28 Days of Gratitude: Day 24
Scripture of the Day: “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’” (Luke 12:13 ESV)
These are the words of a random, unnamed stranger in Scripture who interrupted a conversation Jesus was having with His disciples to complain about a dispute with a family member.
On this particular day, Luke 12:1 tells us that a massive crowd of many thousands had gathered. There were so many people, they were trampling each other, but Jesus’ focus was on His disciples.
While Jesus was imparting wisdom, the disgruntled man’s rude and ill-timed interruption did not go over well. The complainer did not draw the response he was looking for from Jesus. In short, Jesus told him He wasn’t going to take on his case. Instead, Christ offered the man an impromptu lesson about not being greedy for possessions (vs. 14-21).
Right before the disruption, Jesus was discussing important spiritual matters with His disciples, and what He was teaching them was far more important than a dispute over an inheritance. Even so, had the man not complained about that family disagreement, he would not have learned from Jesus that being “rich toward God” is greater than being rich in earthly possessions. So then, his family drama was a blessing in disguise because it made him desperate enough to get Jesus’ attention. Ultimately, the man got what he needed, although it wasn’t what he wanted.
Think about your life. Are there some struggles that made you desperate enough to press your way to Jesus? Have you ever pursued Him to get what you wanted but came away with what you needed instead?
Friend, God can use disputes, challenges, and uncomfortable situations to improve us. This is why we should give thanks for our struggles instead of always complaining about them.
AFFLICTION IS GOOD
Psalm 119:71 says, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” We would never learn, grow, or evolve without affliction, pain, and trouble.
Over the past few years, I have experienced a lot of affliction and pain. There were many days and nights that I cried out for deliverance, but God did not change my situation right away. While I was in a low, dark place, I learned new things about God, and I also discovered a level of strength, faith, and perseverance I never knew I had. My afflictions were good for me; I learned so much from them.
You are learning too.
While deliverance, breakthrough, healing, and miraculous turnarounds are awesome—and God loves to manifest those things in our lives—the hard stuff is necessary for our spiritual development and maturity.
As God develops you, teaches you, and conforms you into the image of Christ, there will certainly be dark times, just as there were for Jesus. Hebrews 5:8 says, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.”
Of course, we know Jesus was always obedient to the Father, but His obedience was untested before He came to earth and suffered as a man. If the Son of God had to learn through suffering, we are not exempt. Again, suffering is what conforms us into the image of Christ, so praise God that whatever you’re going through is making you more like Jesus!
2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV tells us: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
BE GRATEFUL FOR SPIRITUAL RICHES
When Jesus addressed the random stranger who is featured in our key verse today, He used the parable of the rich fool. Jesus said, the rich man had an abundant harvest, and he spent all his time and energy trying to maintain his wealth and secure a life of ease. But when he died, he left all that wealth behind, and he was spiritually bankrupt.
Let us not be like the rich man in the parable by placing importance upon things that aren’t that important in the grand scheme of things. Let us strive to be rich in love, rich in faith, rich in joy, rich in peace, and rich in wisdom. Be thankful for spiritual riches— whatever your economic status—because they hold the greatest value.
JOURNAL ASSIGNMENT
In your journal today, jot down 5 reasons you are grateful for your afflictions.
Now, let’s pray.
God, afflictions, suffering, trials, and tribulations, don’t feel good. And yet, I know they are good for me. Therefore, I am thankful for my spiritual development and what this trial is accomplishing in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
What Is the 28 Days of Gratitude Series Based On?
This gratitude series is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT, which says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
In my time spent with the Lord, He dealt with me about how we have a tendency to focus on our issues, problems, challenges, and difficulties, but we are not necessarily intentional about focusing on His goodness. Failing to meditate on His works forces us into a cycle of complaining and blinds us to the amazing ways He reveals Himself on a daily basis. In all circumstances, let us be more grateful.
What do I need to participate?
To participate in this series, you will need a notebook and a journal, because it requires writing some things down. In whatever journal you choose—and it doesn’t need to be anything fancy—daily, you will write down the Scripture of the day.
The featured verse will highlight a complaint from the Bible to help you see that, throughout history, others have struggled just as you do. Yet, God desires that we be grateful. In your journal, I would ask that you write the verse you see featured on the Daily Cup blog each morning, then jot down 5 things for which you are grateful.
5 is the number of grace, so you will be focusing on the grace of God and how His mercy has been evident in your life, even during rough times. At the end of each post, 5 suggested thing to write about are listed.