Pastor Dustin explained that gratitude is far more than a feeling or a seasonal practice—it’s a way of life that has the power to reshape how we see everything. When we fix our attention on what God has given us, complaining becomes harder and our hearts begin to shift. The 25 Days of Gratitude Challenge was designed not as a short-term exercise, but as a catalyst for lasting transformation. Changing our patterns is difficult, but it’s essential if we want to live in the fullness God intends.
Just as understanding flight changes the way we see airplanes, encountering Christ changes the way we see our entire lives. Paul experienced this firsthand. Once a Pharisee who valued status and outward achievement, his meeting with Jesus completely reframed his perspective. Writing to a culture obsessed with honor and appearance, Paul reminded the church in Corinth—and us—that Christ came in humility and suffering, not worldly glory.
Before Christ, we tend to see our time, talents, and treasures as ours alone. But in Christ, everything becomes a gift to steward. Our time is entrusted to us, our abilities are on loan from God, and our resources become tools for His kingdom. Stories from people in our own church, like Roger and Jason, show how talents and resources can be used to serve others and give glory to God.
This matters because we are called to be Christ’s ambassadors—people who carry His message to a world longing for hope. We don’t save anyone; only Christ does. But we are invited to stand in the gap, pointing others back to Him. Generosity, then, isn’t simply an obligation. It’s a privilege and a sign of spiritual maturity.
For believers, the invitation is to open our hands and grow in generosity and sanctification. And for those who don’t yet know Christ, the call is to stop searching for peace and belonging apart from Him, and find it in the One who became sin for us so that we might be made right with God.