Take Courage

An Attitude of Gratitude

One of my favorite studies over the years is the Names of God. I have a number of different books by various authors on this subject. I have a couple of favorites that I have read a number of times. There is one that I picked up in the early 1980’s that I used to read once a year just to keep reminding myself of who GOD says HE is. But that is not the focus of this post.

Because of who Jehovah, the triune GOD says HE is, there are certain things we can know. We can know if we have assurance of salvation. You see, a person is either saved or unsaved. A person is either in Christ or not in Christ. A person’s name is either written in the Lamb’s Book of Life or it is not written there. There is only one way to know this truth and it is by repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).

If we have come to God in humble repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we should be glad. We should have the joy of salvation. We have become adopted into God’s family. We have been placed in Christ. We can have assurance of eternal salvation. We have become a part of His Kingdom. Because of those truths we also have a responsibility to have an attitude of gratitude.

(28)Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, (29)for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28-29 English Standard Version)

Think about these things today. Are you grateful for what you have received and not earned? Are you offering up acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, to God? If not, why not? What needs to change? If you are, please continue to do so, because He is worthy!

Begin to prepare yourself to attend and serve at your local church this Sunday. Don’t be a spectator, be a participant. Part of acceptable worship is service. Think about these things.

Stay faithful and hopeful,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13, 12:1-2

P. S. – here is a ministry and websites I encourage you to check out: www.igniteUS.net and www.thetextsays.blogspot.com. I have found them both encouraging and challenging.