Darryl Dash tells a story about a Puritan who was given a meagre meal of bread and water.

You’d think he would be less than excited. After all, a simple meal of bread and water isn’t really anything to write home about. Not very tasty either. 

But no. His attitude was much different. “All this, and Jesus too!” he said.*

Think about it. If you have Jesus, everything else is gravy (even when there is no gravy). Just consider the big picture blessing of your life as described in Romans 5:1-2, 5: “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God… God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

That’s a lot of blessing! 

None of this takes away the pain of your hardships, losses and disappointments. I’m sure there have been many. And I’m sure they have—or continue to—hurt. 

But none of those things can take away the greatest gift and treasure: being justified with God, faith, peace with God, his grace, his hope, his love poured into our hearts, and the Holy Spirit himself!

Today, look around and give thanks. “All this, and Jesus too!”

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Notes:

–*As recounted in a Facebook post on March 28, 2024.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.