Living should never be defined by getting what we think we deserve whether that is a gift, cash, job, promotion, trophy, applause, position, or whatever. For those who are in Christ really living is defined by the relationship we have with the Creator of the universe. This relationship isn’t something we truly sought for and definitely not something we deserved.

God adopted us into His family through the costly sacrifice of His one and only unique Son, Jesus Christ. We could never try hard enough nor pay enough to gain entrance into the family of God. Through a great act of mercy, compassion, love and grace God sovereignly gave His Son and Jesus willingly laid down His life to secure our place back home with God.

Everything we enjoy now had its beginning, middle and end with Jesus. We can’t name a blessing we enjoy that doesn’t ultimately find its source in the holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Think about it in light of two verses:

“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16).

These verses just don’t apply to believers, they apply to everyone, whether they are a child of God or not. However, only God’s children will recognize that everything comes from the hand of a gracious God; therefore, only those who are His will return genuine thanksgiving for the gifts they receive.

Have you counted your blessings lately and given thanks to God for them?

Grace & Peace,