Everything Can Lead to Thanks

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

This weekend Renee and I flew to Dallas to see our son Jeff, his wife Lisa, and our new grandson Liam. Today’s its early and I am sitting on my son’s patio overlooking his beautiful garden, reading the Word of God, and feeling full of praise and thanksgiving. I am mostly feeling this way because of words triggered from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 which talks about God choosing me – such a foolish thing to confound the wise.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; He made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

When I was a young man, I was as filled with pride and boasting as any young man. I wanted to make my own way. I wanted to be in charge. I wanted to master my life and my destiny. But then one day someone shared the truth of Jesus did for mankind with me and for the first time I really listened. Although I couldn’t have described what I felt as I listened at that time, today I would describe it as the power of God that is present when someone’s heart is open to what God’s word says. It was then that I could suddenly admit to myself how powerless I truly was over my own life. I wasn’t all that great. I wasn’t all that in charge. To the contrary, I was a young man who needed to know my Maker and needed His help with my life. Jesus made that possible. That was the beginning of the end. That was the end of me trying to have worldly wisdom and the beginning of me wanting godly wisdom that only comes from God’s word.

So here I am 33 years later thanking God for allowing me, a foolish thing, to know and love Him. That privilege has shaped every second of my life since that day. And every second of my life since that day has led me down a path that fills my heart with thanksgiving. I am so thankful for my wife. I am so thankful for my children. I am so thankful for their spouses. I am so thankful for my grandchildren. I am so thankful for the privilege of being able to raise them to know the love of Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for His promise to me that because I “trained my children in the way they should go, as they continue to mature in adulthood, they will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) God’s promises to me are more real than any temporary situation or condition I face in life. No matter what happens, I know that because of God’s love, His promises to me will prevail and things will work out. I have faith in that-in Him. And for that reason, I always feel thankful. It cancels worry. It cancels doubt. It kindles hope. It strengthens my faith. It fills my life with good things. Even what doesn’t always seem perfect or good comes around to good.

In all this, it doesn’t make me feel in any way like boasting about my life. It makes me want to boast in the Lord. And so I do! I thank you Heavenly Father because every good and perfect gift comes from you! Your love is greater than words can say. I have the best Father of all-you, Almighty God, and I praise you!

1 Corinthians 1:31 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt