This is why I should give thanks to God without ceasing - because He has often been lenient with my foolishnes and my carelessness. And because on more than one occasion He has not been wrathful with me...

 - Patrick, Confession (British, 5th century)

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.

  - 1 Timothy 1.12, 13

Patrick and Paul were men of thanksgiving because they were realistic about themselves. They knew they were sinners, undeserving of God's saving grace and even of His daily attentions of love.

Foolish, careless, blasphemers, opposing the will of God - aren't we all like this from time to time? Do we not all have thoughts and feelings that are not honoring to God, if only because they do not include Him? Don't we all say things we wished we never said? Done things we'd like to retract?

Of course, but can we see that all the different kinds of folly in our lives can be accepted as promptings to remember the grace of God? As stupid and foolish as we are at times, He still loves us. He continues to provide for our needs. Jesus and the Spirit are interceding for us. God the Father is working everything in our lives together for good.

Don't get discouraged by your sin. By all means, face up to it and repent. But let your sinfulness be a reminder of God's graciousness, and receive the conviction of His Spirit as a call to weeping and a prompt to rejoicing and giving thanks, all at the same time.

We truly know the Lord when we know ourselves well and understand that He loves us anyway. This is not a license for complacency; we're still called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, just as Paul and Patrick did. If you find yourself becoming indifferent to your sin, or satisfied to let it continue in you, then you should be afraid of whatever actions God might take to get you back in the path of righteousness (Heb. 12.3-11).

We will continue to sin, at least until Jesus comes to take us to Himself. Let us weep for our sins and throw them away from us. But let us also give thanks to God, Who loves sinners such as we and sticks with us to draw us closer to Himself and more deeply into His work. Rejoice and give thanks! Not that you are a sinner, but that God is a God Who loves sinners like you and me.

T. M. Moore, Principal

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