The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"A Spiritual Frustration"
I often think of it as a spiritual frustration, namely, that I cannot begin to adequately offer gratitude and thanksgiving for the blessings of life. Regardless of how sincerely, ardently, and intelligently I seek to say "Thank You" to the Giver of "every good gift and perfect gift," I know my offering does not approach the appreciation our Heavenly Father deserves (James 1:17). I more and more understand why the Psalmist declared, "O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee forever!" (Psalm 30:12). Because it will take that long to even begin to extend to the Lord the measure of gratitude for which He is so worthy.
I recently heard of a little boy who said to the Lord, "I am glad You can hear my heart. Because I don't have the words." None of us do. But they are what we have, and so with heart and voice we express our thanks, the aforementioned frustration serving as a very real portion of our offering. Indeed, never would we want to sense a satisfaction in how well we have thanked and praised our God. Never will we, which says far more about His infinite goodness and greatness than our inability.
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).
The sense of inadequacy especially applies when we consider that God's freely given generosity comes to us by the highest price ever remitted:
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:18-19).
How could we ever begin to thank our Lord enough for the suffering, forsakenness, and death that makes possible "every good and perfect gift" we will ever know in both time and eternity? God gives and forgives based on the price His beloved Son paid to purchase all things for us. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). The next breath we breathe, given so freely, cost our Lord a price that far transcends any awareness and corresponding gratitude we could ever offer. Frustration? May it always accompany our realization that the most eloquent and heartfelt thanksgiving we will ever express just simply is not enough. Yes, how glad we all are that He can hear our hearts. Because we do not have the words.
"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."
(Luke 18:10-13)
"And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee."
(Deuteronomy 26:11).
Weekly Memory Verse
Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord.
(Colossians 323).
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