Only one more day of Advent. Tomorrow is our last post on this theme of “Thanking Jesus.” Hope you can join us!
With so much to thank the Lord for in his own life, Paul struggled to comprehend how other people could ignore the God of Creation. In Romans 1, the apostle pointed out that God programmed a knowledge of Himself into every person’s heart. People could observe not only the things the Lord had made – the sun, the sky, the earth – but they could even clearly see God’s invisible qualities such as His eternal power and divine nature. Despite this inner programming, many people turned away from God. “They knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks.” (1:21) These people did not “forget” to thank God as the Israelites did in the wilderness. These people refused to give thanks.
Paul went on to say, “The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.”
What a testimony of Paul’s own experience. It took three days of utter darkness filled with blindness and confusion before Paul himself recognized the truth of who Jesus Christ was. But once he saw clearly, he never forgot. Thirty years after that experience, he wrote, “Thank God for His Son – a gift too wonderful for words.” (2 Cor. 9:15)
If you saw someone stumbling in darkness, wouldn’t you offer to help? If you know someone who is confused, can you point them to the Light of the World? Then they too will be able to give thanks.
