The More Grateful I am, the Happier I’ll Be

In Philippians 1:3 I read, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.” (NLT)

If I want to have healthy relationships, start with an attitude of gratitude. I will be far happier and enjoy my relationships more if I develop the habit of being grateful for the people in my life.

Philippians 1:3 says, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (NLT).

This simple truth is the foundation of good relationships. 

When I think of the people in my life, is my first feeling gratitude? Or am I more likely to ask, “What do they need to do for me? What are our problems? What do we have to get done?” My first thought may not be gratitude. But Paul’s first thought for his friends was one of gratitude, and it is the model I should follow if I want my relationships to last.

Here’s the problem: The longer I know someone, the more likely I am to take that person for granted. With the passage of time, it becomes easier to focus on that person’s faults and on the bad times instead of the happy times.

That’s why it takes effort on my part to choose to have an attitude of gratitude for the people in my life. The longer my relationships last, the harder it may be to remember. But I experience an eternal impact on my relationships when I develop the habit of giving thanks to God when I think of my spouse, children, parents, siblings, neighbors, coworkers, and small group members.

In summary, to have healthy relationships, I need to start with an attitude of gratitude, and develop the habit of being grateful for the people in my life. When I think of the people in my life, is my first feeling gratitude? Or am I more likely to ask, “What do they need to do for me? What are our problems? What do we have to get done?” Paul’s first thought for his friends was one of gratitude, and it is the model I should follow if I want my relationships to last. The longer I know someone, the more likely I am to take that person for granted. In time, It becomes easier to focus on that person’s faults and on the bad times instead of the happy times. It takes effort on my part to choose to have an attitude of gratitude for the people in my life. I experience an eternal impact on my relationships when I develop the habit of giving thanks to God when I think of my spouse, children, parents, siblings, neighbors, coworkers, and small group members.

The Philippians were remembered with joy and thanksgiving whenever Paul prayed. By helping Paul, they were helping Christ's cause. The Philippians were willing to be used by God for whatever he wanted them to do. When others think about me, what comes to their minds? Am I remembered with joy by them? Do my acts of kindness lift up others?

I need to learn to continually give thanks to God for those in my life. I need to be willing to be used by God for whatever he wants me to do. Bring joy, do acts of kindness to help lift up others around me. Start with an attitude of gratitude. Develop the habit of being grateful for those in my life. It will take effort on my part to choose to have an attitude of gratitude for this in my life, but today's verse reminds me that I can have an eternal impact if I do. 

Why Should I Forgive?

In Matthew 18:27 I read, “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go." (NIV)

God’s Word tells me to let go of my hurt and resentment, and forgive others. I’ve got to release my hurt instead of rehearsing it.

Here are three reasons why:

Because God forgives me. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells the story of a king who forgives his servant. Verse 27 says, “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go” (NIV). Similar to how the king canceled the debt of this servant, God sent Jesus Christ to pay for my debt of sin. Everything I’ve ever done wrong in my life has already been paid for by Jesus. He took the blame. He paid my jail time. Jesus Christ died for all my sins.

Because resentment is self-torture. It is a self-inflicted wound. Whenever I’m resentful, it always hurts me more than the person I’m bitter against. In fact, while I’m still worrying about something that happened years ago, the other person has forgotten about it! My past is past, and it can’t hurt me anymore, unless I hold on to it.

Because I need forgiveness every day. The Bible teaches very clearly that I can’t receive what I’m unwilling to give. How can I receive the forgiveness God has shown me if I’m not willing to forgive others? If I want to be forgiven, I need to be forgiving.

Forgiveness is a lifestyle. It’s not just something I do one time. I need it every day of my life. I’ve got to ask for forgiveness, accept forgiveness from God and from others, and offer forgiveness. It’s a continual process that will bring me joy.

In summary, The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. God’s Word tells me to let go of my hurt and resentment, and forgive others. So learn to release my hurt instead of rehearsing it. There are three reasons why: First, because God forgives me. Similar to how the king canceled the debt of this servant, God sent Jesus Christ to pay for my debt. Jesus Christ died for all my sins. Second, because resentment is self-torture. It is a self-inflicted wound. Whenever I’m resentful, it always hurts me more than the person I’m bitter against. In fact, while I’m still worrying, the other person has forgotten about it! My past can’t hurt me anymore, unless I hold on to it. Lastly, because I need forgiveness every day. I can’t receive what I’m unwilling to give. If I want to be forgiven, I need to be forgiving. Forgiveness is a lifestyle. It’s not just something I do one time. I need it every day. I’ve got to ask for forgiveness, accept forgiveness from God and from others, and offer forgiveness. It’s a continual process.

I should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

God Is What The Sabbath Is All About

God Is What The Sabbath Is All About

Matthew 12:1-8

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1-8 NIV

Bottom Line:

Jesus prefer's a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual

What this means to me:

I should not let rituals or habits keep me from what’s most important; a relationship with my Lord and with people.

Today's passages come from the first part of Matthew chapter 12 and it's a discussion that takes place about the Sabbath. In this passage the Pharisees point out how Jesus disciples were breaking heads of grain from a field and eatting them to satisfy their hunger on the Sabbath.

Jesus referred the Pharisees back to the story of David and how he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred bread that only the priests were to eat. Furthermore he pointed out how the priests on duty in the Temple were allowed to work on the Sabbath. Present with them today, is one who is even greater than the Temple itself.

Jesus goes on to point out that they would have not condemned his disciples if they really understood the meaning of this Scripture, "I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices." Jesus was telling them that he prefer's a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual. Besides, for the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.

The Pharisees had created categories of actions that they thought were forbidden on the Sabbath, all based on their interpretations of God’s law and Jewish custom. Harvesting grain was one of those forbidden actions.

On that particular day, Jesus and the disciples were picking grain because they were hungry, not because they wanted to harvest the grain for a profit. They were not “working” on the Sabbath. Unfortunately the Pharisees were too concerned about religious rituals and too determined to accuse Jesus of any wrongdoing. In this, they missed the whole purpose of the temple, which was to bring people closer to God. And because Jesus is even greater than the temple, He was much more capable of bringing people closer to God.

What I’m learning is that the Sabbath wasn’t about doing good works (or avoiding bad ones) as much as it was about relationship. In fact, Colossians 2:16-17 says that the Sabbath is now found in Jesus. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ who is with us now.

Why is this teaching written down?  Its here for me to be cautious about anything I use as a tradition or habit that I have relied on instead of seeking a closer relationship with God?

Heavenly Father, this morning I ask you to forgive me for seeking results over relationship with You and the other people I love. I want to know You better. I long to be a child who takes after Your own heart.