Grateful

Christmas is now several days away as I write this, and it is a time to be grateful. 

Grateful for the gift of God’s Son. 

Grateful for the gift of eternal life.

That’s what I think as I read this passage. 

God commanded the people that when they brought their firstfruits before God, they were to recall all that God had done for Israel. 

They were to remember how he had called Abraham and made him into a great nation

And they were to recall how he then delivered their nation out of slavery in Egypt, bringing them into this land flowing with milk and honey. 

With that in mind, then, they were to place their firstfruits before God and bow down before him, rejoicing with everyone around them in God’s goodness.

That should be our attitude as well. 

We should take the time to show our gratefulness to God for all he has done, and not just at Christmas, but all year round.

Gratefulness for choosing us. 

Gratefulness for sending Jesus to come and die for us. 

Gratefulness for the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. 

And gratefulness for the hope that we have some day.

There’s an old worship song that I love.  We never sing it anymore, and it’s not technically a Christmas song, but it’s what Christmas is all about.

You did not wait for me to draw near to you,
But you clothed yourself in frail humanity.

You did not  wait for me to cry out to you.
But you let me hear your voice calling me.

And I’m forever grateful to you.
I’m forever grateful for the cross.

I’m forever grateful to you.
That you came to seek and save the lost. — Martin J. Nystrom