SEPTEMBER 13 : “AVOID BEING OFFENDED WITH CHRIST PART 2 – IN EVERYTHING, GIVE THANKS”

When we talk about walking in love, we usually think about how we behave towards other people. However, the one who deserves our love first of all is our heavenly Father. We should treat Him, above all with courtesy, appreciation and respect. We should not be content to lift our hands and tell the Lord how much we love Him when we are in church, then walk out the door and start complaining about hardship in the economy; things are so difficult; food and transport are so expensive; paying school fees and house rent is a big challenge!

A husband and wife might be wondering to each other if God is really concerned about how expensive life in the country currently is. Do you know what kind of talk this is? It is called “murmuring” or “complaining” and the Bible says God does not appreciate it. 1 Cor 10:10 tells us that when the Israelites did it, they were destroyed. That in itself is reason to avoid an attitude of ingratitude.

When something negative happens, we give thanks to God right in the midst of it. No matter how bad things are, we always have something for which to be thankful to God. If nothing else, we have life and breath in our bodies. We have the Word of God to teach us how to get through any situation and come out in victory. So, we can say “LORD, this is a tough place, but I am thankful to You that I do not have to stay in it. I can stand on Your Word, and things will turn around. I am grateful that You will never leave me nor forsake me. You will stay with me and see me through.

Those are the kinds of words the LORD appreciates. When we speak them, we are treating Him with the love He so richly deserves.

PRAYER: Ask God for you to grow in patience and endurance as soldiers of Christ, not as a fair-weather Christian.