Chris' Corner -- Sunday, August 22, 2921
“Count your many blessings, name them one by one...and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” How often do we sing this song, but how many times do we attempt to name our blessings and meditate on them and be grateful?
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).
We count it a blessing to be “in Christ” where all spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3). Thank God someone reached us with the truth of the gospel of Christ. How grateful we are to have been in the right frame of mind to receive the message of salvation with a sincere and contrite heart. There are so many in this world who have not yet heard. There are many more who have heard but turned their backs on the Savior.
In Acts 13:46, “Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” How grateful we should be to have been like those Gentiles, willing to receive the truth.
We count it a blessing to have persevered through the trials of life to remain faithful to the will of our Lord and Savior. Some have not been so diligent. “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29).
We count it a blessing that we do not live in repressive countries where Christianity is not welcomed. It is truly a blessing not to live in Afghanistan today. Now that the Taliban has retaken control of the country, Christians will undoubtedly be severely persecuted. It is a blessing for us to live in a country where we still (at least for the time being) enjoy the freedom of religion.
We count our blessings as we think of those in Haiti trying to get their lives back together after the recent devastating earthquake. So many have suffered the loss of loved ones. We can hardly imagine how many children today are looking for their parents and parents for their children, or wives and husbands separated not knowing whether the other is still alive. We can count our blessings; we are not going through that kind of pain, anguish, and uncertainty. Remember, too; we have Christian brethren there. May we count our blessings as we pray for those less fortunate.
A good exercise would be to have a notepad handy. Throughout the day, jot down all the blessings that come to mind. Go over them later during your quiet time. Meditate on them and pray a prayer of thanksgiving for them. The many blessings we might think to put on our list will go back and forth from spiritual blessings to physical ones. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
“Count your many blessings, name them one by one...and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”
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