Welcome to “Going Deeper with the Word.” In this segment, we welcome people of all backgrounds, religious or not, to review the Word of God. The Word of God provides guidance, direction, and instructions for living our lives and walking with God.
Today, we examine how God’s Word provides clear guidance and direction about living with gratitude and trust in our lives.
Let’s review examples of God’s Word that can lead and guide our steps and back up the principles we learned in today’s message. I will read scripture today from the Amplified Bible.
If you are watching this message online, we invite you to share your comments as we review each verse.
Here is our first verse.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.
2 Timothy Ephesians 4:31-32
In this verse, the apostle Paul explains the importance of putting away wrath, anger and clamour when we have been wronged.
The world teaches us to handle wrongdoing by responding in vengeance. God teaches us to forgive. This is not always easy. Obviously, there are many levels of wrongdoing and we have laws in place to bring consequences to those who have broken the law. What I am referring to here is the type of wrongdoing that may occur with us on a day-to-day basis. Getting cut-off on your commute to work in busy traffic Someone accidentally spilling their coffee on your shirt on a crowded subway. While one of these is intentional and one is accidental, both should be met with forgiveness.
When there has been wrongdoing, give the circumstances to God. He will handle it. We do not need to take matters into our own hands. Resist the urge to have animosity and strife in your response to wrongdoing. Instead, as Paul mentioned, let us aim to forgive one another because God in Christ has also forgiven us!
Question: Can you think of a situation in your life where you have been wronged in some way and you have -not- forgiven the individual(s) involved? If yes, reflect on the reason you will not forgive. Will you give this situation to God and ask Him to help you with forgiveness? Let us know in the comments.
Let’s have a look at another verse.
In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:35
In this verse, we see mention of the fact that it is more blessed to give than to receive. In fact, we even see emphasis on the fact that giving also has the benefit of bringing joy.
One of the most powerful ways we can give is to give ourselves to God and ask Him to use us to do His work upon the earth. It does not matter if we are living a life of great abundance or living a life where we get by from paycheck to paycheck; God can work with any situation.
I encourage everyone to practice giving, not only to help others in need, but to introduce an opportunity for joy as well.
Question: Is there a cause or even an individual that you would -like- to give, but you are not sure what? Will you ask God to show you what and how to give today? Let us know in the comments.
Let’s look at one last verse.
For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for His name in ministering to [the needs of] the saints (God’s people), as you do.
Hebrews 6:10
I chose this verse to highlight the fact that when we choose to give or serve others in need, God is aware of our actions. We should not give or serve for the purpose of being seen, we should give or service for serving God.
God sees all our actions, including actions where we practice selflessness, charity, and kindness. As the scripture mentions, we need only remember that God will not forget our deeds. Let us give and serve for no other reason than to give of ourselves to others and show our gratitude to God.
Question: Can you recall a time where you gave to someone in need or performed an act of kindness for the purpose of being recognized? Describe the situation. What was the outcome of the act for the individual you helped and the individual who recognized your act? Let us know in the comments.
Our lives can be busy and distracting, but there should never be a time when we are so caught up in our lives that we forget to give God the gratitude and trust He deserves.
Making gratitude and trust part of your daily life is a way to keep yourself grounded and close to God in every situation – both in good times and bad.
Keep God close in every season of life. Keep God in your sight in whatever you do. Give Him praise for the ways He has ensured you have everything you need. Serve Him, knowing that as you serve Him, He will direct you to the lives of others to give of your gifts.
If you haven’t already, express your gratitude to God today!
Thank you for your time in reviewing these verses with me today. Please be sure to share in the comments how these or other examples of God’s Word have helped you live a life of trust and gratitude.
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Have an amazing week, and we will catch you next time.
Bless you.
