Sunday.....Christianity.....Counting Blessings

It probably sounds like I am always generalizing but I do not mean to. The human condition, fallen as it is, is such that we have tendencies that show up continuously through all of the ages. Everyone may not participate in every weakness but there is enough representation in every age to see its effects. One of those is failure to count the many blessings that God has given. I have been in my job for closing in on 30 years. It has provided a good living and many friendships. Yet, there are times when I would sound like mere human fodder in a 19th century Pennsylvania coal mine. There is a constant tension present in any society that operates outside the Lordship of Jesus Christ and we are certainly such a society. Scripture says that our best works are as filthy rags. I know that to be true in my life, I believe it to be the same in governments also. How do we balance the blessings of living in a free country with the potential of losing those freedoms? We are beset by the frailties of the flesh but buttressed by the strength that God gives to all of His children. Failure to be thankful is only one sin but it is a humbling one when realized. I came to the personal realization quite a while back that to be humbled when God shines a light upon us that tears to shreds any pride we might have does not mean that we give up the good we were attempting when the illumination occurred. It means to continue, but cast off as best as we can that which was hindering us and which was bringing anything but glory to God. It is the arch enemy of God that tells us to quit, that it is a affront to God to even presume that He would use you. The Bible gives a different story. Yes, there are stories of some that are bankrupt while attempting to minister, and introspection should indeed be part of our daily regimen, but there are more testimonies of those whose very weakness was used of God in order to make evident that it is He who accomplishes. I believe that this is one reason that He provided us with the Lord's Day. As for me, I walk into church every Lord's Day with enough strength to find my seat, but when Christ is preached and His mercy proclaimed to those that are His, I have been renewed for another seven days. All too often, I fail to be thankful for even this. If you consider yourself weak, to feeble to be used in any way by God, take heart, for He has shown you this that you might know from whom the strength will come.