Explicitly Absent – Implicitly There! (Part 1)

Scripture:  Galatians 5:22, 23, 25 - But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: against such there is no law... If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  

For real y'all, if any given day of the week I got straight 'A's in all of the above 'classes', I would be ecstatic, as I'm sure any Bible-hoping Christian would be. That represents the core curriculum for S.E. [Spiritual Ed 101]. Like P.E., if you show up with certain qualities like being fast [faster than others], strong [stronger than others] or agile [more agile than others] you may have an advantage, except that the quality I'm thinking about could actually be one of the above S.E. classes, although it is not there... but it breathes throughout all of these.

LOVE couldn't quite be love without it, and without it JOY might just be kinda happy, PEACE would not be peace, and who knows what LONGSUFFERING would be like without it. GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, and FAITH are practically defined by it, and we wouldn't recognize either MEEKNESS or TEMPERANCE without it. One could go so far as to say that without it, 'walking in the Spirit' ain't happening!

I'm talking about the advantage of GRATEFULNESS and the primacy of THANKSGIVING.

While it is not listed within this darling of Christian lists, it is implicitly there, bringing life, and brightest beauty into each of the fruits mentioned. It brings strength and power to each, as these all are effectual fruits. When we take communion, and 'remember' Him, and what God did for us [and is doing now], what remembrance is that, which isn't utterly grateful?

If the Christian life were to be summarized within a song lyric, THANK YOU JESUS, would be in there!

Some seasons are pleasing to experience, while others ouch, and God knows all about it, and has this to say:

'Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS: FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS CONCERNING YOU.'

1st Thessalonians 5:16-18.

So here's your open-book quiz. For the Christian, what two times are there in life when you should be GRATEFUL? Answer - When you feel like it, and when you don't.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord, for Your graciousness toward me, and mine, and Your patience to offer me such second-chances to get this life right. I pray that my gratitude shows today, and blesses someone, maybe even toward 'new life'. Lead the way Holy Spirit. Amen and Amen! Yours truly, with a 'mo better' grateful heart.

(by Dr. McNeal Brockington)