What Can I Render Unto God For All His Blessings?
We are approaching my favorite time of the year. I never complete all that I dream of doing in this season because the time seems to race between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but what a ride! I love seeing how the chidden grow from year to year. And, no matter how grumpy they may be during the year, when Christmas comes the excitement of the season shines in their eyes. Thinking of seasons, how perfect it is that God instituted the brilliance of His glory during the fall of the year. That there were those throughout the history of this nation that set aside days of thanksgiving at this time of the year when the country was in its’ splendid glory of color and bounty is fitting.
Just like everything, God set seasons in place. He expects us as His people to take note of the seasons, yet sadly, we often fail at that:
"Tell them this, God‘s Message: "’Do people fall down and not get up? Or take the wrong road and then just keep going? So why does this people go backward, and just keep on going—backward! They stubbornly hold on to their illusions, refuse to change direction. I listened carefully but heard not so much as a whisper. No one expressed one word of regret. Not a single "I’m sorry" did I hear. They just kept at it, blindly and stupidly banging their heads against a brick wall. Cranes know when it’s time toove south for winter. And robins, warblers, and bluebirds know when it’s time to come back again. But my people? My people know nothing, not the first thing of God and his rule.Jeremiah 8:6-8 (Message)
Like there are seasons of the year, there are seasons in our individual and corporate lives. With every turn of the season, there is a different expectation. As noted above, the cranes, the robins, the warblers and bluebirds all know of their seasons and what they are to be doing in each season. Yet, the passage says,’my people know nothing, not the first thing of God and his rule".
Just as we note the physical changes in our children as every year passes, so too God should note the spiritual changes in His children. We should never get stagnant in a season, and certainly we should never ever go backward; our spiritual lives should show marked increases in growth:
Believe this: a new day is coming—in fact, it’s already here—when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshipers. You worship what you don’t know while we worship what we do know, for God’s salvation is coming through the Jews. The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship. John 7:24 (The Voice)
A message to all of us, as we go through the busyness of this season – there will be parties, and performances; gift giving and receiving; visits to those you don’t see often throughout the year – take the time to realize that all of it is possible because of the Father, who only asks one thing – that we worship Him in Spirit and in truth!
Maria