November 22, 2022 - Good morning! It's Tuesday, November 22.
The Apostle Paul wrote just about half of the New Testament - 12 books out of 27 - 13 if you believe that he wrote Hebrews. I don't. I like to believe, as do some theologians, that Priscilla wrote Hebrews. Out of the 66 books in the Bible, it would be nice if at least one of them was written by a woman!
But I digress. Our focus this morning is thankfulness and in almost every one of Paul's letters he takes the opportunity to express thankfulness for the churches to which he is writing. Here are just a few examples -
Romans 1:8 - I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you . . .
I Corinthians 1:4 - I give thanks always for you . . .
Ephesians 1:16 - I do not cease to give thanks for you . . .
Philippians 1:3 - I thank my God in all my remembrances of you . . .
Colossians 1:3 - We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you . . .
Philemon 1:4 - I thank God always when I remember you in my prayers . . .
Well, you say, Bro. David, those notes of thanks all come at the beginning of those letters - that was just something Paul included out of habit - like Dear Sir or Sincerely Yours. Even if that was true, and I don't believe it was, Paul would still have been making a choice to express thankfulness. And, when it comes down to it, isn't that what every relationship is built upon - making choices? Making choices to be encouraging, making choices to be forgiving, making choices... to love.
I encourage you to make the choice this week to reach out to someone in thankfulness - what better time! Maybe a family member or friend, maybe a Sunday School teacher or pastor, maybe someone from your past who made a difference in your life when you were young. What a blessing it would be for them to receive your message of thankfulness - what a blessing it would be for you to send it.
One last word from Paul - Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:18.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
