Be Careful What You Wish For

This is a familiar clique, to be mindful of your wishes. Because you just may get what you ask for, of course. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and I have been thinking about those things for which I am grateful. Thanksgiving Day is not considered a traditional religious holiday although I tend to make it one because of the good stuff I enjoy has a source. God is the one who blesses me and you and sometimes His blessings aren't enjoyable. Things like correction and conviction aren't' fun but are beneficial to our lives because our sights are shallow compared to God's vision which stretches out beyond the edges of eternity. Then there are seasons of life that God seems to not have a response to our requests. Sometimes our prayers go unanswered.

Recently in my reading I reviewed the story of the triumphal entry. I'll quote from Matthew's perspective found in his writings, chapter 21:1-11.

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the
Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village
ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by
her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to
you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to
the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a
donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' " The disciples went and did as
Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed
their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread
their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread
them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that
followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" When Jesus
entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in
Galilee."

The Jews were expecting a Messiah, had been for generations. The Jews were also expecting the Messiah to lead them to freedom from the overwhelming authority of the Roman government who ruled their land. Jesus was not the military commander or political figure that they wanted. The folks understood that Jesus was God's son, but they didn't seem to understand the kind of freedom Jesus was to provide. Jesus is a king but not in the worldly sense that we understand. He is the king of another type, the king of salvation. The followers of Jesus didn't get what they were hoping for and it's a good thing too, otherwise sin would not have been defeated. God didn't desire us to be saved from the Romans (insert here whatever is dogging you), His desire was to save us from our corrupt selves.

So, this Thanksgiving I'm thinking about the things that didn't happen this year and why I'm grateful.