Can being thankful for God’s love change you?
What lies do we tell ourselves regarding our choices and the changes we need to make?
And how often do we choose to ignore one of the most important facts in God’s Word: we’ve been set free from sin’s dominion?
This is, indeed, a fact. If we’ve trusted Christ as our Lord and Savior, sin has no power to control us.
Romans 8:2 states, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (ESV). Why doesn’t our life reflect this?
God sent His own Son to die for us so we can be free from Satan’s control.
If you’re having a difficult time coming up with things to jot down on your “things I’m grateful for” list, consider adding “God’s love” at the top. Can you comprehend a more loving act than a perfectly holy God sending His own Son to be a sin offering for you and me? (verse 3). What have we done to deserve this kind of love?
Absolutely nothing.
Knowing this makes me want to thank God for His sacrifice (and grab hold of every bit of its meaning) more than ever.
Imagine holding to the truth of the book of Romans so tightly that all our choices reflected its truths and commands. What if the book of Romans became real to us? What if during this Thanksgiving season, we did all we could to understand and appreciate God’s sacrifice? By wholly committing to this quest, I’m convinced we could overcome the sinful behaviors we’ve struggled with for years.
This week, I’m asking God to teach me how to live His precepts throughout my day, especially in my relationships. Would you like God to teach you, too? To change you to be more like Him?
God’s Word is true. Jesus died to set us free from the law of sin and death. Ask God to give you a greater understanding of what this means for you. Then act on it.
Picture what this would mean if each of us resolved to honestly thank God for His love. If we fully appreciated His Son’s death and resurrection. How would it change our marriages? Our churches? Even our nation?
I don’t fully understand what Jesus’ death and resurrection have provided for me, but I’m determined to learn. And as I learn, I will thank Him over and over again for His profound and generous love.
Sheryl H. Boldt, a Franklin County resident, is the author of the blog, www.TodayCanBeDifferent.net. Connect with her at SherylHBoldt@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on The Star: Can being thankful for God’s love change you?
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.