Vince Deagler

tomorrow is thanksgiving.  even in tough times, and we are experiencing tough times, we have much to be thankful for.  does that register with you.  i think one of the problems with our culture is from the top down we have become a country with an incredible sense of entitlement.  the more that is true in anyone, the less likely it is that they will be thankful.  either things will not be good enough (therefore no thankfulness) or the things i have were deserved (same effect, no thankfulness).  i have been guilty of both over the years, but i don’t think either is true in my life today.  i hope that doesn’t sound arrogant.  what i’m trying to say is i have changed.  i have grown.  and the single biggest reason for this is a better understanding of grace.  god’s grace.  because of grace 2 things are true.  i don’t generally feel guilt, shame, that sort of thing because i have been completely forgiven in jesus.  so when satan tries to put me down, i just push back.  that’s grace.  but at the same time, grace has humbled me.  bill hybels used to describe grace by comparing it to justice and mercy.  god could relate to me in justice, giving me what i deserve.  he could relate to me in mercy, with holding what i deserve.  but he went beyond to grace.  giving me what i don’t deserve.  thats humbling, and it blows the hole sense of entitlement thing out of the water.  thats what i mean when i say grace has changed me.  the reason i’ve been thinking about grace so much lately is our study of ephesians on sunday morning.  grace is a constant theme.  for instance when you begin reading the second chapter, paul paints a vivid picture of life apart from christ.  just look at his description…spiritually dead, followers of satan, self centered, self indulgent, and objects of wrath.  but in verse 4 paul changes gears.  he focuses our attention on gods love, leading to the believer being made alive in christ, and ties it together under the simple concept…it is by grace you have been saved.  and now, in christ, paul refers to us as gods workmanship.  i don’t know about you, but when i read these verses i just can’t seem to get over the fact that i have already been given more than i could ever deserve.  i don’t get how someone could not be thankful from that perspective.  i don’t think i deserve more, i don’t think i deserve anything.  there just is no room for entitlement or feelings i deserve more or better.  grace has removed all of that type of thinking.  i guess what i’m saying is the more i understand gods grace, the more thankful i am.  and since tomorrow is thanksgiving the timing is as good as it gets.  do we have tough times.  no doubt.  do i have more than i deserve.  absolutely.  the reality is, we all do.  some just don’t know it.  i’m hoping you’re not one of them.  feelings of entitlement, feelings you deserve more or better will make you miserable.  you won’t be able to enjoy anything you have if you think you deserve more or better.  so let me invite you to start chewing on grace, let it sink deeply into your soul.  because it will change you in ways you can’t even comprehend at this time.  i know, cause it did it to me.  thanks for reading these ramblings.  have a great thanksgiving.  blessings.  vince