Page 7 - praiseandthanks

A man said to me that he had seen so much horror, so much

evil that not only would he not be able to praise God for it but
he couldn’t even believe in the existence of any God. I said to

him then that he was really on his own. With a continuing

depressed look about him, he said, “yes, I am really on my
own.” But I thought I couldn’t leave him like that so I said to him

that there was a time when mankind was able to love and serve

God on the scale of God but then, separating himself from God
through a free will out of control, he entered upon the sin

stories of Genesis. There was the first murder and sin became

rampant. Jesus actually spoke about the devil as “the prince of
this world” and again the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms

of the world saying they were all his but if Jesus would adore
him then they could talk business. But Jesus said that God

alone was to be adored. The way of Jesus is not one of murder

and payback, of unforgiveness, of pride and hatred, of self-
centredness and cruelty but a way of love and goodness. The

devil is the origin of evil. We are to replace all evil through the

praise and thanks of the one who can direct all things to good,
who through praise and thanks can turn everything into

something eternally beautiful.

His plan for healing and transforming us, however long it takes,
will come to fruition if we don’t stop praising Him for it and

thanking Him for the sometimes long term perfect plan we know

He has for us. Remember that praise does not change God, but
changes the one who praises Him. (Honour is in the one who

honours). My atheist friend found peace, “a peace beyond all

understanding.”

“In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you.” 1Thess 5:18.

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