The Christian Grace of Thankfulness (Colossians 3:15)...Continued from page 2

Any such inventory of God's goodness will certainly include the common blessings of life most of us are privileged to enjoy: health and home, family and friends, food and clothing, work and play, laughter and happiness, and all the wonder and beauty of nature that God has created for our pleasure.

As citizens of this great land, we should remember how highly favored we are. While not all of us are rich and some--an alarmingly increasing number--are poor, we know nothing of the appalling poverty, hunger, and disease that are a triple scourge to millions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Every minute 24 people, mostly children, starve to death or die of extreme malnutrition. By the time this service is over, 1500 of our fellow human beings will have died since we gathered here just because they didn't have enough food to keep them alive and well. Each and every day, 35,000 men, women and children--13 million a year--vanish from our planet, devoured by the dragon of hunger.

We Americans enjoy an affluence never matched by any other nation or generation in history. Our material resources are incalculable. Our forbears have bequeathed to us an unsurpassed heritage of political and religious freedom. Educational benefits and opportunities for cultural enrichment are available to almost everyone. In this century of unprecedented global warfare, we have been spared the horrors of devastation. Our national blessings are the envy of the whole world.

Beyond these and a host of other things, each of us has his own special reasons to give thanks. But as Christians we should be grateful most of all for God's gift of salvation in Jesus Christ and the wealth of spiritual benefits that are ours.

Paul was a master of the art of language. Whether he was preaching a sermon, developing a theological argument, debating with opponents of the gospel, rebuking men for their sins, settling disputes among Christians, appealing for mercy on behalf of a runaway slave, or defending himself against bitter accusers before a Roman tribunal, he was never at a loss for words. But when he reflected on the meaning of Jesus Christ and all he owed to Him, Paul found human language hopelessly bankrupt, and could only exclaim, "Thanks be to God for His gift beyond words" (2 Cor. 9:15).

If by faith we know Jesus Christ as our Saviour, then we have forgiveness of all our sins through His blood. In Him we are reconciled to God and may come boldly to His throne of grace and power. We are heirs of His kingdom. He is our Father and we are His children. He is with us always, and will provide for all our needs, will protect us, and guide us through all our earthly journey, and at last will welcome us to glory in His presence forever.

Whatever else we may or may not have, with blessings like these, our life, indeed, should be one unbroken hymn of thanks.

"Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who, like me, His praise should sing?"