Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Proverbs 7:10 Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
THANKSGIVING PRESENT
"Oh, the good old days." In time we all reminisce about the past. The funny thing is, we seem only to remember the good and not the evil. We didn't live in the Garden of Eden in the past! The fact is, the good old days weren't all good. Sorry to burst your bubble.
"Well, things just aren't the same today." It's true, but did we really expect that this earthly life would always be the same? It's true that many things in our country and society have changed, and many of them for the worse because they are in direct opposition to God's word and will, but should we be surprised?
What's my point?
If we live in the past, we may well become thankless when it comes to God's present blessings! If you are reading this devotion, then you are still in your time of grace. God is still blessing you today, through both Word and Sacrament. God's covenant of peace, established through the blood of His Son is still in force, it hasn't changed, and it won't change.
Instead of complaining about how things have changed, remember that our God has not changed. While the Almighty might have cast us off and cast us aside, instead His mercy to us is new every morning. While we are often unfaithful, His faithfulness is constant. While our love changes, His love is the same, self-less and self-sacrificing.
Therefore, consider today all the ways that God still brings blessing to you. Look up from your phone, quit with Facebook, turn off the television-- and take a few moments to consider how God has blessed you and still does. He has granted you a faith which trusts not in self, but in Christ. He has given you house, home, family, children, freedom to worship, and even has brought good from evil. He given you strength and ability to work and to feed yourself and your family.
Proper thanksgiving also means recognizing and appreciating God's gifts to us today.
