WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
“When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for His message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.”
Acts 13:48-49 (NLT2)
JOY IN GRATITUDE
One year when Christmas Day fell on a Sunday, a farmer decided to go to church. (Like some people, he thought he was fulfilling his religious obligation by going to church twice a year—at Christmas and Easter!) The sermon that day was preached from the text, “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider” (Is. 1:3). Isaiah is saying that man is dumber than the animals. After church the farmer returned home and stood among his cows. One of them began to lick his hand—a practical demonstration of the sermon he had just heard. Strong man though he was, the farmer began to weep as he thought, “God did much for me, and yet I never thanked Him. My cow is far more grateful than I am. What do I ever give her other than grass and water?”—Source Unknown
In Acts 13, when the Gentiles heard that God sent the message of salvation to them, they had joy and gratitude. For so long orthodox Jews showed nothing but hate for the Gentile people and now they were learning that God loved them and sent Jesus to die for their sins too.
When we realize that God doesn’t owe us anything but has chosen to bless us with love and the gift of salvation it leads to joy. When we really stop and think about who God is, we become grateful for even the little things and that makes it much easier to find true joy. Can you think of an example of how you’ve seen gratitude expressed around you lately? Did that gratitude also have an expression of joy? Take some time to express gratitude to God right now.
