Title: True Thanksgiving - Deuteronomy 8:11~18
Contents
Deuteronomy 8 tells us not to forget the wilderness life when the Israelites will enter the land of Canaan and enjoy great abundance. We must never forget the trials and trainings in the wilderness. He tells us to give up the Egyptian lifestyle that trusted and relied on me, and to depend only on God and give thanks. We, too, should ask God's will, depend on God alone, and confess that all we enjoy is God's grace and give thanks.
How have our lives improved compared to before? Still, what is dissatisfying is the loss of gratitude. Therefore, find the broken lines of gratitude and restore true gratitude. To be truly grateful,
First, remember the grace of God.
A child who was a shepherd as a child grew up and later became a marquis doing great things for the country. Although he was in a position that was admired and envied by many, he would often visit the places where he had tended his sheep as a child. There, I used to say a prayer of thanks to God. And he made a shepherd's room in his house. And he drew a picture of the place where he was tending sheep. Clothes, staffs, and old items worn while shepherding sheep were displayed on display. People who visited the house saw these things and asked them. “Why do you keep these smelly and dirty things? Wouldn't it be better to forget about the unfavorable past altogether?" Hearing this, he answered. “I am a marquis now. If I don't think about these things often, I get arrogant. Without God's grace, how could I become a marquis? I am always looking at these things to thank God for his grace.”
This is verse 11 of the text. “Beware that you do not keep the commandments, decrees, and ordinances of the Lord, which I am giving you today, and forget the Lord your God.” Knowing how to be grateful even in the midst of lack is true gratitude. You must always remember God to become a person of true gratitude. When we eat and we are satisfied, we build a beautiful house, cattle and sheep multiply, silver and gold multiply, and we have abundant possessions, we need to keep in mind the content of the passage to remember God and not forget God.
Therefore, we must remember God in good times, but we must also remember God in all times of pain. We must not forget the God who saved us from our sins. It is the God who freed us from oppression. He is the God who gave us new life. Please do not forget God's grace and always remember it. Please do not forget God for even a single moment and give thanks.
Second, understand the guidance of God.
This is verse 15. “He brought you through that vast and dangerous wilderness, a low water with fiery serpents and scorpions, and he brought forth water for you from a solid rock.” Is life difficult and difficult? The more it happens, the more I hope you don't try to depend on yourself but look to God and depend on Him. When I look back on the days gone by, I can never forget the fact that God has sustained me, protected and guided me until now.
Everything is by God's grace. Don't forget God's guidance. I hope you realize and be thankful that I did not hold on to God's hand, but that God took my hand and led me here. Real gratitude will begin only when we realize God's guidance.
Third, confess the power of God.
At a historical moment known as the Diet of Worms, there is a seat where Martin Luther stood before the church in Rome, when he spoke his mind. ‘Here I Stand!’ The most important religious leaders gathered there and heard the doctrine of ‘saved by grace alone’ proclaimed by a German monk. At the decisive moment, Luther stood up alone. He was resolute and fearless. Just before Luther spoke to the popes, high priests, cardinals and emperors, a friend asked Luther. 'Brother Luther, are you afraid?' Then Luther gave an astonishing answer. "no. What I fear most is my self, a Pope greater and greater than the Pope and the Cardinals.” What is really terrifying is the ego that is trying to become arrogant. God uses those who can humble themselves. Everything is by God's grace. What have I done with my might? It was possible because God gave strength and power. I hope you will become a believer who confesses, “It is only by the grace of God.” True gratitude is achieved when we confess that it was possible because God gave us the ability, not our own strength and strength.
This is verse 17 of the text. “Again, I am afraid that you will say in your heart, ‘By my power and by the strength of my hand I have obtained this riches; remember the LORD your God, for he has given you power to obtain riches, so that you will keep the covenant you swore to your ancestors today as it is today. that it might be done together.” That is, confess that God gave strength and power, not my strength, not my strength. True gratitude is possible when we live with the realization that the Lord did it, not me. “God did it. God has done it. God established it. God has given us victory.” Please confess that God is the power. Only then will true gratitude begin.
Ayako Miura, the author of 'Freezing Point', introduces her prayer, saying that being accustomed to grace is the scariest thing: "God! Please guide me so that I don't get used to grace." I was so grateful that I married the young man. I was so grateful that he married me, who was sick, and brought tears to my eyes just thinking about it. But after living together for several years, I am not very grateful. It was just that. I came to take it for granted, that when I saw myself getting nervous, angry, and even hating my husband, I started to repent.
What do we look like? Isn't this faith that we are so accustomed to with God's grace, the grace that saved us from our sins, that we are not thankful for it? Isn't this faith that has no joy even when we hear hymns and no emotion when we pray? Aren't you just complaining because you want something exciting but you can't get it? Aren't you immersed in the inertia of worship and live a life of faith, losing your passion? All of these are sad faces who are accustomed to grace and miss gratitude.
Please, restore your true gratitude ahead of Thanksgiving. Remember God's grace. Please understand God's guidance. Please confess that everything has been accomplished by the power of God. So, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will become all the blessed saints who glorify God by giving true thanks.