“If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?” (Matthew 18:12b ESV).
Gratitude is something that I could and should write about every day! I know some days I don’t feel that way, everyone is going to have some down days. And yet especially on those days, I have many reasons to thank our Savior. An attitude of gratitude doesn’t mean my life is perfect, far from it. It means that I know I have a Creator who is also my Savior and that by itself is worthy of my praise and thanks!
As you may know, I receive a daily scripture by email. Last week one scripture was: “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV). How awesome is it that God saved us and called us before time even began!? I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that! Our God is so amazing that He knew what could happen in the future should we choose to turn away from Him and yet even with that possibility He still created us. He was willing to “get burned” by taking a chance on us. And indeed He did suffer, but before we took our first breaths He had determined to save us.
I feel so grateful to have an infinite, all powerful, all knowing, king and creator of the universe who loves me so much that even before I was born, even before the Earth existed, even before anything we can comprehend, He desired to save me. And not me only, but you, and every single other person who has ever lived or will live until the end of time. It is doubly incomprehensible that this is only the first piece of the salvation puzzle. Our God, who has given up so much in His Son, has not only chosen to save us but has given us the OPTION to choose to accept His sacrifice or not. When my husband chooses to eat a frozen pizza instead of the food I’ve spent half the day preparing, I can get a little grumpy! But if we choose to turn away from God, He calls after us! Like the father of the prodigal son, He awaits our return. Even when we have done everything wrong, He will take us as we are if we are willing to accept His calling and to follow Him.
Thank you Lord for your great sacrifice, help me daily to share You by living the good news!
“Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea; day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying ‘Christian, follow me.’” (Author: Cecil Frances Alexander (1852); Tune: GALILEE (Jude)).