URC Daily Devotion 1 October 2024

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ for you. 

Reflection

From 1935-37 Bonhoeffer led an illegal seminary, training pastors of the Confessing Church, which opposed Hitler. His short book entitled ‘Life Together’ expresses the ethos he sought to instil in his students. It also shows that whilst Bonhoeffer was wrestling with huge issues as to what it meant to live as a Christian in Nazi Germany, he also recognized the importance of what we might regard as smaller and less important issues. One of these is thankfulness, of which he writes, 

“Only those who give thanks for little things receive the big things. We prevent God giving us the great spiritual gifts he has in store for us because we do not give thanks for daily gifts…We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from him the little things?”

In her book ‘Faith in the Fool’ Angela Ashwin says that Paul’s words about giving thanks in all circumstances ‘can be used as a sledgehammer or as a springboard. The ‘sledgehammer’ approach tells you “that you jolly well ought to give thanks, even when you have lost your job, you have a horrible migraine and the cat has just died. Hardship is good for you…so you should grit your teeth and count your blessings anyway.” In contrast, ‘the ‘springboard’ approach… reminds us that, even when life is uncomfortable, there is still much for which we can be thankful…Seen in this way, giving thanks in all circumstances can help us to remain positive instead of being overwhelmed by despondency.’

William Temple, who was Archbishop of Canterbury during part of World War II, said that ‘it is probable that in most of us the spiritual life is impoverished and stunted because we give so little place to gratitude. He suggests that ‘It is more important to thank God for blessings received than to pray for them beforehand’.

Prayer  

Loving God, we give thanks for this day for food to eat, for water to drink, for the air we breathe, for our families and friends, for the fellowship of the church and for the many and varied ways in which we experience your love. Grow within us an attitude of gratitude in all circumstances, as this is your will for us in Christ. Amen.