Bible in One Year:
Friday, November 20, 2009
(1 Cor 10 - 1 Cor 13)

Memorise: "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor 4:18)

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:15-18
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Some people hardly see any need to thank God when they have one or more pending requests. In a particular year, things went contrary to my expectations. I did not receive the things I asked for that year. When it was time to prepare for thanksgiving service, I told God, 'Daddy, quite frankly, I am not sure I have anything to thank you for'. He asked, "Are you sure?" I replied 'Yes'. Then He asked me to get a piece of paper that He would list what He had done which I should thank Him for. "How many times were you sick and regained your health? How many days out of the 365 days of the year did you sleep and wake up? This is a miracle because many sleep and never wake up". By the time God was through, I had quite a lot of things to thank Him for. The problem with us is that we classify God's goodness using a wrong yardstick. For instance, we see the provision of a material blessing as a big thing while intangible blessings such as waking up from sleep as something little or nothing. It is because of our limitations. 

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor 4:18). From today's passage we see that certain things are temporary while some others are eternal. Material blessings are temporary but spiritual blessings are eternal. Our focus should not be on material things but on the unseen things. We should thank God for tangible material blessings. But thank God more for the unseen things which have eternal impact such as the salvation of your soul. If you were not saved, you would have been in hell by now or on your way there. Thank God for a new life in Christ, your sanctification and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Thank God for your Christian growth and level of obedience, commitment and dedication to the Lord. Thank God for His provisions for you in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:3 ). Thank Him for His promises to you and your family. Also, for His promise to take you home to forever be with Him (Jn 14:1- 3). Thank Him for unseen battles He fights and wins for you etc. The truth is, it costs God more to provide the unseen blessings than the tangible ones. From today, give attention to the unseen, unquantifiable and eternal blessings. As you thank Him, employ His Word in the process. Those little or insignificant things are of greater value to God. Thank Him for them. 

ACTION POINT:
Thank God for what you would consider little mercies for the next 30 minutes.