When was the last time you thanked Jesus?

Was it last night, after your feet snuggled warmly under the covers? Did you thank Him for giving you another twenty-four hours to share His love?

Or did you thank Him this morning, before those same feet hit the floor? Did you acknowledge allowing your eyes to see the sun rise; enabling you to make right any wrongs you committed yesterday?  (FYI, as I’m writing, I thanked Jesus for my MS.)

Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Over and over the Bible tells us in all circumstances, to give thanks.

That, friends, is a hard truth to obey. Especially when we know someone at work is out to get us, or physical pain refuses to disappear, or not all the bills will get paid this month, or a loved one dies, or personal political views are not being represented, or family isn’t helping as expected, or a neighbor is encroaching on our space, or, my personal favorite – MS will reside inside my body until the day I see Jesus face to face.  

Thanking God is something we should do daily.

Why should I be thankful for my disease?

First and foremost, as a Christian I understand that any suffering, worry, life style change, and output of money spent on this disease is NOTHING compared to what Jesus did for us on the cross!

Jesus Shed His Blood 7 Times For You    precisely explains how the love Jesus has for all mankind drenched the cross on Calvary hill. Upon Jesus’ death, as He gasped for each breath, He was thinking of me, my husband, my daughter, my siblings, my parents, my friends, and every other human that God created in the womb. I believe Jesus was thinking, I love you, and I’m dying in your place for your sins. 

Jesus died for all of us. And my heart needs to remain humble to the truth set by Jesus; not allow it to become bitter because my world is not easy. All persons suffer some sort of pain because of the fall, Genesis 3 , but I give thanks to the Father for qualifying me to share in His inheritance in the kingdom of light, Colossians 1:12.

Jesus’ total sacrifice far out weights any suffering I incur. Life on earth is short lived. Jesus’ pain, because I believe, sets me apart and sets me free to live eternally in His new suffer-free world.

Thank-you, Jesus!

In the gospels Jesus tells us, before His death occurs, what God already planned.

Matthew 20:17-19 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

Thank-you, Jesus!

Mark 9:31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”

Thank-you, Jesus!

Luke 9:22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Thank-you, Jesus!

John 3:14-15 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

Thank-you, Jesus!

Yes, Jesus was falsely accused, was beaten, mocked, whipped, spat upon, slapped and lifted up to be crucified. Jesus was our living sacrifice, taking the place of all sinners.

Jesus is our great Redeemer.  

Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus’ victory over death is assurance MS will be short lived. For that, Jesus, I am truly thankful. 

Think about why you are thankful to Jesus.

If you aren’t sure how to start thanking God, then begin by using this simple pray thanking Jesus for His sacrifice. It won’t be long before your humble heart overflows with thanksgiving as you begin to see the everyday blessings in your life.

“God, sometimes life gets me down and I find it hard to see things to be thankful for. Open my eyes to see the gifts you’ve given me in my life. I’m going to start by thanking you for loving me enough to come to earth and die so we can live together forever. Amen.”
– Wendy van Eyck, Contributor @ Crosswalk.com

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SHARE: Thank-you, JESUS!

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