Tag Archives: thanksgiving

5 Ways God Trusts Us

5 Ways God Trusts Us

We trust God. We may call it faith, assurance, or certainty, but all Christians trust God. Do not forget that the opposite is true too. Check out 5 Ways God Trusts Us.

God Has Given Us A Soul

God created every living creature, but only with mankind did he breathe into him the “breath of life” (Genesis 2:7). Man is different from animals in many ways, but only man possesses a soul. Only man is in the “image of God” (Genesis 1:26, 27). Now that soul is eternal. While the body dies, the soul lives on. God has entrusted you to care for your immortal soul so that it will return to Him for eternity. A good steward will protect and sustain his soul so that it lives eternally with its Creator.

God Trusts Us with the Gospel

One of the 5 ways God trusts us is by giving us each the power of the Gospel. In his immeasurable wisdom, God has entrusted the Gospel to mankind. This is a sobering thought when one thinks of the billions who grope for truth. Paul said people hold the gospel; fragile jars of clay hold the truth (2 Corinthians 4:7). There is no other way by which God saves sinners. God crafted a plan from Eden; Jesus died to complete that plan. Now the plan is yours. God trusts you to share the gospel. The good steward will share the gospel with every soul willing to listen.

God Trusts Us with Talents and Abilities

We are all different. Each is unique. Those differences are far more than skin deep. We each possess a unique set of talents and abilities not learned but naturally occurring. Some people have natural abilities in art, others in music. Some show special talent in speaking while others have great abilities to work with their hands. Each of us has some talent that makes us special. Jesus speaks of men with talents; some used wisely, others squandered. That story, in Matthew 25, speaks of money (a talent was a form of currency), but the implication is clear: we must use what we have wisely for there will be an accounting. God trusts you with a unique skill set to be used to his work. The good steward puts his talents to work for God.

God Gives Us Health

We cannot control many health conditions. Science has discovered myriad conditions that occur through genetic transmission. Nevertheless, all of us are responsible for our own bodies. A healthy body is better able to serve the Lord than a sickly one. The Bible teaches that our body is the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 19). Let the Christian adopt sound health practices that will allow his body to serve the Kingdom. God trusts you with a body fit for service. Put your healthy body to work for God.

God Trusts Us with Possessions

Every item you possess comes from God in some way. You may have worked hard, but it was God who gave you the strength, the talents and the opportunities to gain wealth. How do you use that blessing? As people hunger for truth and their daily bread, we spend more and more on entertainment and physical possessions. Each must examine his spending and his ability to help others. When we give to the church, we pool our resources with others so that the Lord can accomplish great things. God has entrusted you with every “good and perfect gift” (James 1:17). The good steward will use his wealth for the kingdom of Christ.

Reach Bryant Evans at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Thanksgiving

Church Bulletin

Thanksgiving_Dinner, Public DomainThanksgiving became a federal holiday in 1863 upon a proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. Historians believe the first proclamation, although not as a holiday, was signed by George Washington. Until now, Thanksgiving has been as a day of family with almost all non-essential businesses closed and employees given the day to join with their families in a remembrance of the great blessings given by God.

Our nation is a place of extreme wealth enjoying one of the highest standards of living in the world (top 20 in all major rankings and top one or two among industrialized nations). Our wealth is immense compared to most nations and our standard of living, which is a broader measure including more than wealth, is also far beyond most. Our healthcare system is second to none. Freedom, liberty and common public values assure that a youngster in this nation can rise to achieve anything he may desire whether in the sciences or the arts. Our nation is so blessed that one of our top political issues of the day is how to control the influx of immigrants arriving here illegally every day.

One could spend hours listing the blessings of this country – the common riches enjoyed by every person in the United States. But more valuable still are the great personal blessings we receive. These blessings may be different and vary greatly from one to another. Still we all enjoy them.

Family

Our nation is vast, spreading over almost 4 million square miles. Our children grow, are educated and often transplant to differing regions throughout our country. Yet we can see them face-to-face within a few hours, exchange mail for less than a half dollar and speak to them on reliable telephones instantly. They are not threatened by war nor savaged by terrorist groups as in some countries (Boko Harem in Nigeria, ISIS in the Middle East, etc.). Our pre-adolescent children do not travel on tops of trains to sneak into another country.

I resolve to stop overlooking and neglecting my family. I will remember them in my prayers of thanksgiving.

Health

Everyone has a health problem. Everyone. It could be that your health problem is hidden at the moment, but it will reveal itself soon enough. No matter the illnesses, however, you are not the worst. Someone is sicker still. A couple of years ago I walked into a doctor’s office with a muscle issue that concerned me. But then it hit me. I walked into the office! Others were stumbling about on walkers and in wheelchairs but I was able to walk into the office without any aide or assistance.

I resolve to stop whining about my aches and pains and become more thankful for the good health I have.

Church

The church has problems. As long as people like me make up the assembly there will be problems. But I am part of a family that belongs to God and is governed by the Savior Himself. I have an array of talented people who believe and worship as do I and who will drop whatever they are doing for my benefit. I am part of a tour group that is only visiting here and will soon be going home together. I am blessed.

I resolve to stop focusing on the problems of the church and see its splendor and glory as Jesus intended. He died for the church and that makes her special.

Thanksgiving is important as it reminds me of my blessings. Pause and consider the wealth of your gifts and you will be a changed person.

 

–Bryant Evans

Thankful

Church Bulletin, Daily living,

In case it is slipping up on you please take note. Thursday is Thanksgiving. Life seems so busy. It’s a little embarrassing that we need a special day to be thankful but it does serve a purpose. As he ended his first letter to the Thessalonians Paul had these words, emphasis is min:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

It is not always easy to be thankful. Many of the struggles you faced this week may tend to push you more toward complaining and away from thankfulness. How can a man be thankful when his job is about to end? How can a woman be thankful when her husband no longer pays honor to her? How can children be thankful when it seems their world is collapsing because of divorce? It’s hard. But Paul called on us to be thankful in all circumstances – not just the easy ones.

Horatio Spafford was a Chicago attorney. His 4 year old son died, later his business was almost destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. He soon planned a vacation to Europe with his family but was forced to stay behind to deal with business related to the fire. As his family crossed the Atlantic ahead of him on a French steamship,  the vessel collided with another and rapidly sank. Spafford then penned the immortal words to the song we sing “It Is Well With My Soul.” That song does not contain the word “thanks” or “thankful” but it is clearly a song of thanksgiving. In spite of his terrible circumstances Spafford thanks God for the following:

1.       The blood of Jesus;

2.       Salvation

3.       Peace from God

4.       The hope of redemption

5.       The return of Jesus

Horatio Spafford found peace and the power to be thankful in the darkest of nights.

We should learn a lesson from Spafford: Give thanks in all things for God is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. Paul said it another way:

“And let the peace of Christ rule in  your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs , with thanksgiving in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him” (Colossians 3:15-18).

Three times Paul instructs us to be thankful. We should heed the words of the apostle and the be influenced by Horatio Spafford’s marvelous lyrics. Let’s pause and give thanks. And then let us continue to give thanks every day for God’s greatness.