THANKFUL
As we reflect over the next couple of days what we are thankful for, I wonder if there is one thing that will be on your list. I’m sure things like family, good health, jobs, and the like will be common on the list of many; but I also wonder if anyone will take time to be thankful for the gifts that God has given us? Have we as believers really taken the time to be thankful for not just our spiritual gifts but also our salvation? It seems so easy to say that we are thankful for the material things that God has given us, but are we neglecting being thankful for the gifts that truly matter? How are we expressing thankfulness for our salvation? Are we living for the world knowing God forgives or are we abiding in God?
When we place our faith in Jesus Christ as the only One who can forgive our sins, we become saved, and for many this moment in time can easily be recalled. But from that point in time there are a few different responses. First, the brand-new believer dives into God’s Word and sees areas of sin in their life and strives to correct it. They want to have the sanctified life, “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
The second response is the lacking Christian, while they hear the word they lack ownership and action. These people often find the Christian walk to be dull and boring, or they cannot hear when God is speaking to them. They know they are saved but have little to no foundation in the faith, “11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:11-14. This group has become so dull to God’s Word that they cannot grow in the faith.
The third response is the carnal driven Christian. By this I mean the individual who believes that because God forgives, they can continue in their sin. They have in short “fire insurance,” they are saved but still living for this world. “15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? Far from it! 16 Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” Romans 6:15-16 You would never guess that this person was a believer because their actions are that of this world.
What is the commonality between the lacking Christian and the carnal driven Christian? They are not abiding in Christ and their spiritual walk is at its weakest. To abide means to bear patiently and to endure without yielding. This is the first response. When we abide in Christ we walk with Him, we know the Scriptures not just in our head, but in our heart. Our life showcases Christ and His love for us. This is how we show that we are thankful for what Christ did on the cross, that we are thankful that He rose again and is seated on the throne even now. We present ourselves unashamed before Him, not because we are sinless, but because we are striving to follow Him and to endure the world without turning away from the work that God has called us to do.
With this in mind, I am always reminded of the passage in 2 Timothy 2; specifically two sections. “15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.” 2 Timothy 2:15-18 and “21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21.
Anyone who abides in Christ can present themselves unashamed. Not based on their own work, but the work that Jesus Christ is doing in their life. They see the sin in their lives by being convicted by the Holy Spirit and strive to be Christ-like. Because of this, these individuals not only hear God when He calls them, but also can respond to Him because they are prepared to follow Him. Their salvation is anchored in Christ, His Word holds true each day for the believer.
So now in the season of thankfulness, I ask you to examine your spiritual walk and be honest. Are you someone who thinks of the Christian walk as boring who feels they have no direction from God? Are you someone who is still living for this world and thus painting an untrue picture of the saved life? Or are you an individual who is truly abiding in Christ and enduring the world but knowing that you are set apart? The good news is if you fall into the two groups that are not abiding in Christ you can make that change. Simply come before God and ask Him to change you. Ask Him to bring life into your walk so that you can be made useful to Him. A great book on individuals who have made this step is called, “They Found the Secret” by V. Raymond Edman.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex