Day 5: Grateful for the Common and the Amazing!
You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. 13Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. 14But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. 15Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. 16Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? Galatians 4:12b-16
The Apostle Paul reminded the Galatian Christians that when he first arrived among them and preached the Good News of Jesus to them that he was sick. Apparently, Paul’s illness was accompanied by some atrocious symptoms as he reminded his readers that even though his condition tempted them to reject him, they didn’t despise him or turn him away. Many biblical scholars conclude that Paul’s problem was an eye disease since in verse 15 he states that the Galatians would have taken out their own eyes and give them to him if it had been possible. Paul’s graphic remembrance is sandwiched around a vital question, “Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then?” When we first become followers of Jesus, when we first respond to the Good News, the gratitude we experience typically overflows! After all, to go from a state of eternal separation from God, to a state of being eternally united with Him through the salvation Jesus offers is the most amazing of all blessings.
Yet, as the Galatians had done, we often forget that joyful and grateful spirit. Sometimes our lives don’t show all that much difference from before we received Jesus’ salvation. I’ve realized over the years that the new birth is an amazing gift from Jesus, but we can remain as “infants” for the rest of our lives unless we intentionally invest ourselves in growing up in Him. One of the surest signs of our growth is an on-going joyful and grateful spirit!
Questions and Comments for Reflection and Action:
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being high and 1 being low), where does your spirit stand with regard to joy and gratitude?
What is going on in your life right now that you need to turn over to Jesus, so that your spirit can be renewed in joy and gratitude?
Take some time right now to thank God for the great gift of salvation, and to ask Him to renew and restore to you a spirit of joy and gratitude!