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Although in this life, Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) members also go through difficulties, they will ever be thankful to God Who guides them through His teachings.
BEFORE EACH YEAR comes to a close, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) render thanksgiving to God. They offer praise and glory to the Almighty, ever thankful for all the blessings that they have received from Him.
When they were not yet in the true Church, they had been bound for terrible destruction. However, when God called them to be His people, they were brought near to Him and have been shown the “path to life”—the everlasting life (Ps. 16:11 Contemporary English Version).
Although in this life, Church Of Christ members also go through difficulties, they will ever be thankful to God Who guides them through His teachings:
“I praise you, Lord, for being my guide. Even in the darkest night, your teachings fill my mind.” (Ps. 16:7 cev)
In times of distress, when they cry out to God for help especially in His temple or house of worship, they themselves attest that God hears their voice (Ps. 18:6 Common English Bible). Hence, members of the Church Of Christ will ever be thankful to God not only because they gained the right to receive the true life, but also because, through His precious help, they have been able to remain as His servants despite what they have been through.
God indeed reveals His mighty power to the entire Church, then flowing to its members, thus:
“How awe-inspiring are your deeds, O God! How great your power! No wonder your enemies surrender! All the earth shall worship you and sing of your glories. Come, see the glorious things God has done. What marvelous miracles happen to his people!” (Ps. 66:3–5 Living Bible)
With all that the Church Of Christ has achieved since Brother Felix Y. Manalo, God’s Messenger in these last days, started this mission, the Church’s current Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, always encourages the members to be thankful to God Whose works are so great (Ps. 111:2 Amplified Bible 2015).
Church Of Christ members look back with great joy to all the blessings God has poured out to the entire Church and its members. Ever grateful for what He has done for the Church, they never allow a year to pass without humbly rendering thanksgiving worship service to the Lord God.
As they express their utmost gratitude for God’s abundant blessings, Church Of Christ members resolve to remain steadfast and immovable in their faith and to always excel in the work of the Lord, that is, the holy works entrusted to the Church. They are assured that God will remember they did their best because of love and desire to help His people or the Church (I Cor. 15:57–58 AMP2015; Heb. 6:10 Easy-to-Read Version).
They are also thankful to God for the Administration He placed in the Church that effectively leads and guides them in their services to Him. This is being accomplished by the Church Administration with the help of the ministers, ministerial workers and Church officers who ensure patiently and lovingly the spiritual welfare of God’s people.
They do so with due diligence in the fulfillment of the duties that are God’s gift to them (Rom. 12:6–8 Jerusalem Bible) for the benefit of the Church. With their dedication, they set themselves as living examples to the brethren in taking part in the Church’s sacred endeavors. They form a solid foundation for them to be deemed worthy of the great salvation that God promised. For all these great blessings, Church Of Christ members always give praise and thanks to Him.
This is the ultimate aspiration of the Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo—that all members reach the promised salvation—the same goal that Brother Felix Manalo and Brother Eraño G. Manalo had when they were still the ones administering the Church. Brother Eduardo Manalo never wastes a chance to visit the brethren—wherever they may be—even if their place is difficult to reach, just so he may preach to them God’s words for their spiritual well-being.
He always encourages them not to be afraid of the hardships and calamities that are growing more severe, but to place their confidence in the Lord Who will keep them safe even from hidden dangers (Prov. 3:25–26 AMP).
The Church leader also remind the brethren that God has been with them—the only reason they have been able to remain in their Church membership, thus:
“What would have happened to us if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive when they became angry with us. Their armies would have been like a flood washing over us, like a river drowning us. Those proud people would have been like water rising up to our mouth and drowning us. Praise the Lord! He did not let our enemies tear us apart.” (Ps. 124:2–6 etrv)
God indeed loves the Church Of Christ in these last days. For more than a century, God has been with His nation. And so we, Iglesia Ni Cristo members, promise to God that we will ever be thankful to Him and that we will stand our ground upholding our divine election no matter what happens in our life. ❑
