Tuesday, December 08, 2020

Devotional 12-8-20

 1  Thessalonians 5:16-18


The overarching theme of this week’s lectionary is to rejoice and give thanks to God in all circumstances.  Paul instructed the church at Thessalonica to rejoice (be joyful) even in the face of persecution because a life of holy faithfulness and gratitude pleases God.
Written to new converts to Christianity, Paul’s instructions are to the point:

Rejoice!  Pray without ceasing.  In everything give thanks.  
  • Rejoice, because even in the worst of times and trials, God is with us and will sustain us.
  • Pray without ceasing because only a constant connection to God through our prayer life will bring comfort and assurance;
  • In everything give thanks. Henri Nouwen, a Catholic theologian and spiritual writer reminds us that “every time we decide to be grateful it will be easier to see new things to be grateful for.  Gratitude begets gratitude, just as love begets love”. 
Why?  Because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

Most of us grumble about the changes in our daily lives made necessary because of the COVID-19 virus.  We focus mostly on what has changed: what we have lost; what we cannot do.  Do we appreciate the friends, family and neighbors who call regularly?  Do our daily prayers begin with thanks to God for all things?  All people?  All situations?  Are we truly leading a life of gratitude  if we only pray for those we like and who like us?

 It is easy to forget about God’s grace when things are going well.  When there is sickness or calamity, we are quick to call on God to “fix things”.   And when circumstances are improved, we soon overlook God’s grace on our behalf.  We are quick to tell all about ”our good luck”:  avoiding bankruptcy because a check came in the mail; getting good lab results when our chronic disease is under control; happy to accept God’s good will for us without acknowledging God as the source of that goodness.  

We receive this wisdom from Paul because he not only “talked the talk, he walked the walk.” Paul lived the kind of gratitude he taught us to embrace.  Imprisoned and maltreated, he witnessed repeatedly to the fact that to do the work of Christ, even in prison, was a joy.  To be imprisoned for doing God’s work was a joy. Thanks be to God.

Prayer:  Open our hearts and minds, God, to know and affirm your goodness in our lives and in the world around us. Help us to be joyful and celebrate daily because we can see your love in action, despite what we might face as trials and tribulations. Help us to live in gratitude each day.  Amen.

Dorothy Turner-Lacy

No comments: