Being Thankful

Being Thankful

Dear Champions,
 
The short excerpt is by Appalachian State FCA campus minister Jim Musser, and the Scripture is Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

If you listen to people, being thankful is not a very common attitude. They complain about their classes, their jobs, their practice schedules, their parents (or kids), their friends, the weather, their teammates, and on and on it goes. In the world, it is easy to complain because everybody does it. Yet, as followers of Jesus, we are called to be thankful. That is no easy task when everyone around us is doing the opposite, so it is just easier to fall in with them and do the same thing.

So how do we change, and how do we stand apart from the crowd? The answer I think is found in Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… As we get to know Jesus better, He begins to change us from the inside out. It will likely begin with an uneasiness when you complain, and what used to be so natural begins to feel inappropriate. Complaints that once flowed so easily off your tongue become more uncomfortable to share; and at the same time, expressions of thankfulness begin to increase.

Ezra Taft Benson says the following:  The Lord works from the inside out, but the world works from the outside in.  The world would take people out of the slums; but Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums.  The world would mold men by changing their environment, but Christ changes men, who then change their environment.  The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining