Tuesday, 15 December 2020

Faith and gratitude

Tweet

"And again he said, To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened." (Luke 13:20-21 ESV)

"And the Lord said, If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." (Luke 17:6 ESV)

In the Luke verses above, we can see this picture of how the kingdom of God uses something very small to create massive change. We see this little thing that grows and grows and ultimately takes over. Of course, sin is that way too. But, we aren't talking about sin here. We are talking about characteristics of the kingdom of God.

As we have been discussing recently, we can and should apply this in terms of our identity in Yeshua to the concept of gratitude. This is so important that we need to continue to look at it over and over again. It makes us act like us (that is who we are in Yeshua). In the book of Nehemiah, after finishing the wall, the work wasn't complete. "Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed" (Nehemiah 7:1 ESV).

Later in Nehemiah 12, there is a direct reference to the purpose and origins of these singers from David's time. In part, their purpose was to continually give thanks. This thanksgiving was meant to be part of a perpetual presentation of readiness to be with the Lord. It demonstrated a consistent joy before the Lord.

As believers, we must also be able to demonstrate this same thing. To be angry and not to sin requires a humility that is sustained by being thankful. This is part of the work of the ministry. It shows others who we are in Yeshua. And, just like this little bit of leaven in flour or this small seed that keeps growing. This is a big part of the kingdom of God.

So, let us continue to be thankful, with hearts of deep gratitude for each situation we face. For the context in which we find ourselves. We maintain a hope of our salvation with thankfulness for Yeshua's sacrifice for us.