December 18, 2024 Daily Devotion

And Be Thankful!

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

Below is a beautiful prose written by my friend and colleague, Dr. Mauricio Birriel to our Cursillo men’s group on Thanksgiving.

“As we gather with our loved ones this Thanksgiving, let us reflect on the abundant blessings God has bestowed upon us. This day is more than a mere tradition; it is a profound call to live with hearts full of gratitude, ever mindful of the divine love that sustains us.

Scripture exhorts us to ‘give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This directive invites us to recognize God’s unwavering love, a love so immense that He offered His only Son for our redemption, drawing us into eternal communion with Him.

Thanksgiving encompasses two essential truths: love for God and love for one another. We are called to ‘Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations’ (Psalm 100:4-5). This passage encourages us to cultivate a heart overflowing with gratitude for our Heavenly Father.

May this Thanksgiving be an altar of gratitude, where we offer our hearts to the Lord for His boundless love. Let us continue to walk together in faith, carrying the light of our retreat into the world, and inspiring others to experience the joy of living for Christ.”