If you’re not careful, when you go to a foreign country you’ll tend to give the most thanks for things that may not be very important in the Kingdom of God. “I thank you, Lord, that my country is not like this one! We have so much more and are so much smarter! Thank you that our food does not taste like this food! Thank you for dishwashers and televisions! Thank you that we all have cars and that our streets aren’t so crowded! Thank you that public restrooms are so much more pleasant in our land! Thank you, Lord, that I don’t live here!”
An even worse thanksgiving was described by Jesus in a parable:
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said,’God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
God sees perfectly! And on that day when we all see clearly, we may find everything upside down. The places in the world where the Kingdom is advancing most are those places where we would probably not want to live. Some of the children of God with the strongest faith would be pitied by most in our land. Just as the poor widow Jesus pointed out in the temple, some of the ones who are most generous would not even be noticed by those who give out of their wealth.
It is right to give thanks for country and heritage and food, but as we celebrate this week, let’s humbly remember our greatest blessing: A Father loved the world so much He gave His precious Son, so those who realized they were lost and needed mercy could put all their hope in Him and become children of God. Our King wants to eat with us! 🙂
“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22