With the Thanksgiving Holiday being tomorrow, I, like many others across America have been thinking of what I am most thankful for. Of course, the same list always pops up in my mind as the following: Salvation through Christ, Family, Friends, Work, Home, etc. That is a great list to be thankful for, but I really wanted to zero in on one particular thing I was thankful to the Lord for.
I have been reading the book of Romans in the morning. This morning I read over Romans chapter 8. Now, Romans 8 can cause hesitation by some pastors, or carefully breezed over, because of the differences of beliefs among Christians. I understand the controversy it may cause between congregations. Yet, it is God's Word through Paul, and as believers, we believe the Bible is the divine word from God. So as I read over this chapter, I found myself at Romans 8:28-30.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28-30&version=NIV
As I read over this text written by Paul, I couldn't help but be thankful to our Lord, who brought me out of my sinful nature that leads to death and destruction. Where I once was a slave to sin under law, I'm now a slave to righteousness under faith in Christ Jesus. I am thankful for my God being the all-knowing, all-powerful God that HE is. He knew that He would call me, and I would follow Him. He predestined me to be created in His image to spread His gospel to the world. Then He also promises us that He works for the good of those who love him. Yes, I am thankful to the Lord for my salvation. I am thankful for Jesus! I do not try to use my human logic to describe this subject in a manor where we can put a man created word to label this. I know my understanding and God's understanding are not even close. Yet, I am thankful regardless. Is there free will? Is there limited atonement? Why are we dividing over this? Are we reading this text just to prove that we are right in what we believe? Or, are we reading this text with a thankful heart, saying God I am not worthy of the grace that was given to me from Jesus your son, but I am so thankful for my righteousness that was provided to me through faith in Christ Jesus.
Lets be thankful to the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God that He is. Thankful for the call to receive his grace. Thankful enough to obey his command to go and share this truth with others. Like always, I mention the call to share the gospel to the lost. We are predestined to be like Christ, to share Christ and show His love to others,
I say these things with a thankful heart, and in love to my brothers/sisters in Christ.
sf
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