Pk’s Corner
November 2016
Gratitude
1 Chronicles 16:34
“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.”
We are getting into a time of
year that will just get busier. The
holidays are rushing toward us like a runaway locomotive. There is so much to schedule and to
prepare. There are so many events that
have to be attended. In all this hustle
and bustle, we may be tempted to forget worship.
Have you ever thought about why
we worship, and why we give our time, talents and gifts to the church? I challenge you with this one word answer…Gratitude.
The reason we celebrate this
holidays is to express our gratitude to the risen Christ. Thanksgiving, though steeped in the
traditions of the Pilgrims, is actually a day set aside to be thankful for all
that we have, whether it is much or little.
Christmas is set aside so that we can honor the birth of the one person
who will save us from our sins and give us eternal life.
But we tend to overlook that each
Sunday is set aside to give us an opportunity to show gratitude to God for his
love. His creation provides our every
need, and there is nothing we have that did not originally come from God’s
creation. Many of us are grateful for
God’s hand of providence that has brought us through rough times, and even deatdly
illness.
This is what worship is truly
about; showing our gratitude to a loving God.
Now, God does not force this upon us.
He does not demand we thank him, that is not what a loving parent
does. It is our privilege to offer God
our thanks.
When we come to worship, we need
to be there to show our gratitude, and not just in our presence, but also in
our giving. Loving our neighbor and
meeting their needs shows gratitude to God for meeting our needs. Our time of offering is a sign of Gratitude
to all that God has done for us.
So, as we plunge into the coming
holiday season, let’s not neglect any opportunity to show our gratitude to the
one who has given us everything. Show
your gratitude by worshiping, giving, loving, and helping. Remember everything God provides in your
life, and be thankful.
Amen
