Rev. Julian Yimaor Tsebee, the Pastor-in-Charge of NKST (Universal Reformed Christian Church) Angir in Angir-classis, has challenged Christians to look back on their lives from the start of the year 2025 to this last Sunday of the year and glorify God. He stressed that if you cannot thank God for His finger on your life, you cannot see His hand, because the rain that falls on sugarcane to make it grow and taste sweet is the same rain that falls on bitter leaf to make it grow and taste bitter.
Rev. Tsebee, who is also the Treasurer of the Angir-classis, threw this challenge to the congregation of NKST Iortyer while delivering a sermon during the last Sunday worship service of the year 2025 at the Church Auditorium on the theme “There is Always a Reason to Thank God”. He said, “If you can’t thank God for what you got this year, you should at least thank Him for what you have escaped.”
Reading from the book of Psalm 103:1-13, where the Psalmist urges his whole being to praise the Lord by remembering all His benefits, the Preacher challenged Christians to be inspired by David, who all his life was known for recognizing the goodness, mercies, and compassion of God on his life with gratitude, saying such an attitude of gratitude is worth emulating.
“David was in the habit of thanking God always, unlike many Christians today who see no reason enough to express gratitude to the Creator,” he said. “Note that the fact that God saved us through His son Jesus Christ alone is a big reason to always thank God.”
David remembered the good deeds of the Lord on his life and was urging himself to thank God, whereas we often forget the goodwill of God on our lives too soon, like the Israelites. “Look back to just the start of this year and see how many who began the year with you are no more, but God spared your life. Isn’t that enough to be thankful?”
He added, “Brethren, we ought to thank God for everything because the Bible tells us in Lamentations 3:37 that nothing takes place on the earth which the Lord has not appointed; no man can give and execute a command against the will of God.”
He cited the example of the rich farmer in Luke 12:13-21, who did not give any place for God in his plans and was called a fool and reminded to be rich towards God.
“Let us not see our smartness, dexterity, and qualifications as reasons behind our accomplishments but instead offer ourselves as living and holy sacrifices to God, as Paul urges believers in Romans 12:1-2,” he said.
He encouraged Christians to learn from the example set by Jesus Christ, our perfect model, who frequently expressed gratitude to God every time He shared food or performed miracles, including raising Lazarus.
