How bad are you?

Seriously, without comparing yourself with anyone else, when you look at your heart – at what goes on in your mind – are you ashamed?

I realize that today is Thanksgiving and that we want to feel good about life but stay with me.  You CAN be thankful even if you do not feel worthy.

Consider someone who was a murderer, an adulterer, a bigamist, and considered cruel.  I am talking about King David.  He was far from perfect, but consider what we discover in Acts 13:22 where God says, “…I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after My own heart…”

David was a serious sinner, but he also knew a gracious God.  He responded correctly when he recognized his sinfulness, God forgave him, and he went on to great things for God.  He was far from perfect, but he was a man after God’s own heart.

Now consider the Psalms (of which David penned many of them).  You will find his gratitude expressed over and over in these beloved songs.  He realized how unworthy he was.  He did not fool himself, and he was overwhelmed by God’s grace.

Consider another example of a man who was complicit in murders while being extremely self-righteous.  I now am talking about the Apostle Paul.  He also experienced God’s incredible forgiveness and grace, and God used him to transform the world.

Paul had no illusions that he was a good person.  In fact, he told Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15-16:

“This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ – and I am the worst of them.  But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”  He knew that he was undeserving, but out of his gratitude God used him to spread the Good News about Jesus around the known world.

Now let’s go back to my first question.  How bad are you?

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Have you experienced His forgiveness and grace?

My friends, this should lead you to experience and express thankfulness like no one else.  We may be bad, but God is good.  And God wants to bless and use you for more than you could ever dream.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Perhaps you could benefit from keeping up with all that you are thankful for.  Check out Simply Thankful Gratitude Journal by clicking on the picture below…