Day 64: Five Loaves & Two Fish: In Grumble or In Gratitude?
Read: John 6:41 – 51; Colossians 1:9 - 14
Have you ever taken the time to notice that the people who are habitually ungrateful, habitual grumblers are
strangers to happiness? There are those people who, through no small
amount of effort on any one person’s part, never seem to be satisfied
with anything. You can offer the best of everything, you can give the
very best of everything you have and there will always be something they
will find to grumble over. For one person, their glass is always half
full, for the grumblers the cup is eternally half empty. Giving thanks
is something that just will never fill any of their cups to overflowing.
Jesus gave the five thousand Israelites enough bread and fish to fill
their bellies to well over overflowing. The very best they could do is
grumble. There was not a single word of thanks voiced to Him!
One of the greatest privileges of being a Christian is that of having
the capacity to give thanks regardless of what happens. It is relatively
easy to be thankful when things are going our way, but a Christian can
rise above any situation even when grumbling might be the single most
important and appropriate response. When have I been here before? Yesterday or Right now?
Paul, the
Apostle, was a man who suffered a great deal of pain, had every single
reason to grumble and groan and yet he wrote, "May you be made strong
with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be
prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving
thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of
the saints in the light." For Paul, ‘Thanks be to God’ is actually at
the pinnacle of one's spiritual strength, a time of flexing your
spiritual muscles , a powerful measure of one’s own faith to persevere
through the midst of your worst grumbling session. What did 'thank you
Lord' mean to Paul? What does it mean for each of us today?
Paul put his emotional, mental and
spiritual focus on all the good things He had in Christ. Paul allowed
every circumstance to teach Him more about Christ and His will. Paul saw
every one of his problems as an opportunity to advance God’s kingdom
and righteousness. Paul thanked God for everything as it directed Him
back to Christ’s priorities. Paul thanked God in every situation because
He knew that God could use it to bring greater maturity, wisdom and
greater usefulness even to the greatest of grumblers. Paul thanked God for every
trial because He knew it would result in a greater witness for Jesus
Christ. There so many overwhelming reasons to give all thanks to God. Find it in your heart of hearts to rise above what is dragging you down.
Pray Psalm 138 – Bring your grumbles unto the Lord. Make your plea that
by God’s grace, the Love of Jesus Christ, the comforting presence of
The Holy Spirit that your heart may be restored, that your heart may be
strengthened through perseverance and a holy smile. As Often as you can, Whenever you can,
All the times you can: Stop and shout your ‘thanks’ be to God.
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Read: John 6:41 – 51; Colossians 1:9 - 14
Have you ever taken the time to notice that the people who are habitually ungrateful, habitual grumblers are strangers to happiness? There are those people who, through no small amount of effort on any one person’s part, never seem to be satisfied with anything. You can offer the best of everything, you can give the very best of everything you have and there will always be something they will find to grumble over. For one person, their glass is always half full, for the grumblers the cup is eternally half empty. Giving thanks is something that just will never fill any of their cups to overflowing. Jesus gave the five thousand Israelites enough bread and fish to fill their bellies to well over overflowing. The very best they could do is grumble. There was not a single word of thanks voiced to Him!
One of the greatest privileges of being a Christian is that of having the capacity to give thanks regardless of what happens. It is relatively easy to be thankful when things are going our way, but a Christian can rise above any situation even when grumbling might be the single most important and appropriate response. When have I been here before? Yesterday or Right now?
Paul, the Apostle, was a man who suffered a great deal of pain, had every single reason to grumble and groan and yet he wrote, "May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light." For Paul, ‘Thanks be to God’ is actually at the pinnacle of one's spiritual strength, a time of flexing your spiritual muscles , a powerful measure of one’s own faith to persevere through the midst of your worst grumbling session. What did 'thank you Lord' mean to Paul? What does it mean for each of us today?
Paul put his emotional, mental and spiritual focus on all the good things He had in Christ. Paul allowed every circumstance to teach Him more about Christ and His will. Paul saw every one of his problems as an opportunity to advance God’s kingdom and righteousness. Paul thanked God for everything as it directed Him back to Christ’s priorities. Paul thanked God in every situation because He knew that God could use it to bring greater maturity, wisdom and greater usefulness even to the greatest of grumblers. Paul thanked God for every trial because He knew it would result in a greater witness for Jesus Christ. There so many overwhelming reasons to give all thanks to God. Find it in your heart of hearts to rise above what is dragging you down.
Pray Psalm 138 – Bring your grumbles unto the Lord. Make your plea that by God’s grace, the Love of Jesus Christ, the comforting presence of The Holy Spirit that your heart may be restored, that your heart may be strengthened through perseverance and a holy smile. As Often as you can, Whenever you can, All the times you can: Stop and shout your ‘thanks’ be to God.
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