In 1636, a pastor in Germany by the name of Martin Rinkart wrote a hymn during
a time of famine, war, and plague. In fact, during the height of the chaos, Martin Rinkart
was conducting up to 50 funerals a day, close to 4000 in one year. He lost friends
and family, even his wife; and if there was ever a person who could have been resentful
and angry, it was Rinkart. Instead, he wrote a hymn called “Now Thank We All Our
God.” It is difficult to imagine how he could pen it, but he did. Amidst death and devastation,
he still saw the ultimate grace of God, which had given him life and hope, which
had given him Jesus.
Rinkart was a person who demonstrated the power of God’s glory – just like
Naaman did when he was healed and just like the Samaritan leper did when he was saved.
He was a person in whom God’s loving presence was shown, even in suffering. He was
able to say thank you to the God who created us all and to the One who alone can raise us to a new life.
I invite you, when you have a chance to read the words of this famous song, to hear what
difference “thank you” can make. That’s my altar-call invitation to you – learning to say thank
you, in big and small ways, and, in so doing, become people in whom God’s glory is
revealed!
Thanksgiving blessings,
Pastor Andy Kinsey
a time of famine, war, and plague. In fact, during the height of the chaos, Martin Rinkart
was conducting up to 50 funerals a day, close to 4000 in one year. He lost friends
and family, even his wife; and if there was ever a person who could have been resentful
and angry, it was Rinkart. Instead, he wrote a hymn called “Now Thank We All Our
God.” It is difficult to imagine how he could pen it, but he did. Amidst death and devastation,
he still saw the ultimate grace of God, which had given him life and hope, which
had given him Jesus.
Rinkart was a person who demonstrated the power of God’s glory – just like
Naaman did when he was healed and just like the Samaritan leper did when he was saved.
He was a person in whom God’s loving presence was shown, even in suffering. He was
able to say thank you to the God who created us all and to the One who alone can raise us to a new life.
I invite you, when you have a chance to read the words of this famous song, to hear what
difference “thank you” can make. That’s my altar-call invitation to you – learning to say thank
you, in big and small ways, and, in so doing, become people in whom God’s glory is
revealed!
Thanksgiving blessings,
Pastor Andy Kinsey
RSS Feed
