“But rather giving of thanks. ”
But pastor, what’s before the statement above? My answer, “does it matter?”
Whatever is before the statement, my role as a child of God is to give Him thanks.
We conjure up scenarios in our heads about what God is doing with us. Is He punishing, is He disciplining , has He forgotten us, does He care?
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
But, in reality, we have no idea. And here is where our faith needs to be applied. God gives everyone a measure of faith (Rom 12:3) but, He also speaks about our faith. See the examples of the apostles, “Oh ye of little faith, where is your faith, if you had faith as a grain of mustard, etc.”
We need to find ours and cultivate it as a tender plant that can be nurtured to grow beyond the initial amount given. But, it is in the giving of thanks that faith thrives. It is as though nutrients have been added to the soil and the perfect amount of sun and water have been applied.
The second part of Chapter 5 of Ephesians deals with light. Who is your light sharer?
Exposing darkness to light destroys it. They cannot coexist. So, bring those things to God and He will apply the faith and power we need to walk in victory and understanding.
We have enough of the world all around us; let’s be creatures of the light and walk in a new way.
Pastor Brent