Have you ever been out and someone you didn’t know walked up to you and said, “You’re a Christian, aren’t you?” How do they know? What is it that they see in you that tells them that you are a believer? I think that Philippians 1:3-11 gives us some clues. There are at least 8 marks that people hopefully see in believers that show them that you are a believer. As you read over the next several blogs, see if you have these marks in your Christian walk.
1. A Thankful Heart (V.3)
Paul did not stand alone in the world. He was not the only person living for God and sharing Christ. He belonged to a great family, a family of believers who constituted the family of God. They, too, were living for God and sharing Christ with a lost and needful world. Remember that Paul was in prison in Rome and that he was a great distance from the Philippian believers. He did not have their presence; all he had was the memory of their time together. And sitting there in prison, remembering their love and care and support, his heart swelled up with thanksgiving for them, and he thanked God for them.
How often do we thank God for each other? Why is it so difficult to give thanks during unpleasant circumstances? How can you prepare your heart ahead of time to be thankful? Who is the most thankful person that you know? What makes them so thankful? Are you thankful for: salvation? family? friends? church? When was the last time you thanked God for each of these? Let me suggest to you that you start a list of things you are thankful for and add to it daily. You will quickly tip the scale in favor of blessings! You will also start to see your attitude change.
Come back in a couple of days for mark number 2. Take the next few days to start your list and see how the Lord blesses you as you show a Thankful heart. Until then have a blessed day.
Pastor Rob
