Give Thanks? Maybe? What Do I Know?

GIVE THANKS? MAYBE? WHAT DO I KNOW?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

HAVE YOU EVER FORGOT WHAT YOU KNOW? SPIRITUALLY, I THINK IT IS SO EASY TO FORGET WHAT YOU KNOW…

One day when I was young I ran out of gas. It was before the cell phone. I sat and wondered what am I going to do? I looked in my billfold and there was no money? I prayed God, you could send someone I know and they will see me and offer to help. There was a gas station in sight. I could borrow a few dollars? No one came. I prayed harder, still no one. Wow, I have never begged before. As I was praying for help, I thought God had let me down? Then after sometime, I remembered: Some years before, I hid a $20 bill in the horn area of my steering wheel. I had the answer all the time.

I had money and I forgot? I pulled the $20 out. Walked to the gas station, borrowed a can and walked back and poured it in the tank. I saved a little gas to pour in the carburetor and the car started right up. I sat several hours and I forgot I had the answer right in front of me. I forgot?

HAVE WE EVER FORGOT GOD HAS AN ANSWER BEFORE WE ASK? HAVE I EVER BEEN IN A STORM AND FORGOT JESUS

IS IN MY BOAT… FRET NOT… WE MUST CONSIDER: GOD HAS THIS COVERED…

What’s the first thing you know? Jed is a millionaire, the kinfolks say Jed move away from there, said California is the place…

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 (MSG) That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Thanksgiving while I am in a terrible storm? Maybe the tax bill, insurance? Maybe the doctor has told us bad news? The doctor told me I was overweight. I asked for a second opinion… He said well you asked, I will tell you: YOU ARE UGLY TOO. Maybe the family seems to be falling apart… you have cried until there are no more tears? Maybe you have watched CNN and the USA seems doomed… MY FRIEND HANG ON… HANG IN THERE… DON’T BE PUSHED OUT OF THE CHURCH. REFUSE TO RUN AWAY FROM THE ALTAR, COME HOME… WE KNOW ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER IS CONDITIONAL… IF WE LOVE GOD AND DO HIS WILL.

This storm, this problem never caught God off guard… God was not surprised when this negative obstacle came into your focus…

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

PAUL HAS HIS PEN IN HIS HAND AND HE IS WRITING A GREAT LESSON ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS. I CORINTHIANS 12 IS SO POWERFUL. BUT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS GREAT LESSON PAUL STOPS AND WRITES ONE OF THE GREATEST LESSONS ON LOVE, 1 CORINTHIANS 13. THEN PAUL FINISHES HIS LESSON HE IS WRITING ON THE GIFTS.

As Paul sandwiches the GREAT LESSON ON LOVE between the chapters on spiritual gifts. Paul was trying to tell us GOD’S PLAN OPERATES VIA LOVE. Spiritual gifts will always operate in an unhealthy manner unless they are baptized

in love.

Paul ends the LOVE CHAPTER IN A MOST UNUSUAL WAY. There is a powerful lesson to apply in these last 3 verses.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

PAUL’S LESSON ON LOVE ENDS WITH A LESSON ON VISION… HUMAN VISION CAN RARELY SEE OR UNDERSTAND IN THE REALM OF ETERNAL VALUES.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.