us to be.

Holiness.
Christ says in Matthew,
Be holy as I AM holy,
Not be love as I AM love.

Holiness.
Oh, Lord God,
Make me holy as You are holy.

Cleanse me.
Purge me.
Change me.

Holiness--
May I do as John wrote in his first letter,
Purify myself as You are pure.

While I recognize this is a life-long undertaking,
May Your Spirit undertake in me, with me,
To this end.

Sobriety and Joy

Today, November 10, is one year since my mother-in-law passed away. We also learned that one of my husband's uncles passed away October 10 this year, which was just three days short of my mother-in-law's birthday.

Which brings me back to Psalm 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (NAS) and Psalm 51:6: "Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart" (ESV).

Why must we number our days? What does a heart of wisdom look like?

First, the heart is the center of the person. Proverbs 4:23 commands us: "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life" (NAS; italics added).

Second, wisdom is highlighted this way: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10; NAS). Psalm 111:10 puts it this way:
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever" (ESV).

So a heart of wisdom is centered on fearing the LORD and knowing the Holy One personally.

Third, this is a life-long process. This is why we are told to number our days. Ecclesiastes 12 implores those who are young in these terms: "Remember also your Creator in the days of your  youth, before the evil days come and the years draw nigh when you will say, 'I have no delight in them'" (12:1; NAS).

Whatever your age, take encouragement from James 1:3-5: "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him" (NAS).

In the past year, we have had many occasions to take the Lord at His word there in James.

Sobriety is what comes as we consider the brevity of life, given the length of eternity.

Joy results in seeing God continue to keep His word as He grants wisdom.

Considering some aspects of the character of God and implications thereof

Eternal
Unchanging
All powerful
All wise
All knowing
Sovereign
Merciful
Gracious
Just
Judge
Everlasting
Unresting
Therefore....
Reliable
Accessible
Forgving
Yet....
Sovereign means
Owner of all which exists including you and me;
All knowing means
You cannot put one over on Him;
All wise means
You can find all the wisdom you need in Him;
All powerful means
If God be for us, who can be against us?;
Just judge means
His innate holiness requires sin be dealt with,
Paid for in full;
Merciful grace means
Christ's life and death on behalf of His own
Covers all the sin His own will ever commit
From everlasting to everlastings
Leading to
Eternal worship of the Everlasting, Unchanging God