THANKFUL FOR THE GOOD AND THE BAD TIMES
Colossians 3:15
(15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
It’s that time of year again when most people give thanks for those things they have or have obtained.
Have you ever heard someone say, "You better count your blessings?"
What do you think of when we hear someone say that?
All of us have many things to be thankful for.
I found where Saints of old counted it a blessing to suffer shame for Christ.
Acts 5:41
(41) And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
We too should count it a joy and be thankful every time we have to suffer for our Lord.
Sometimes it’s our suffering that keeps us anyway.
I begin to think this week of just what I DIDN’T-HAVE that made me thankful.
1. Not having plenty of money
{Plenty of money might would make me forget God.}
2. Not having too little money
{Too little money might would make me possibly turn my back on God.}
You say, "Bro. Jimmy, you’re saying you might would turn back on God?"
I don’t know what I might would do if it wasn’t for God. And you don’t either!
Hold on a minute, I’m still in the word. Here’s the rest of it…
It’s our choice, that’s true.
But God says, "he will not put anymore on us than we can bare."
So then, according to the scripture,
if it weren’t for God, there would be some things we couldn’t bare.
It’s only through God’s knowledge of each of us that we can serve him.
When he said no more than we could bear, he meant too much and or too little.
But because of his word, we can give thanks in all things.
· The good times and the bad.
· The blessings and the sufferings.
copyright by James W. Bryant
Preached at the Dillon C H Church
Wednesday evening 11-24-99
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