Hebrews 12:28

NASB	NLT	VOICE
28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;	28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.	28 Therefore, let us all be thankful that we are a part of an unshakable Kingdom and offer to God worship that pleases Him and reflects the awe and reverence we have toward Him,

The Strong Foundation of Gratitude

The unshakable kingdom refers to the eternal reign of God. The concept of this resonated with the original audience, especially with those who faced persecution. Since we receive this unshakable kingdom, we need to respond with gratitude. Christians are called to give thanks in all circumstances. It’s not an emotional response, but it’s a recognition of God’s grace and mercy that we receive through Jesus. Through our gratitude, we worship responsibly. What does that mean? We worship with sincerity, truth, and alignment with God’s will. Specifically, we worship with reverence and awe. Doing this reminds us of how great God is and what our response to God should be.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: Listen to “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake. How does the message of gratitude show to you?

In a world full of uncertainty, Christians can find peace and assurance in the stability of God’s Kingdom. It’s about the stability of the church, but the stability of the Church. We need to remember that we are a walking church, a place where people should be able to find comfort, refuge, wisdom, and more all in the name of God through the Holy Spirit. Now, that goodness multiplies when multiple people can gather to talk about God, celebrate life, and all that – but it starts with us. As each day marches us, the stability and certainty of what’s going on in the world seems further away. We just went through the halt of the SNAP benefits because of the shutdown, something no one would have expected in January. As the shutdown loomed on, and the deadline to get things going approached – things seemed bleak. Peoples’ lives would be put in jeopardy. How would we respond? I heard and saw stories of people reaching out to neighbors to ensure they had food. Different churches and organizations stepping up to host food drives and food pantries. People working to support those organizations at the same time. We saw that we have the ability to trust in the provision of God and come together to care for each other in the same way we know God cares for us. There is stability that way, and that stability grows the more we teach, encourage, and motivate others to embrace their role in God’s Kingdom. When we look past tomorrow and begin to think about an eternal perspective: “Are my actions today an improvement from my past, and leaving the world a better place for the future?” We need to look over our past, see where we got things wrong. Work to improve ourselves, even when it hurts. We need to recognize where we are currently and see how that aligns with where God wants us. We need to prepare ourselves to help the next generation, seeing what we are supporting and where we can pitch in. The more this happens, I believe the world will start to become more like the Kingdom of God brought down to earth.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: Think about your priorities, goals, and desires. What is one thing that you can shift from a current perspective to an eternal perspective?

PRAY Action

Praise God for everything He has done, is doing, and will do for us. Share your gratitude with Him because He loves to hear from you.

Read Psalm 145:13

Ask God to strength your faith. Ask Him how we can learn from His eternal word that has lasted generations and apply it to our world today.

You were made for such a time like this. Good or bad. Right or wrong. You are present in this world, ready to make a difference to all you meet.

Next slice of manna: Teaching and Admonishing || Colossians 3:16 || Manna for the Mind #305