Giving Thanks for Christmas Luke 2:36–38: “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” When Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to Jerusalem for his dedication ceremony, they met a woman who had dedicated her life to the service of God. The first thing she did was give thanks to God for the fulfillment of His promise to send a Saviour for the world. Then she told everybody she could about Jesus! These two things go beautifully together. When we are filled with gratitude and praise for our salvation, we find it easy to share the Good News with others. In the Old Testament there is a wonderful story from the days of the prophet Elisha. The city of Samaria was besieged by an enemy army. Four lepers who had been kept outside the city walls even with an enemy army camped nearby were the first to discover that God had worked a miracle to deliver His people from the enemy. They made their way to the camp of the Syrians and found it deserted. They helped themselves to the spoils and riches left behind, but realized they had to share the news. “Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace” (2 Kings 7:9). If we are truly thankful for the gift of salvation, the natural response is for us to share the Good News with others. Though we receive many blessings from God, we will never have a greater cause for giving thanks than the gift of His Son. < GOD BLESS, AND KEEP LOOKING UP AND LISTENING FOR THE SHOUT, YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH. JAMES 5:8: “BE YE ALSO PATIENT; STABLISH YOUR HEARTS: FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH.”
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:54:37 +0000
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