Corona Devo 998

Thankful.  

Giving thanks.  (Or the reversed-version: Thanksgiving.)

We might make a list of things today.  Count our blessings. 

We might go around and share one thing at the table today.  Recite our blessings.

We might pen an invisible-list in our hearts today.  Meditate on our blessings.  

And (no matter how we do it), when we review all of the "things" that we have to be grateful for: it's a lot.

But many of those things that we are giving-of-thanks for today...are things.  Shelter-things, convenience-things, provision-things, comfort and surface-level "things".  

What if we didn't have those "things" today?  Could we still give thanks?   Would we?  Will we?

Some of us don't have "those things" today.  The money's gone, the loved one died, the sickness will not flee, the relationship is unmended, the table is empty.  The life feels empty, and not like "giving thanks" on Thanksgiving.  

Can we still give thanks today?  

Will we?

Because...we can, if we can possibly see beyond the "things" and into the heart of our Lord.  

All of our "things" are just things.  But Christ’s love...nothing can ever separate us from it...and we can give thanks today for that.

God the Father loves us and Jesus (His Son) loves us...and we can give thanks for that Truth today.  

Even if the money's tight, even when the loved one passes, even while the sickness will not flee, even today, with the relationship still unmended, even if life feels empty...we can give thanks on Thanksgiving because of the Greater "thanks/gratitude" that we do have today: If God is for us, who can ever be against us?... (Romans 8:31).

Even if...any of those things, and even if ALL of those things are occurring: Nothing can ever separate us from Christ’s love (Romans 8:35) 

"Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?"  (Romans 8:35).

Of course not.  

And for our sakes and for our encouragement, God gives us His Word and the clarification that we will have those things.  

But clarify it for your heart today...be convinced.

Give thanks today...because despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 

(38) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. 

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

(39) No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39).

No matter the bounty or lack of food spread before us, no matter the crowded or sparse gathering around us.  No matter the things, the stuff, the status...

We can be thankful today.

We can give thanks.

We can count our blessings. 

We can recite our blessings.

We can meditate on our blessings. 

Because (be thankful for it!)--If God is for us, who can ever be against us?... (Romans 8:31).

(35) Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity...

(37) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.   ~Romans 8:31, 35, 37

We can give thanks to God today for many things, but above all things, we can share in thanks-giving because I am convinced (be convinced!) that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38). 


Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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