Grateful...for what we don't have!

by Ashley Rush, Residence Hall Supervisor

I’ve seen several posts recently encouraging me to list things I’m thankful for. This is a great exercise to do especially when we are facing personal trials and the bleak situation in the world today. Scripture tells us that gratitude is an evidence of walking in the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-20) and is essential in the equation for perfect peace (Philippians 4:6-7). However, I’ve been meditating on something that should precede lists of things we’re thankful for. First, we must be grateful for what we don’t have—something we actually deserve. My meditation has been centered on Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Since I am in Christ (not through any merit of my own but through the blood of Christ), I don’t have the rightly deserved death sentence looming over me. We think we deserve happiness, comfort, and respect when in fact the Bible informs us of the only thing any of us deserve: the wrath of God. Consider just a sampling of the many verses that speak of the wrath of God for our sin:

• Romans 1:18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.
• Romans 5:9: Therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
• John 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Friends, we can rejoice! Because of Christ, we don’t have to face the wrath of God today! Our biggest problem of sin, which separates us from a loving God, has been taken care of if we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We don’t have to live with a guilt-ridden conscience today.

Milton Vincent, in his book A Gospel Primer, draws our attention to the half-empty/half-full cup illustration. Whether you’re a pessimist or optimist, consider these thoughts about what your cup is lacking under the heading of “Thankfulness Enriched by Relief:”

• “The gospel reminds me first that what I actually deserve from God is a full cup churning with the torments of His wrath. This is the cup that would be mine to drink if I were given what I deserve each day. With this understanding in mind, I see that to be handed a completely empty cup from God would be cause enough for infinite gratitude. If there were merely the tiniest drop of blessing contained in that otherwise empty cup, I should be blown away by the unbelievable kindness of God toward me. That God, in fact, has given me a cup that is full of “every spiritual blessing in Christ,” and this without the slightest admixture of wrath, leaves me truly dumbfounded with inexpressible joy. As for my specific earthly circumstances of plenty or want, I can see them always as infinite improvements on the hell I deserve (47-48).”

Gratitude is naturally coupled with humility. While we don’t have to face condemnation for our sin, Paul reminds us in Romans 6 that we don’t have license to continue in sin. We should freely enjoy the provisions of the Gospel today while dreading to grieve our loving Heavenly Father who has sacrificed His Son so that we can experience justification.

Let's be enthusiastically grateful today for what our cup is lacking.