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October 11 Daily Devotional

Thankfulness

Frans Bakker

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant. —Genesis 32:10

Bible Reading

Genesis 32:1–12

Devotional

Jacob did not deserve any blessing of God. All that he received was because of God’s mercy. Jacob had started off with sin, and we are no better. Let us consider our background. Let us see who God has been for us up to this present day, and beyond that, let us also see who we have been before God. It is only when we compare God’s loving-kindness to our own transgressions that we will be properly aware of our sins. Only such a comparison will be able to break us. Then we will see guilt because of ingratitude. That causes us to be worthy of condemnation before God.

“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth.” Jacob takes a measuring scale to weigh himself against God’s faithfulness and then he sees there is nothing of himself, nothing of value in him. He then has to conclude that there is so much more goodness in God than there is wickedness in him.

We could also translate this: “I am too unworthy.” Jacob is actually saying, “I am too unworthy, I am too wicked, I am too sinful for this.” Because of all of God’s goodness, Jacob could not remain the same. He had to decrease because of God’s faithfulness to him. He, who understands that word “faithfulness,” will also decrease under it.

Have you also become less than all the mercies of God in your life? Where have all the benefits of God brought you? The Lord demands thankfulness. The blessings should unite you to the Benefactor. Just like the one leper who returned in the days of Christ, true thankfulness will return to the Lord. That is a clear mark of thankfulness.

You cannot remain the same anymore. You sense your need for the Lord and in humility fall on your knees before Him. That is a very rich life in spite of all its poverty. Even though there are two enemy armies waiting for you, like Jacob had to endure, still you know this is the same God of the past. You place your trust in the Lord, for He will never forsake His faithfulness to you. Looking at the past, you can find courage for the future. But all this flows forth only from Christ, who had nothing left for His soul and body. That is why true thankfulness ends up at the cross.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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