DON'T BE BLIND BY BLESSINGS

ILLUSTRATION: Tell a story about a kid getting jealous of something someone else had (a toy, a snack, etc.)

• Here is the example I used: I used to be a counselor at a day camp. This experience taught me so much. Primarily, I learned that kids are crazy.

• One day, after wrangling the kids into the cafeteria, I sat down to enjoy one of my favorite meals: tacos from a truck. Miraculously, my little amigos were all sitting down quietly with their lunch boxes. There was no screaming. There was no clapping or singing about Miss Mary Mack. There was just the sound of five-to-ten-year-olds eating and sniffling. This peaceful moment was interrupted by a blood-curdling scream from across the room.

• I dropped my taco and ran over to investigate. “What is going on?” The child, let’s call him Carl, stuttered through his tears, “I don’t have a Hot Pocket.” Assuming someone stole it, I started asking around. I quickly learned that he wasn’t supposed to have a Hot Pocket. Carl was upset because his friend across the table had one, and he didn't. Carl’s lunch honestly looked very good— a balanced meal his parents clearly packed with care. His sandwich even had the crust cut off. The other kid's dad just dropped a frozen Hot Pocket into a grocery bag.

• Carl didn’t see it that way, though. He didn’t have a Hot Pocket like his buddy, so he threw a fit and made a scene. He didn’t realize that the lunch in front of him was far superior to a lukewarm Hot Pocket with 700mg of sodium. His obsession with what he didn’t have distracted him from what he did have.

TENSION

• This is a pivotal life principle.

• If you always want what you don’t have, you’ll never be thankful for what you do have.

• Let’s travel back in time to one year into Jesus’s ministry.

• At this point, Jesus had healed thousands of people, raised people from the dead, and become a small-scale celebrity throughout Judea.

• However, look at what happens in the Gospel of Matthew.

• At this point in Jesus’ ministry, he is becoming a little bit of a celebrity. People are following him throughout Judea, wanting to see miracles and hanging onto his every word.

• During his ancient world tour, he chose to visit a place that meant a lot to him.

• Jesus walked right into his hometown of Nazareth.

• This was his family's village and the place where he spent his childhood. He grew up on these streets. This was his hometown, a place where he was well known before his public fame.

• The whole town is shocked at the words coming from Jesus’ mouth. They ask, “Where did he get this wisdom and miraculous powers? (13:54)

• Tragically, their amazement was replaced by antagonization. • They all “took offense to him.” Not only did they question him, they flat out rejected him

• This story blows my mind. Jesus was a well-known celebrity from a small village. There should have been a parade. There should have been a party. There at least should have been some cake.

• Imagine what it’s like when a a small-town contestant makes it big on The Voice or a little league team makes it to the world series. Usually, the town rallies around them.

• Nope, there was none of that.

• There wasn’t a reception for Jesus. There was rejection.

• Imagine how this must have felt. Jesus acknowledged that he “had no honor” in his own hometown — surrounded by his friends and family.

• Jesus was in His hometown. He should have been welcomed as a hero. There should have been lines of people ready to experience His power and listen to His wisdom.

• Instead, the people in Jesus’s own hometown did not get to receive all He had to offer because they were blind to who He really was.

• God in flesh was right there, and they missed it.

ILLUSTRATION: Discuss/act out a time when you looked for something that was obvious. (Like your car keys in your pocket or your phone in your hand.)

• It’s shockingly easy to miss something right in front of your face.

• We get distracted. We get tunnel vision. Or we even just refuse to look.

• Next thing you know, we are completely oblivious to the obvious.

Application: Don't be Blind to your Blessings

And here’s the kicker: Your blessings are often right in front of you.

• I get it. School seems boring. However, over 40% of high-school-age youth don’t get to go to school. This prevents them from gaining an education, rising to a place of influence, and getting out of the poverty cycle.

• What a blessing we have that we get to go to school.

• You were able to turn to that passage in Matthew in a full-text Bible, whether it was paper or on a screen.

• You have instant access to the word of God through the internet and the You Version Bible app.

• However, in the middle ages, a Bible would have cost a whole year’s salary. They were so expensive that only colleges had them.

• Most churches didn’t even have a copy.

• What a blessing we have in our accessibility to the Bible.

• What is my point? Gratitude will change your entire attitude. Don’t be blind.

• Take a good, hard look around you.

• Take an honest inventory of all the blessings you have in your life.

• You will see that the list is near endless.

• If we aren’t thankful, then we aren’t paying attention.

• It’s not happy people who are thankful. It’s thankful people who are happy.

• The practice of gratitude not only brings you closer to God, but it also empowers you to find peace despite your problems.

• Take some time after this service to write down some things you are thankful for.

• Don’t just write stuff like “food” “house” and “dog.”

• Think of names, experiences, and feelings. God has given you much, so let’s commit to practicing gratitude.

• Let gratitude change your attitude.

TALK IT OUT Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Go around the group and list one think you’re each thankful for.

Have you ever met someone who is ungrateful and complaining all the time? How does being around them make you feel?

What’s another small thing you’re thankful for that you never recognized as a blessing before?

How can we keep ourselves from becoming blind to our blessings?

What can you do to embrace gratitude this week?

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

John 3:16-17

Luke 7:36-50

Ephesians 2:1-10

Titus 2:11-14

Psalm 105:1-3

Hebrews 4:14-16

James 1:2-4

Romans 8:26-30 2

Corinthians 12:7-10

Psalm 34:1-3

Do the following with each passage:

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered