What a great morning indeed!
And since I've been made alive in Jesus, every spring reminds me of His power to resurrect. To bring life out of death. In John 12:24 Jesus states "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."
So, in order to come to life, something must die FIRST! Every new human conception is a picture first of all of death! An egg and a sperm must each first die to their own independence and to join in order to give birth to a new life!
We must first die in order to be brought into a new life with Him! 2 Timothy 2:11 is clear "For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him."
This morning I'm in 1 Timothy 2:1 and it's like Jesus spoke to me: "I exhort first of all that ....giving of thanks be made for all men". Now I really had to stop and ponder on this.
Sometimes I tend to just read quickly over passages, too quickly. This time, I stopped and said to myself, "this is too important to just hurry over". When we dig for treasure in God's Word, let's not be too in a hurry, cause we may miss it. Sometimes very valuable things come in small packages.
"Thank God for all men"! That means men, women, boys, girls.
When is the last time somebody cut me off on the highway and I thanked God for them? Do I thank God for the mail man who brings bills or bad news? Did I thank Him for the policeman that stopped me for speeding on the freeway and gave me a speeding ticket, the second citation in my life, when my first was 30 years earlier?
Can I thank Him for a neighbor whose dog or child makes my life miserable? For a teacher who has me re-do my paper cause she knew the first was not as good as I can do? For a parent who did not raise me as well as I think I deserved? For "friends" that are more like Judas? How about for sons and daughters that keep me on my knees longer than I would like to stay?
For a shopper in front of us in line that is moving too slow? For the driver that just took "my parking spot"? For a spouse that is not doing his/her job as well as I would do it if I were in their shoes? How about for in-laws? In-laws that are sometimes bound to bring us face to face with the worst in us? To bring to light hidden things in us that we did not know or care to think that existed in us?
The list is long....
Lord, help me make an effort to remember to give You thanks for ALL men!
His Grace to you! And till next time, seek Him!
Natalia in Idaho
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