Matt's Muzings
The Most Thankful Being in the Universe
This week DTS teams returned from outreaches in Fiji , Cambodia and Japan . They had a great time and saw God do great things. You could tell they were tired and the staff and students had given a lot. As I was walking to the front of the classroom to share on "Transitions", I was struck with a simple and yet profound thought from the heart of God.
As this thought settled in I responded to it by thanking the staff and students on behalf of God for stepping out and taking a risk. For laying down their life. For being obedient and loving others.
God is the most thankful being in the Universe
The thought was simply this - GOD IS THE MOST THANKFUL BEING IN THE UNIVERSE. Now I have to confess I have never thought or heard this before and it has really challenged me. It is so simple and yet stirs me deeply.
It makes perfect sense. We can't be anything He is not, as we are made in His image. He does not require anything of us that is not in Him. We are required to give thanks in all things. Therefore, He is the perfect expression of thankfulness.
I hear the heart of this in Job as God says to Satan, Job 1:8 "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." God was thankful for who Job was.
We see it in Jesus. He was fully man, but also fully God. He gives thanks and the bread is multiplied. At the last supper he takes the cup and gives thanks. In one of his last prayers he states, ‘Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me. ' Jesus was thankful as man and thankful as God.
What does this mean on a practical level:
Any attitude we have from our heart towards the truth, He is thankful for.
Any choice we make to model Him to a dying world. He is thankful for.
Any act of obedience, any response of humility, any sacrifice in our life, any expression of faith, every movement of love He is thankful for.
It seems a good reminder that it is predominantly an attitude in the weak, finite and limited towards the powerful, infinite and unlimited. It is easier seen in us as we are broken, proud and distant and God's grace is so starkingly evident. But it must find it's true expression in Him for He is the source of all good things.
In our fallen view, we are not used to those in power giving thanks. It is assumed they are above it. They don't have to be thankful as they can take whatever they want.
Love is always a gift
We think it is only an expression of the weak before the powerful. But in it's truest form, it is an expression of humility. An honoring of the choices made. A way of recognizing that love is always a gift. It is freely given and therefore even the most powerful would be thankful for something they can't make happen. As God is the most humble being in the universe, He is thankful for our love to Him.
I trust you hear the heart of God in this. Where you have given, sacrificed and loved on His behalf. Where you have freely given your choice in humility. I trust you hear Him say to you, Thank you.
As a closing thought. We as leaders are called to model Him. That means we are to give thanks as others offer service to follow us in our God given gifts and calling. Go to those who have given of their life in the Kingdom of God and on behalf of God and out of your own thanksgiving God has put within you, thank them.