GRATITUDE 5 - Never forget to thank God!

 Gratitude 5 - English files

Dankbarkeit 5 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

I’ve struggled for much of my Christian life when it was time for communion at our church, because that’s when I’d try to produce feelings in myself that I thought were appropriate. Predictably, I was nearly always disappointed that I’d failed. Then while looking at this pas­sage one day, I noticed that Jesus didn’t mention feeling but remembering: We should remember what He did for us on the cross. That isn’t so hard. Or is it?

Many of us have probably heard sermons on how brutal Jesus’ execution was, and it’s not pleasant replaying our mind's film of it. But the physical realities aren’t nearly all of what His crucifixion entailed. God the Son was killed by His creatures, and yet this great exchange of our sins for Christ’s righteousness was the Father’s plan, allowing our reconciliation with Him. 

The Bible consists of many books with different topics and threads of plot, but they all come together in Jesus’ sacrifice, the “turning point of history”, as Dorothy L. Sayers called it. Instead of believing we’re done with that old story, we Christians are called to remember it again and again, surely so that we’ll shake our heads in wonder and thank God for it.

Lord, thank You that you died for me.

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GRATITUDE 4 - Let others know how important they are to you.

Gratitude 4 - English files

Dankbarkeit - German files

Devotional Thoughts about Philippians 4:10-19

As Paul was in prison without the freedom to move around and do as he liked, we might have excused him if he had indulged in some self-pity. But he never complained in the whole letter of Philip­pians. Instead he thanked God for the church at Philippi (1:3). He cared about the people, not just about what he got from them.

Of course he also thanked the church directly for their gift (4:10). Writing thank-you notes has rather gone out of style, but since I found out how much they mean to the recipients, I’m very glad my mom once taught me to write them. Now I try to describe in them my delight or surprise at the gift or the favor as exactly as possible.

I’ve learned that a personal an expression of thanks is best, one that includes things you’d never find in a printed thank-you card. Paul mentioned to the Philippians things that didn’t apply to the other churches, such as their support of him early on and their taking up the slack left by others (4:15,16).

Most importantly, the Philip­pians’ thoughtful gift pleased God. Their generosity which grew out of their love for Him smelled wonderful to Him.

 Lord, help me be quick to thank people for their kindnesses to me.

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If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. One more lesson in the Gratitude series is coming up.

GRATITUDE 3 - Say “Thank you,” even when others don’t.

Gratitude 3 - English files

Dankbarkeit 3 - German files

Devotional Thoughts on Luke 17:11-19

How often do we base our actions on what other people do? It probably happens quite a lot. Especially if we’re new in a school, a job or some other group, it’s natural to look to the others for clues on how to handle situations that arise. Peer pressure is a powerful motivator for everyone—not just for teens.

 The Bible doesn’t say that the lepers discussed Jesus’ direction or voted on it. They were probably all ready to do just as He had said on the odd chance that it might actually work. And once it did, I’m sure there was no stopping them.

 But his healing made the Samaritan skid to a halt and think as the others sprinted on past him. The sight and feel of his changed body made him focus on God, who had done for him what nobody else could. Although the priests would have to confirm his healing before he could rejoin society, that could wait; he must go back to Jesus.

He found Him and announced loudly how great God is, surely recounting his own experience. Then he fell on his face before Jesus and thanked Him. Jesus appreciated his thankfulness, coming from the odd one out of 10 who had done the right thing. Perhaps some of the others had thankful thoughts, too, but gratitude seems to need expression to make it what it is. Lord, help me always be ready to thank You. 

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If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next two blogs will contain more lessons in the Gratitude series. 

GRATITUDE 2 - Thank God if He's forgiven your sins!

Gratitude 2 - English files

Dankbarkeit 2 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about Luke 7:37-50

We all tend to put the people in our lives into categories as being grumpy, loud, sweet, snooty, generous, dishonest, calm, bossy, kind, nervous, reliable, mean, etc., so it’s not surprising that the woman in this story was known in town as a sinner. But probably very few of those who called her that would have described themselves in the same way.

It’s the same with us. Although we often keep track of other people’s mistakes, we’re much more indulgent with our own. We defend our motives to ourselves and have excuses ready. Especially these days, most people don’t think of themselves as sinners. But we are. Even saved sinners who’ve received forgiveness know the daily fight with sin isn’t yet over.

Many Christians don’t want to remember their sin and would prefer to ignore it, but remembering is an important part of thankfulness. In Isaiah 51:1, it’s the righteous people who are told to look back and remember where they came from, what they used to be. That’s a prominent theme throughout the Old Testament. The awfulness of sin makes God’s forgiveness and grace all the sweeter.

We don’t know whether the woman’s sins were worse than Simon’s, but she wasn’t in denial about them. Therefore her love for Jesus and her thankfulness for forgiveness were proportionately huge. Lord, let me never forget what You've done for me and never get tired of thanking you for it.

Downloading lesson files

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desire language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next three blogs will contain more lessons in the Gratitude series.

GRATITUDE 1 - All good things come from God.

Gratitude 1 - English files

Dankbarkeit 1 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about 2 Samuel Chapter 7

James reminds us that all good things come from God (James 1:17). Why do we even need to be reminded of something so obvious? Actually, in the middle of a busy life full of distractions and disappointments, it’s very easy to overlook the good things and easier still to forget about God.

 

He made everything, from the huge galaxies and solar systems we can’t even wrap our minds around to the tiniest cells and atoms we can’t even see—as well as everything in between. He made us and provides us with all the material things we need for life along with families and other relationships for our emotional needs. But in this sin-cursed world, we’re all in danger of worshipping created things instead of the Creator. Thanking God helps us readjust our focus on the Creator.

 

David models giving God thanks and praise in dozens of Psalms, but for some reason the story of God’s covenant with him is the passage that makes me think of David's gratitude the most. The word thank doesn’t even come up in the text, but David’s awed response to God’s stupendous good gifts confirms his basic attitude of thanksgiving.

 

As attitudes are more easily caught than taught, kids will more likely become thankful if they see gratitude in the lives of the adults around them. Lord, let my life show thankfulness to You through all I do and say.

Downloading lesson files

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next four blogs will contain more lessons in the Gratitude series.