In this issue:

"Gratitude Motivators" by Dr. Jay Wolf

"When Opposition Strikes" - This week's lesson

IT IS TIME TO BE THANKFUL AND RE-CLAIM

GOD'S BLESSINGS

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Gratitude Motivators

Dr. Jay Wolf

The season of THANKSGIVING is highly necessary and well timed because we all tend to be forgetful. For instance, I have a photographic memory but I keep forgetting where I put the film! So we need gratitude motivators. Let me share three that work for me.

First, God’s Word Calls us to an attitude of Gratitude. “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thes. 5:18) “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him.” (Psalm 100:4) Expressing gratitude for every season and circumstance indicates we trust our gracious heavenly Father and believe He is the origin of our blessing and His power is bigger than our problem.

Secondly, our American Heritage invites us be grateful. America was founded as a Christian nation and the Pilgrims set the pace. Those brave first settlers experienced terrible adversity that took the lives of half of their group but they declared a time of thanksgiving to count their blessings instead of their losses. In 1789, as a reflection of our collective Christian faith, George Washington called our Nation to gratitude, “Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor…I recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many favors of Almighty God.”

Third, I am motivated to gratitude by my personal list of blessings. My relationship to King Jesus pardons the past, empowers the present and illumines the future. Now I am part of the beautiful Body of Christ. God has given me a fabulous wife and a wonderful life. I am enriched by a healthy, stable, Christ-following, growing and productive family. God has gifted me with abundant material resources, physical capabilities and nurturing friendships. The assets greatly outweigh the liabilities!

When we add it up, there are compelling motivations to move beyond our natural proclivity to be grumbly hateful and become humbly grateful!

This Week's Lesson

"When Opposition Strikes"

Acts 4:23-31

At one time Christians in America only knew about opposition to Christianity from what they heard was happening in other countries. No longer is that the case. Increasingly, American culture has allowed—even supported—opposition to Christian faith. How we respond to such spiritual opposition says as much about our faith as our beliefs do. However, opposition to Christianity is nothing new. From the very beginning the early church experienced opposition from the leaders of the established religion of the day—Judaism!  The response of the early church provides a model for how we, too, can stand strong for Christ during those times of persecutions we may be called upon to endure.

The news almost daily includes some story wherein Christian values and convictions are being criticized and challenged.  In some places around the world the numbers of lives lost on account of the stand of people for their Christian faith is shocking.  In the United States, the challenges to faith come primarily in the form of laws and policies that promote values and lifestyles that stand in opposition to Christian truth as taught in Scripture.  So what are believers to do?  At times we need to engage in the political processes that are available to us to elect leaders and endorse laws and policies that support our convictions.  At other times we may need to stand strong even when it means facing threats and loss.  To do so will require a boldness beyond what we can muster up for ourselves.  It comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?

So, when it comes to boldness in standing for Christian principles, how do you stand?  On a scale of 1 (weak) to 10 (very bold), how would you rate the boldness you demonstrate in standing for Christian principles?  Does you boldness need the strengthening hand of the indwelling Holy Spirit applied to your boldness rating?  God’s indwelling Holy Spirit stands ready to be applied to each of our lives, when we truly want and ask for it?