2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 (Amplified Bible)
3We ought and indeed are obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing exceedingly and the love of every one of you each toward the others is increasing and abounds.
4And this is a cause of our mentioning you with pride among the churches (assemblies) of God for your steadfastness (your unflinching endurance and patience) and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecutions and crushing distresses and afflictions under which you are holding up.
Sunday in church as my Pastor was preaching, he interjected something that caused many to agree with amen. He said that we ought to remember the things done for us. That when people have extended themselves for us, given to us and placed much into our lives we ought to remember. How easy it becomes to forget. We have a tendency to live in a moment and forget all about what things have cost people that have helped us, tried to bring joy, love and happiness into our lives. It seems easy for us to forget those who have sowed into us or even prayed for us when we did not have the courage, strength or relationship with God to do it ourselves. Many times in my life I have found myself the one forgotten, but there have also been times that I have forgotten and replaced my gratitude with attitude. We have all been guilty, but for some of us we do not thank God for those who have helped us unless they line up with our mode of thinking and doing, but the question becomes, what if your way is definitively not God's way and he needs for you to develop something other than "yourself?"
We use to own a cat named Dutchess. Dutchess was a beautiful cat, when she wanted your love, affection and attention she would rub up against you and purr, but when she had had enough of your love she would swat at you or bite you. I have found that I have often encountered people, just like this. They show love, give love and can receive love when it is on their terms, but when when it gets difficult, challenging, or even something they are unfamiliar with, they grew tired and they swat at you, or turn around and bite you. These are people who have lost sight of what God might have been doing and instead became absorbed in themselves. We do God the same way. As long as He is the Father who is spoiling His child, we do not have any issue with Him, the minute God requires us, or He requires us to discipline ourselves and to face some hard truths about ourselves, we back away from Him and want to try to serve Him on our terms, we might go to church and we might pray, but we won't dare line our "whole selves up with what God wants. We do not want to have to struggle, or learn to push ( pray until something happens). This is the point that we know we have lost sight of God being the creator and us being the created, we lost sight that we are to be lead not the leader, that we are to inspired not be tired. But then we try to use the fall back, that God forgives and He knows our hearts. The problem is not God knowing our heart it is us knowing His heart and wanting His will more than our own.
The next time you are in a place where all is not well or perfectly in your will remember what those persons have done for you. And when God tells you to stay and you say no I want to go God, remember Calvary and the Cross that Jesus hung on showed He remembered you even before you could remember at all!
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