Grace for the Race

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

If you are a regular reader here, you know that we are in the midst of a Christmas season study on the four names of the Cosmic Christ Child, all of which were given by the inspired pen of the prophet Isaiah. The four names bestowed by the prophet help to identify Jesus Christ’s rule, His reign, and the scope of His kingdom. This week we will focus on the prophet’s third title, which finds its fulfillment in our Lord Jesus Christ: Everlasting Father. As we did with “Wonderful Counselor” and “Mighty God,” we will focus on the first half of the name on Monday, the second half of the name on Wednesday, and both combined to close out the week on Friday.

Everlasting is a title that is every bit as unique to this child born, this son given, as was the name “Mighty God,” which we looked into last week. Only in the mind of God can the name “Everlasting” be true. To possess the name Everlasting is to embody a profound truth, which is known as the preexistence of God.

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God (Psalm 90:2).

Before the creation there was the Creator – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three separate persons with one eternal essence. As the second person of the Trinity, the Son is the preexistent Everlasting Father, who was, and is, and is to come. Jesus clearly asserted this truth in an exhange with the Jewish religious leaders, who had been challenging His message and His ministry.

Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:54-58)

The religious leaders, who knew the Scriptures quite well, understood exactly what Jesus was saying when He brought them back to the encounter between Moses and God at the burning bush. When Moses asked God for His name, God said, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Now Jesus was claiming that name for Himself, which meant that He was claiming equality with God. We know that the Jewish religious leaders rightly interpreted what our Lord meant when He said, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” because “At this, they picked up stones to stone him” (John 8:59). They knew full well what Jesus was saying, but they flatly refused to accept it. 

Here is one final point of proof that Jesus is Everlasting. When we read Jesus saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 1:8), we are to understand this as a statement of His everlasting nature. The first letter of the Greek alphabet is Alpha, and the last letter of the Greek alphabet is Omega; Jesus used these bookends to symbolize the truth that He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the Everlasting God of the past, the present, and our promised future.

Have you accepted His promise? “I am the resurrection and the life,” He tells us. “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26). Have you accepted this truth, by grace through faith? If so, then He is your Everlasting Father also!

On Wednesday, we will take a look at the word “Father,” the second part of this third name.  

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Today we will take one last look at the second name given by the prophet Isaiah to Jesus Christ, this child who was born for us, this son who was given to us.

Mighty God – We have barely scratched the surface of the Scriptures to see how Jesus is our Mighty God. He walked on water, turned water into wine, cast out demons, cured lepers, gave sight to the blind, made the lame walk, and brought the dead back to life. He calmed the wind and waves of a ferocious storm with a word, and He multiplied five loaves and two small fish into a bountiful meal for a crowd that may have been as large as 15,000 people.

Jesus created the world; He bore the sins of the world in His body nailed to a cross; and on the third day after His burial He walked out of His grave alive and well. In His humanity He took upon Himself death, which is the wages of sin, and in His divinity He conquered the grave and destroyed the last enemy: death itself. Nothing was impossible for our Mighty God, who left His glory in heaven to take on flesh and dwell among us.

But that’s not all! That same power of our Mighty God is available to all those who believe in Him. The apostle Paul wrote —

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms . . . (Ephesians 1:18-20)

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:9-12)

Are you living out your life in the power of your Mighty God? If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, always keep in view that the Holy Spirit–the power that raised Jesus from the dead–is the same power that is dewelling within you. Have you not experienced the forgiveness of more sins than you can number? Have you not experienced insurmountable temptations that you have overcome? Have you not experienced virtues that were once beyond your imagination rising forth from deep within you?

Why is that? Why is this your experience? It is because of this Mighty God, who loved you enough to die for you, and who is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession for you moment by moment.

You have an equal share in the inheritance of all the saints of God. Within you is the power to say “YES” to what you must say “Yes” to and “NO” to what you must say “No” to. But also remember that, inasmuch as this power within you is perfect, you will not be perfect until you cross the Jordan and enter into your eternal rest. Everything you do you will do imperfectly, but fear not, Christian, you have a Mighty God who loves you unconditionally and forgives you completely.

I hope you’ll be back next week to look at the third name Isaiah gave to Jesus: Everlasting Father.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

We are continuing our examination of the four names of the Cosmic Christ Child, all of which were given from the inspired pen of the prophet Isaiah. Our focus this week is on the appellation “Mighty God.” On Monday we looked at the first half of His title–“Mighty.” Today we will briefly unpack the second half . . . God.

We need look no further than the ministry of our Lord Jesus, in both His message and His miracles, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus truly is the fulfillment of the second part of the title “Mighty God.” We already saw several reasons to accept this truth when we looked at how Jesus fulfilled the title of Mighty, but there is even more proof that He was indeed God.

Jesus forgave sins – Before Jesus healed a paralyzed man, He first forgave his sins. The religious leaders who were present were outraged; they considred this blasephemy, because they knew that only God can forgive sins. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus uttered these profound words:

“Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . .” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:9-12)

Jesus received worship – Receiving worship would be just as blasphemous as pronouncing forgiveness for sins . . . IF Jesus was not God. When Jesus appeared to the disciples one week after His resurrection, He showed Thomas the wounds on His hands, His feet, and in His side. Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Jesus did not correct Thomas, just as He had not rebuked Peter when he stated, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16). No, Jesus blessed Peter and told him that this knowledge had come as a gift from God the Father.

Jesus made several claims to be God – When speaking to the religious leaders at the temple, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus told Philip that “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Time and time again, Jesus claimed equality with God His Father; the religious leaders knew it, and they sought all the more to kill Him, especially when Jesus said, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). In saying He existed before Abraham, Jesus was identifying His divinity, and when He said “I am,” Jesus was applying to Himself God’s holy name that He had shared with Moses at the burning bush. The religious leaders were completely tipped over by this, and they immediately picked up stones to stone Him (John 8:59).

Both the words and the works of Jesus make it crystal clear that He was God incarnate – the eternal, self-existent, unchanging God of the universe. On Friday we will look at both parts of this name together.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

As we move through the weeks leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Savior, we will continue to examine the four names of the Cosmic Christ Child, all of which were given by the inspired pen of the prophet Isaiah. As I said last week, when a king was crowned in Isaiah’s time, the king would be given names or titles that would identify his rule, his reign, and the scope of his kingdom. The same was true in the four names given to this Child who was born to us and this son that was given to us.

This week we will focus on the prophet’s second title that finds its fulfillment in our Lord Jesus Christ: “Mighty God.” As we did with “Wonderful Counselor” last week, we will look at the first half of the name today, explore the second half of the name on Wednesday, and bring them both back together to close out the week on Friday.

Mighty is the Hebrew word gibbor, which means “power and strength.” Our English word omnipotent (absolute in power) expresses this attribute perfectly, and it can be rightly applied only to our Triune God.

It is interesting to note that the word gibbor can also mean “hero.” It is God Himself who is the hero of every biblical story. Only God is almighty (omnipotent), and this title finds its fulfillment in our Lord Jesus Christ in His mightiest act of all: rising from the dead. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to two downcast disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus, and He asked them what they are discussing. The two men did not recognize the risen Savior, and they were surprised by the question. They replied —

“Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, mighty in word and deed before God and all the people.” (Luke 24:18-19).

Those who had eyes to see recognized the supernatural power of His might. By the power of His Word, all things came into existence (Colossians 1:16). Jesus demonstrated the power of His being over nature, over disease, over demons, over sin, and even over death. Peter preached this truth in his sermon at Pentecost.

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:22)

Here is something to remember, the God who parted the waters of the Red Sea is the same God who walked on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. The God who spoke all life into existence is the same God who speaks the Word of truth and life into your heart. To be sure, mighty in word and deed is one thing, but mighty when it comes to you and me, uniquely and personally, is another thing altogether! If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are a receipient of that power.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-29)

Jesus is mighty to save . . . mighty to sanctify . . . and mighty to keep us secure in our salvation. May that truth set us free to be all God is calling us to be. On Wednesday, we will take a look at the word “God,” the second half of Isaiah’s second appellation for this Child born on Christmas Day.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Today we will conclude this week’s study of the first name given by the prophet Isaiah to this child who would be born, this son who was given to us on the first Christmas Day. If you’ve been following this “Cosmic Christ Child” series, you know that we looked at the first word in the appellation “Wonderful Counseler” on Monday; on Wednesday we studied the second word; today were are going to put them back together and take in the full effect of the name Wonderful Counselor.

The apostle John opened his gospel with one of the most profound statements in all of sacred Scripture about this Wonderful Counselor:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)

One cannot help but hear the echo from the opening words of the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Jesus was with God from all eternity; He is the living Word of God, the source of God’s creation, and the living expression of God’s communication with and love for the world. Jesus Christ is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3).

We don’t know much about the early years of our Wonderful Counselor after His birth in the manger, but there is one event that sheds great light on why this title applies to Jesus Christ. When Jesus was twelve, his family went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, as was their custom. The following week, Jesus stayed behind after his family had departed for their home in Nazareth. When Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was not with their party, they returned to Jerusalem and found him in the Temple engaged in conversation with the religious leaders.

They found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:46-47)

Here we see Jesus at the age of twelve amazing everyone who heard Him as He engaged in conversation with the wisest and most learned men in Israel. Their amazement was not rooted so much in His age, but rather in the depth of His wisdom. When He began His three years of ministry some 19 years later, the people could see and hear the distinct difference between our Wonderful Counselor and the religious leaders of that day:

The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. (Mark 1:22)

It was a common practice for the religious leaders to quote well-known rabbis to add authority to their words. This was not, however, the practice of Jesus Christ. He was the Word of God incarnate, and when He opened His mouth to speak and teach and heal, the listener knew it was Jesus who had true authority. Jesus rebuked evil spirits (Luke 6:35), taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and to forgive others as we have been forgiven (Matthew 18:32). He showed compassion to sinners and castigated the self-righteous.

At a time when many disciples were deserting Him, Jesus asked Peter if he wanted to go away also; Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69). Truly, Jesus was the Wondlerful Counselor, who offerred words of life that no one else had uttered!

Before we move on to Isaiah’s next title for Jesus, I’d like you to think about this: Is it not a wonder to you that Jesus knows everything about you – every thought, every word, every deed, and every desire – and yet He still loves you and wants to be in relationship with you? “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” He assures us; “I have drawn you with loving-kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3). To be fully known and yet eternally loved by the One who is Truth is a the most wonderful and remarkable thing of all! May your heart be lifted up with joy on December 25 as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race.NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

During the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, I am going to share some thoughts about the four names of the Cosmic Christ Child, all of which are rooted in these words from the pen of the prophet Isaiah. Throughout this week, we will examine the name “Wonderful Counselor.” On Monday we dug into the meaning of the first word, “Wonderful,” and today we will unpack the second word: Counselor.

In the ancient world, one of the duties of a king was to deliver counsel to the people of his kingdom, helping them to navigate their lives and to live as happy, productive citizens. When you think of a king as a “counselor,” your thoughts might immediately go to the wisest man in the world in Isaiah’s day: King Solomon, who had given wise and godly counsel to his people. As the nation of Israel became increasingly apostate, the prophet Micah emphasized this truth of a king as counselor when he warned Judah of coming judgment: “Why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished?” (Micha 4:9 ESV).  

The answer to Micah’s query is that the true Counselor had not yet arrived on the scene. On the Mount of Transfiguration, the voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5). Jesus was the promised Counselor whom God had promised through Isaiah. Here is how the author of the letter to the Hebrews described Him:

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

God spoke to Adam, Abraham, and Moses personally. He spoke to Jacob in a dream. He spoke to Isaiah in visions. But when the appointed time had fully come (Galatians 4:4), God spoke to the world through His Son, our Wonderful Counselor. The inspired gospel accounts are filled with compelling accounts of Jesus as the Counselor, from His patient instruction of the religious leader Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night (John 3), to His gracious invitation to the broken and shunned Samaritan woman who was trying to avoid contact with other people by coming to Jacob’s well at noon (John 4). Jesus always knew just the right words to say because He is omniscient (all-knowing). His disciples recognized this truth, saying to Him, “Now we know that you know all things” (John 16:30).   

Jesus our Counselor knows our thoughts, hears our cries, and speaks perfectly into every situation we face. Paul described Christ as the One “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Paul was not saying that this wisdom and knowledge is “hidden” from us, but rather that all wisdom and knowledge are contained in Him and are now available for us to access and to guide us throughout every aspect and season of life.

On Friday, we will return one more time to the title “Wonderful Counselor” to see how both these names fit perfectly together.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race.NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

For the next four weeks leading up to Christmas, I would like to share a few thoughts about the four names of the Cosmic Christ Child, all of which are rooted in these words from the pen of the prophet Isaiah:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Let’s begin with a brief word about the context of this passage. In the ancient world, when a king was crowned, he would be given names or titles that would identify his rule and his reign and the reach of his kingdom. The same was true of the four names bestowed upon this child that was born and this son that was given to us. This week we will focus on the meaning of “Wonderful Counselor,” the first name for our Lord Jesus Christ. We will look at the first half of the name on Monday, the second half of the name on Wednesday, and both combined to close out the week on Friday.

Wonderful is a word we are all quite familiar with, especially at Christmas time. It is part of the title of a Christmas movie beloved by millions: It’s A Wonderful Life. I’m sure we will all hear “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” played on the radio and in department stores throughout the Christmas season.

However, if we are to fully grasp the meaning of this word Wonderful in the context in which it is used in sacred Scripture, we must divorce ourselves from the way we typically use it. To say something is a “wonder” or is “wonderful” is to talk about how it makes us feel and the emotions we experience. But in the biblical context, it would be better for us to see wonderful as something holy, transcendant, and utterly outside our experience. If I were to use one word as a synonym, it would be supernatural. When the psalmist Asaph was inspired to write about the “wonders God did in the land of Egypt” (Psalm 78:11), he was pointing to the supernatural and miraculous power that God put on display before the watching world.

David marveled that “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:6). Clearly, he meant that God’s power and grace are wonderful, magnificent, and awe-inspiring, far above and beyond our ability to fully comprehend.

So when we read the words of Isaiah, we see that “Wonderful” is something supernatural. This means that Jesus is not only wonderful in what He does, but in who He is. Jesus is wonderful. On Wednesday we will take a look at the second part of the name given to Him: Counselor.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race.NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

The verse before us today is a powerful word from God about the importance of being a builder. As you can see, being a builder is another word for being an encourager. There are only two things we can do in the lives of others: we can either build them up or break them down. Which of these actions best describes you?

Let’s first be clear on what biblical encouragement is not. Biblical encouragement is not some cheery, emotional pick-me-up, delivered with timeworn statements like, “Things could be worse!” or “Hang in there!” or “This too shall pass!” There is a long list of such empty phrases, and they bring little or no measure of encouragement to the listener. What true, biblical encouragement is has been clearly defined on the pages of Scripture. Here is perhaps the most encouraging statement uttered by our Savior, words that have been a powerful source of eternal encouragement to all those I have shared them with during my years as a pastor:

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Jesus was preparing to go back to His Father in heaven when He uttered this empowering, comforting statement. “I am with you always!” Pause for just a moment and let that truth sink in. Jesus is with you when things are going well and also when things are going wrong. Jesus is with you when the sky is blue and the clouds are fleecy and also when the sky is gray and storms winds are blowing.

Christian, no matter what you are going through, you are not going through it alone. Jesus has promised to be with you every step of the way. If you remember the poem “Footprints,” whenever you see only one set of footprints on the path you have been traveling, you can be sure that that was the time when Jesus was carrying you. No matter where this message finds you, it finds you with Jesus by your side. There is no place you can go and there is nothing you can do to cause Jesus to walk away from you.

So . . . how encouraged are you to know that you are always in the presence of your Savior? Think about it this way: When you love someone, you want to be in their presence, and you will do whatever it takes to be with them. Well, the same is true of Jesus. He loves you so much that He did whatever it took to be with you forever – He died on a cross so that you could be with Him for all eternity, simply by trusting in Him alone for salvation.

As we close out our time together today, may these words from Jesus remind you that to be a builder in the lives of others, you need only bring them into the presence of Jesus:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1)

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, and, as I said in my previous post, it comes to us in the midst of an unprecedented year that has forced us to deal with the COVID pandemic for the past nine months. So many things are different this year! Even the Macy’s Day Parade, which began in 1924 with massive crowds of people lining the 2.5-mile route in New York City, will be “virtual” this year, to be experienced as a TV-only celebration from the “safety” and comfort of home.

To be sure, these are strange and stressful times that have brought forth many challenges. Yet through it all, we must remember that our God remains upon His throne and is in complete control of everything . . . even those things that look like they are completely out of control.

And so, before we come to tomorrow, I want to encourage you to be truly thankful for a year that has been unlike any year we have ever experienced. My goal is to help us all remember that “Thanksgiving” is not simply a day of remembering God’s many blessings; rather, it is a discipline to be developed and lived each day of the year. Perhaps no one has said it better than the Dutch Catholic priest and professor, Dr. Henri Nouwen:

In the past I always thought of gratitude or thanksgiving as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can and should also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude or thanksgiving is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and all I have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.

I think the challenge for most of us is that we believe we fully understand what giving thanks is all about: it is a feeling that we express when we are blessed by some good in life. Most of us have become so familiar with various “attitude of gratitude” sayings that we have never elevated thanksgiving to the level of a spiritual discipline, such as Bible-reading, prayer, or fasting, to name just a few. However, I submit to you that thanksgiving certainly is a spiritual discipline, one requiring our consistent, disciplined approach to cultivate and communicate it 365 days each year.  

Let me encourage you to take a few moments this Thanksgiving weekend to consider all that God has done for you throughout this strange and difficult year. Remember that everything happens for His glory and for our ultimate good, even those things that don’t feel “good” at the present time. Consider how God has been glorified through your life this year and what good He has given to you.

A great technique for making this a discipline is to write out each blessing. Take some time to consider the top ten blessings you have received as a gift of love from the hand of your Lord and write them down. Encourage your family members to join in with their own list. We have been doing this as a family for more than twenty years, and we make it a point to go back over our lists from time to time to help us remember all that God has done in our lives and to strengthen our discipline of thanksgiving.

In closing, here are three results you can expect from making thanksgiving a consistent spiritual discipline in your life:

• It shifts your focus away from yourself and on to God and others.
• It shifts your focus away from the busyness of life to the blessings of life.
• It shifts your focus away from the negative, which can overwhelm us, to the positive.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

From the Boland family to yours: We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!

“I will bless you . . . and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)

This week is we will observe the annual celebration of Thanksgiving Day. This year may feel different from past years; we’ve all endured nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic . . . nine months which have felt like nine years at times. And yet despite all the change and unrest we’ve experienced in 2020, one thing will always remain the same: Thanksgiving is a time not only to pause and count our blessings; it is also a time to pause to make sure our blessings count. Read on and be encouraged today!

To count our blessings is simply to consider the goodness of our God, who gives generously to all His children. From Genesis to Revelation, we see that it is God’s desire to bless, and bless He does. He blesses us with life. He blesses us with liberty. He blesses us with love. And He blesses us with a longing that can only be fully satisfied when we fulfill it through an intimate, personal relationship with Him. It is God’s nature to bless – not because we deserve it or have earned it, but because He is our gracious and loving heavenly Father.

There was, of all things, a “Dennis the Menace” cartoon that painted this picture far better than I can articulate it. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were next door neighbors to Dennis. One day Dennis and his friend Joey were shown walking out of the Wilson home with as many cookies as they could carry in each hand. Joey wondered what they had done to deserve this cookie blessing, to which Dennis replied “Joey, Mrs. Wilson doesn’t give us cookies because we’re good. We get cookies because Mrs. Wilson is good.” That’s the way it is with our God. He is a good and kind and faithful Father, and He desires to bless His children beyond all that we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

But what about the second part of Thanksgiving – making our blessings count? This means that we are blessed to be a blessing to others. We are to live our blessed lives as conduits, not cul-de-sacs. Using the example from Dennis the Menace, if we have been given a fistful of “cookie blessings” from God, we are to promptly share some of them with others.

So, as you move into this Thanksgiving week, I hope you will take a moment to consider just how blessed you truly are. Then prayerfully consider how you can make your blessings count as your put your blessings into circulation for the glory of God and the good of others.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!