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The whole of the Christian life should be an act of gratitude.

We are thankful for the magnificent grace of God shown to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. We are the recipients of so great a salvation. Such grace should overwhelm our hearts and lead to grateful obedience.

Magnificent grace leads me to obedience. But sometimes, it’s the little graces that get to me.

The little drops of grace God showers on my life remind me that he truly loves and cares for me… personally. It’s not just my salvation that makes me thankful; God’s little graces also move me to gratitude.

I can think of two personal examples. The first goes back to my trip to Romania in April. (Actually, the very fact that we were able to go on that trip is an evidence of God’s grace… but I digress.)

One of the elders in the village church I used to serve in has been a godly example to me. He and his wife, though up in years, lived next to the church for decades. When the church relocated, he built a new house next to the new building  just so he could be near the house of the Lord. He and his wife called me “their American grandson,” and they became for me “my Romanian grandparents.”

Last January, my parents briefly visited Romania. They found out that Bunica (the grandmother) had stomach cancer and her health was quickly degenerating. Bunica told them that she hoped to see me and Corina once more before she died.

We visited in Romania in April. I preached in the village church one Sunday, helped administer the Lord’s Supper, and hugged Bunica, knowing it would probably be the last time. The next week, she took a turn for the worse, and died shortly after we returned home.

The Lord granted her wish – allowing us to see each other once more before he took her home. He also gave me the great honor of being the last person to give her the Lord’s Supper before she died. When we found out about her death, we were saddened. But we were also touched by the quiet grace of God – to both her and us.

400000Another example:

Corina and I never had a car in Romania. We bought a car when we moved to the States and got along fine with just one. Late last year, we knew that we would soon need another car. But with school bills and other expenses, we didn’t know if we could afford one.

Earlier this year, a couple in our church who was planning to donate their 1996 Toyota Camry to charity decided to give it to us instead.

The Camry is in great shape. We recently took it past the 400,000 mile mark! It is so reliable that we had no qualms about taking it on vacation this summer. That little Camry, which might not be worth much money to most people, is nevertheless a valuable reminder of God’s provision and grace to us.

God has done great things, yes. I praise him for his goodness shown to us in our great salvation.

But God does little things too. And those little things remind me just how much he really does love us.

What is man that you are mindful of him?
The son of man that you care for him?

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