THANKFUL: FOR A BIG GOD…

Today is the first week of November.2020. Tomorrow is Election Day. For many, the deed is already done. Tomorrow, we should be finding out the results of those votes.

All the stumping is done. No more asking for votes. The voting is done after today. We hope we’ll know the results by tomorrow. We pray there will be a smooth transition no matter who won or lost.

 

What do we have to be thankful for? A GOD who is in control of everything that is happening around us…even those things that seem to be random.

 

This month our theme is going to be thankful. What do we have to be thankful for? One thing we have to be thankful for is a GOD who is in control of whatever happens in our world. He is Creator of the Universe. Click To Tweet

This month our theme is going to be thankful. What do we have to be thankful for? One thing we have to be thankful for is a GOD who is in control of whatever happens in our world. He is Creator of the Universe. He has the power to change whatever He will. At the same time, we live a world that has been broken by sin and death. Things are not as they were created to be or as they should be. That is a given.

In a year that has felt very out of control, it is comforting to know that GOD has been totally in control of all of it. Yes, it has been stressful, but there have been good things that have come out of the changes. When we are out of control, we learn so much about GOD, His goodness, His presence, His care for us.

This year has been no exception. We have had to slow down. We haven’t been able to run around as much. We have had to stay in more. We have had more time to be quiet. If you are like me, you don’t always enjoy that kind of time. I’m not as extroverted as I seem to be, but I prefer to be doing things, not thinking a lot. It gets very uncomfortable. I find myself looking in the mirror and it gets excruciating sometimes.

 

Many issues of personal failure have come home to roost, not only personal ones, but issues for our nation and for the church. Sometimes, it can feel like a tidal wave!

 

If COVID were the only thing that we had to think about, it would have been easier. But in the middle of COVID, came racism raising its ugly head in a variety of ways. Despite our desires to avoid it, we found it difficult to ignore. It is present in our culture. It is not easily resolved simply by changing semantics or legislating rules to prevent it.

Racism is a heart issue. There are people who may not always get the words right who have their heart in the good place. There are others who have all the right words but honestly, they are racist to the core. It can be difficult to tell about another person. It’s best not to judge others. But we can look at ourselves. What is happening in our hearts? Are we humble enough to make changes in our attitudes? To acknowledge that maybe we have failed in ways we didn’t realize because we were focused on doing things the way we always had done them because change is painful and difficult?

 

When and where do we show favoritism for a variety of reasons…skin color, social status, personal comfort? Stepping outside of our comfort zone takes courage.

It isn’t easy. But it is one way we grow. Sometimes it is forced on us. At other times, we have a choice, we can step out and reach out for momentary discomfort knowing that we are learning to love a broader variety of people. That is a good thing.

 

Where are the places we show favoritism to others because of their skin color? or their status? or for some other reason? Who do we find it easy to ignore and push aside as unimportant and not worth our time? Who do we find it important to care for? Who seems worthless to us?

These can be eye-opening places. They are places we need to look at and find repentance. This is where we look more carefully at our personal heart idols and ask GOD to help us change.

What was Jesus’ response when He came to the world? This BIG God made Himself small for our benefit. It is mind boggling!

 

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:1-7 ESV