“THANK YOU, LORD”
- A devotional Bible study by Rev. Don Schink © 2010
-- A devotional Bible study by Rev. Don Schink © 2010
ROMANS 1:8:
“First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.” (NIV)
Paul certainly knew the importance of being thankful. In fact, he clearly possessed what you hear me so often refer to as “an attitude of gratitude.” Paul was really excited, as we all need to be, about Who Christ is in each of our hearts and lives. If someone gives you a gift, hopefully you realize the importance of being thankful that they took the time to do so. They cared enough to do so.
The Scripture, in Acts 20:35, says, “It is more blessed to give then receive.” Paul felt especially thankful for the gospel and what a tremendous impact that Jesus had made in his own heart and life. He gladly realized the need to pass it on. So we see that he loved to give. Paul felt a tremendous sense of “an attitude of gratitude” and the need and the joy of passing it on. So he was a tremendous witness for Christ!
Paul was extremely thankful that their faith in Christ is reflected worldwide! Thankful hearts result in positive outlooks. Faith in action produces fruitful results that are far-reaching as we express our attitudes of gratitude in sharing our faith with others. When you and I are in a right relationship with Christ, it will be reflected, not only in word, but also in deed. True believers are fruitful believers. Fruitful believers result in positive witnesses.
In this Bible passage, we have a look into the heart and the mind of who was obviously one of the greatest missionaries of all Christianity. Paul clearly knew what it means to be called and sent by God. He realized that his calling was to clearly proclaim the gospel of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, to those who had not heard. We need to follow Paul’s example and do the same. In a way, every preacher or teacher who is called of God is a missionary for Christ, wherever such a one’s commission may send him or her, as the Holy Spirit directs. As such, we need to preach the whole gospel, not a watered-down, feel-good, type of message.
Today’s worldwide Christian church is in trouble. God has always had a faithful remnant, even in the worst of times, and today is no different. However, a lot of what is being preached and practiced in the Lord’s name, today is watered down gospel designed to make people feel good. I often say that people do a lot of things in the name of the Lord that He has nothing to do with.
In Matthew 5:6, we read where Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.” Such a hungering and thirst indicates one who is desperate to learn and to do that which is right. He or she has a strong desire to walk daily in line with God’s will and His Word. Such a one hungers and thirsts for righteousness, as one who has been out in the hot desert for a long period of time, desperate for water and for food, knowing that if such a one doesn’t get it that he or she will die! Do you have that type of desperation for God’s Word and His will in your heart and life? Do you have that same desire to share with others, realizing that they, too, are in desperate need, whether they realize it or not?
In Revelation 21:5-8, the Bible says, “He Who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (6) He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. (7) He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (8) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.” We need to sense the urgency of not only being men and women, boys of girls of faith, but also in realizing the need to share with those around us who so desperately need the Savior!
For comments or questions, please email at: PastorDonNM@gmail.com
