We too, like Saul, were bent on the destruction of God’s way. We were at “enmity against God.” We had hostility and hatred towards God – and with this knowledge, He died for our sin! THIS is the clarity of how much God loves us all!

With this context, Paul begins to demonstrate amazing love for his would-be murderers. He does not curse them. He does not turn from them in disgust, anger, or bitter spirit. Instead, he shares his own spiritual journey with them. He tells them about how he came to know Jesus Christ.

The LORD will often allow things to seem impossible before He makes His move. But when God makes His move, it is abundantly clear that God has done that work! We must not stand in contention with God’s working while we wait for God’s working.

When our gaze is so set on someone else or on personal circumstances, we will struggle to see the way to which God is leading. We will even struggle to see God Himself. Are we more concerned about our enemies…or our troubles…or the success of someone else – than we are on real solutions to those real problems?

Jesus is beaten and mocked relentlessly (John 19:2-3). The actual crucifixion was not enough. The beat down and humiliation was evil. Then the most cruel and heartless execution followed (John 19:17-18). Yet, death did not defeat Jesus. O church of God, rejoice in God’s grand work of salvation and consciously sharpen your focus on the empty cross and empty tomb!

Do you struggle with being willing to follow God? Are you wondering how you could find your way to a heart and mind that willingly follows the Lord? A willing heart is found in how a person nurtures their will, why a person makes their choices, and with what a person fills their mind.

When vision is blurred, a person cannot see the way. Everything is unclear. When our vision of God’s standard is blurred, we will not see our way as God intended us to see. We will lose our way and purposely choose the worst pathway. This pathway is miserable and void of thankfulness.

Have you side stepped a genuine relationship with the Savior of the world but taken hold of the gift of salvation that He offers all who believe? Genuine relationship with Jesus impacts personal thankfulness. Today, we will study how the absence of growing genuine relationship with Jesus impacts a thankful heart.

Correctly diagnosing the barricades to thankfulness can open the passage to a thankful heart. What is hindering your ability to function in the realm of thankfulness? It is so helpful when we look to eliminate or walk past those things that hinder thankfulness! This week, we will only look at one choice that hinders our thankfulness.