Sunday, November 7, 2021

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Second Kernel of Corn - God Provides

Each year, my family, like so many others, sit down to enjoy a feast on Thanksgiving Day. Before we start to fill up our plates, we stop and give thanks for all of the blessings we have received from our Heavenly Father. When we start to count them, it soon becomes apparent that we truly have a lot to be thankful for. 

Although prices of our Thanksgiving meal have increased, we still celebrate the day, because it is more than just the meal itself. It is a time for us to reflect. The second kernel of corn reminds us that God provides for our needs each and every day. Without His daily blessings, our lives would be empty. Some will say that God is just a bedtime story that parents teach their children. He is a myth or a dream. I, like so many other Christians, would disagree.

As Christians, we have seen God’s power in our lives. Each one can list the miracles he or she has seen. We can tell others of the times when God’s mighty hand covered and protected us from certain harm. There are so many things that God does for us each day of our lives. We cannot dismiss them as tales or stories. The stories are real and so is God. He lives and is eternal. 

I have seen His powerful hand do so much when things were at their darkest. When I faced death years ago, I felt His hand upon me. He protected me from an infection that nearly took my life. If it weren’t for His love and protection, I would not be here to share the Gospel with you.

Each day our Heavenly Father provides for our needs and blesses us. From the very moment we were conceived until we close our eyes in death, He takes care of us. All of our daily needs are taken care of. In gratitude for all that He has done and given us, we should thank Him daily and share our blessings with all those around us.

Each year, before Thanksgiving, my family and I buy food and sponsor meals for those who may not have a Thanksgiving meal. God has blessed us and we should share our blessings with all. It is not enough to thank Him for what we have received. We must, out of love for our neighbors, share with those who are less fortunate. This is how we live our lives with a Christ-like attitude.

In chapter four of his epistle to the church at Philippi, Paul, thanking them for their gracious gifts, writes, “Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

The Philippians who received the Good News wanted to share their blessings and all that they had received with Paul and ensure that his ministry could reach others. As Paul pointed out, even when others didn’t provide, they did. They continued to support his ministry and provided him with help. They sent Epaphroditus to assist Paul in his ministry. Paul was so very thankful for their gifts.

God had given the gift of the Word to the Philippians and they, in turn, blessed Paul with gifts so that others could also receive the Good News. When we receive a blessing, we aren’t supposed to hoard it for ourselves. We thank God for the blessing and humbly ask for the opportunity to share it with others. When we do this, we are rewarded and build our treasure in Heaven. We do not seek the praise of men. We work to bring glory to the Father through our love not only for Him but also for those around us.

In the Book of Psalms, there is a very simple verse that sums up our relationship with the Lord. That verse is located in the twenty-third Psalm.

David, towards the end of his kingship, wrote, “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

The Lord is truly our shepherd and provides for all that we need each day of our lives. Of the many names of the Lord, there is one that should strike a chord in each of our hearts and we should thank Him daily for all of the blessings that He showers upon us. That name is    Jehovah-Jireh. That name translates to “the Lord will provide”. 

Jehovah-Jireh cares for each of us and “shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory. He will give His angels charge over me”. These words, from the song, “Jehovah-Jireh”, reminds us of the eternal promise of God. He shows His love for us daily and cares for each of us.

As you go through this week, I ask you to reflect on the second kernel of corn and thank God for the blessings you have received and ask Him to give you the opportunity to share your blessings with others. When you share your blessings with others, God will continue to bless you with even more.

In chapter eleven of the Book of Proverbs, the author writes, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

So, be generous with your giving to others. When you do that, you, too, will receive even more blessings and can stand firm in His grace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 

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