Gratitude

And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. - 1 Corinthians 9:14

    As we mature, we become more grateful for the many things that we realized we’ve taken for granted.  While I often, strongly encourage people to keep diaries or journals to document the details of key moments of their lives, I am also filled with regret for the advice I haven’t taken.   There are many moments from special times in my life that are far too vague for me to recall the critical details.  As I attempt to remember the special people whom I’ve met who’ve shaped my life’s journey, and especially my spiritual development, I realize the power of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians ‘and in their prayers for you, the hearts will go out to you” (9:14; emphasis added).

     In the third chapter of “5 Marks of a Methodist: The Fruit of a Living Faith,” Steve Harper emphasizes that a Methodist gives thanks.   Harper also refers to 1 Thessalonians in which we are encouraged to give thanks in all situations (5:18).  This suggestion is not blindly accept every negative and positive moment that we experience.   Harper sharpens the point by intoning our thoughts when she asks “How are we to give thanks “in every situation” when some situations seem to come not from the will of God but from the pit of hell?”  Gratitude is the response to God’s grace and gratitude is grounded in the nature of God.  Wesley reminds us that “good is the will of the Lord.”

      Hope allows us to persevere through challenging situations because hope is filled with the promise of relief.  With confidence, we continue along the journey of life in step with the resounding cadence of Paul’s words that “suffering, produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope and that hope does not disappoint us”(Romans 5:3-5). 

   Around this time of the year, families are preparing to celebrate graduations, weddings and retirements.   The fulfillment of years of prayers, perseverance, dreams and determination not only because of the hard work of those who will cross the stage, stand at the altar or leave the workplace for the last time, but the answers to prayers offered by people who love the graduate, the bride/groom and the retiree.  How inspiring and comforting it is to learn that you are not the only person who has been praying for you.  

    The second half of Paul’s scripture in 1 Corinthians offers the decisive clarification of the connection between prayers and the movement of the heart— “because of the surpassing grace God has given you” ( 1 Corinthians 9:14b).   It is the surpassing grace of God that we have received and for which we are most grateful.  By reviewing the pages of our prayer journals, we can more easily retrace the steps of our journeys that reveal the sincere prayers of family members and friends.   We are not only drawn closer to those who are praying for us, we are ultimately drawn closer to God.  For these moments and these memories, we are truly grateful.   In other words, we give thanks to God for the grace of God.  We also give thanks for the people of God whose prayers for us draw our hearts to theirs. 

    As we develop the character of a Methodist, we grow in our understanding of God’s grace and our gratitude for God’s grace also increases.  We are called to help everyone grow in their knowledge and love of God.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in worship and in class.  

In Christ,  

Jon McCoy