Friday, February 27th

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February 27

Celebrating the Work Together

From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

—Acts 14:26-28

In his book 365 Thank Yous, John Kralik writes about finding himself at a low point in his life, with his career, his marriage, his friendships, and his relationship with his children in shambles. He knew something needed to change, but he went about it in a somewhat countercultural way. Instead of turning his focus inward, he embarked on a quest to write one thank-you note every day for an entire year. There was a surprising side effect that he couldn’t have anticipated. While the recipients appreciated their notes, the bigger transformation happened within John himself.

As John learned, gratitude isn’t just meant to be felt; God intended it to be expressed and externalized. This is true when it comes to what other people have done for us, but it is even more so when it comes to celebrating and thanking God for what he has done.

Scripture commands God’s people countless times to acknowledge his works publicly:

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

—Psalm 96:3

I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.

—Psalm 35:18

Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.
—Psalm 141:1

It’s so easy, when we’re in the middle of the work God has called us to do, to jump past what God is doing right now and mentally move on to the next step, the next challenge. There’s always another problem to be solved, another task to be accomplished, another goal to be met, and we often fail to pause in the middle of it all to thank God for what he has done and then celebrate those things with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

When Paul and Barnabas reported to the other believers all they had seen God doing as the early church exploded, the entire congregation was bolstered. Acts 14:22 says that as they met with the believers in various cities, they strengthened them and encouraged them to remain true to the faith.

There is great joy in celebrating God’s work in the context of community. Those who give the good report are blessed as they say it with their lips and solidify it in their hearts, and those who hear it are encouraged as they are reminded once again of God’s character and faithfulness.

Just as sorrows are divided in community, so joys are multiplied.

Challenge: How have you seen God at work in your life or in the life of others? Take time to celebrate that work by writing it down and/or telling someone about it.

—Stephanie Rische