Counting His Good Gifts
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.”
Psalm 106:3 (NIV)
Thanksgiving preparations are already well underway in many households if the crowds I encountered yesterday at Trader Joe's and Costco are any indicator of Thanksgiving readiness. Food, flowers, and paper products seemed to be the order of the day at both businesses. The parking lots were full and store buggies were hard to come by. My guess is that this weekend's Thanksgiving preparations will be even busier. As for us, my shopping and menu lists are now completed, the paper products are stored safely in our basement, and everything that can be pre-prepared or purchased is done.
But Thanksgiving is much more than a day; more than a family meal; and so much more than the day before Black Friday. Thanksgiving is a biblical command and mindset. I've been counting God's good gifts in my prayer journal this week. One of my favorite Thanksgiving gifts is the young mom's Bible study that I've been teaching for the last two years. This quarter our study covered the first eight chapters of Romans, the Gospel and Doctrines of God's Grace. Last week in our final session, sixteen young moms shared their Top Romans 1-8 Takeaways. This is always my favorite session with them because it forces all of us to pick our Top Ten "gold nuggets" from our ten weeks together. A "gold nugget" is a doctrinal truth, personal application, practical insight, or life takeaway that is valuable and meaningful to you. It's something you don't want to forget and hopefully something that will lead to life transformation rather than just more Bible information. I like to think of a gold nugget as something that gives me some help or hope in whatever life season I'm currently in.
The good thing about a Top Takeaway is that there's no right or wrong answer. Your takeaway is just that: YOURS! It always amazes me to see the final study composite takeaway list. I'm never surprised that some of the takeaways are usually on everyone's list, but I'm always surprised at the diversity of items on the list. And some of what I thought were relatively obscure or insignificant points are often the ones that resonate the most with the young moms. Together those women produced almost forty Top Takeaways. I wanted to share a few of them with you:
Paul was captured by the Gospel; Are we? Paul's three “I am’s” - I am obligated, eager, & unashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:14-16)
Our union with Christ (unification) makes way for all of the other important “ations” found in Romans 1-8: justification, regeneration, salvation, reconciliation, sanctification, glorification, communication (Paige Benton Brown)
Original sin distorts us (Romans 5); actual sin distracts us (Romans 6); indwelling sin discourages us (Romans 7 & Rosaria Butterfield)
God is for us; God is with us; God is in us – Romans 8
The gospel always brings freedom, forgiveness, fulfillment, and a new family (Isaiah 61:1-3)
Kill sin or it will kill you. (John Owen, Romans 7)
The grammar of grace – “but now,” “and yet” (Romans 3:21, Paige Benton Brown)
The gospel brings us all the way home, the Christian's assurance. (Romans 8, Derek Thomas)
Salvation is by faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ alone - "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17) the Apostle Paul and Martin Luther's Reformers
This week as you prepare for your Thanksgiving meal, take a few moments and thank God for His goodness. Much like our Romans takeaway list, there are no right or wrong answers; your list is YOUR list!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good." Psalm 106:1