Be Thankful for What You Have

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..." (Heb 12:28)

The above passage really speaks to me today, because, as most, if not all of us, have experienced in recent times—the present worldly kingdom we are living in—can, and indeed is, being shaken.

My good friend Dewey stopped by our house on his last visit to town and prayed for me and encouraged me a great deal in my present trial and infirmity. He spoke of the unfortunate bill of goods that so many Christian people have bought into in today's 'modern Christianity' and that is a religion of "easy believism."

I know that term can mean a lot of different things to different people, but I'm specifically talking about the lie propagated by the "name-it-and-claim-it" religious crowd that believes that you as a 'Christian' are always going to have perfect, continuous health and wealth.

I mean, we all want those "blessings" from God, right?

Who wouldn't.

But the punch line is...we have not been promised continuous health and wealth in this life.

Christ never promised us an easy, care-free life.

Oh sure, in the next life, if you are a child of God, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, you will live with Him forever—in a place of perfect peace—where there will be no more pain, sickness, tears, sorrow or death.

Trust me, we won't have any health issues or financial problems there.

But that comes later. For the time being... we're not in Heaven.

So—getting back to this present world—how are we supposed to live?

For starters, we need to live in the present reality that Christ told us about beforehand.

"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

The biblical word "tribulation" used here means, "afflicted, anguish, burdened, persecution, trouble."

Maybe it's just me—but, somehow, the biblical word tribulation used by Jesus just doesn't seem to fit into today's "health and wealth" prosperity gospel.

So, in the midst of our great trials, suffering, sickness, disease, and looming financial disaster in the world economy, what are we supposed to do?

Be thankful. 

That's right, be thankful, knowing that God would not allow us to go through these trials unless He had a purpose for doing so.

Consider this—maybe God chose you and me to suffer for His name, and for His glory. And then, be thankful that we, as the writer of Hebrews wrote, are "receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken." The bible says that we are aliens in this world—sojourners—just passing through. This fallen world is not our home. As it says in Hebrews 13, "Here, we have no continuing city—but we seek the one that is to come."

As I am learning through my current trial and infirmity, God is indeed using it all for good—to bless others. And for that, and for everything and everyone else He has placed in my life, I am so very thankful to Him. Through Him blessing others in this unexpected way, I am being more blessed than if I were receiving something for myself. As Jesus said, "It is far more blessed to give, than to receive."

So thank the Lord every day, and thank Him often, for whatever He has given you. As I am learning, the situations in your life can change instantly. The things or people that are a blessing in your life right now, may or may not be here tomorrow.

A line from Paul Baloche's song "shaken" was inspired by Hebrews chapter 12 - "Everything that can be will be shaken, but only You remain."

Here's the passage from Hebrews 12:25-27,

"See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain."

Going back to our opening verse, Hebrews 12:28:

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..."

By being thankful to God for everything, we worship Him. So let us do so acceptably, with reverence and with awe.

How many of us truly worship God with reverence and with awe?

Just by observing the weekly services at church, I mean, let's be honest... it's pretty casual. "With reverence and awe" doesn't really define what we do in church on Sunday mornings. Much of the time, the music is not much more than a big show, and most of us can't stop playing with our i-pads and cell phones long enough to really hear what the pastor is saying.

Yes, I know... I will probably get a few boos for that last sentence, but honestly, am I wrong here?

I mean, if God were physically, visibly attending our church services and He was seated on a throne on the stage, would we be chatting to our buddies during the praise and worship service, and playing with our cell phones when He was speaking?

I sure hope not.

No, we'd be on our faces, in reverence and with awe, in the presence of the King of kings Himself. 

The end of that verse in Hebrews says, "For our God is a consuming fire."

Much of "modern Christianity" has reduced Jesus to a cool, laid-back, limp-wristed, 'surfer dude'-kind-of-savior, who basically says, 'everything goes.' But the Bible never portrays God our Savior that way at all.

Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll says of Jesus: "You have no idea who you're dealing with!"

How many of us ever speak of Jesus as if He is a consuming fire?

This wake up call from the Lord today really convicts me to be much more thankful for everything in my life; even the extremely painful trial of my neurological condition. 

And I'm even more convicted to worship God—in my actions, in my thoughts, in my words; acceptably, with reverence and with awe—knowing that the God of love and grace is also a consuming fire; just as His Word says.

I'm His son, through the blood of Christ. I know He loves me. Nothing can ever change that. But He deserves to be worshipped acceptably with reverence and awe, and I have not been doing that very well.

And for that—I'm sorry Lord.

How about you? Where do you stand with Jesus Christ?

For those who think you have all the time in the world to get right with Christ—you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow.


—God is Love and Love Never Fails.