In Everything Give Thanks
In Everything Give Thanks
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-21
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This final admonishment has perhaps the most highly concentrated list of commands in the New Testament. In these rapid-fire statements, we find 15 imperatives. Each of them highlights actions that should be a continual behavior us our lives. These commands are not one-and-done commands where we fulfill our responsibility in a single act of obedience. Instead, they require continuous and repeated action on our part. In other words, these commands are to become part of our daily life and practice. Yet these things do not come naturally but require a willful determination on our part to fulfill them.
Nestled in this series of commands, we find the exhortation, “In everything give thanks.” The command is connected to the two previous commands to always rejoice and pray without ceasing. The three commands go together, with the middle command providing the foundation. In prayer, we realign our focus away from the circumstances we face to the God of the universe. To pray without ceasing elevates prayer beyond the verbal expression of our needs. Instead, it focuses prayer upon the attitude that we are to have. When Paul encourages us to pray without ceasing, he urges us to live with an attitude of submission and trust in God. When we become aware of God’s constant and abiding presence and work, we have the basis for joy and thanksgiving.
Yet the wording in this appeal is critical. Paul does not say to give thanks “for” every circumstance. This would not only be impossible but morally wrong. There are many things we are not to be thankful for. We are not to be thankful for sin. We are not to be thankful for the destruction of evil ravishing our world in which tragic events occur. We live in a broken world where death and decay are constant companions because of the devastation of sin.
Instead, Paul commands us to be thankful “in” everything. In other words, we can remain thankful in the midst of all circumstances, not because of the events, but because of the sovereign God who orchestrates every situation to accomplish what is for our ultimate good. This is the point Paul makes in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” The reason we have this hope is that we serve a God who is infinitely more powerful than any circumstance and can enable us to be triumphant in every circumstance and trial, even death itself (Romans 8:31-39).
As we enter Thanksgiving week, for some of us, there may be abundant reasons to give thanks. God’s goodness is readily visible as we enjoy his blessings of good health, financial security, and a life without any significant problems. However, for others of us, it may be more difficult. Life may not seem to be going well. We may face financial worries, the threat of life-threatening diseases, or circumstances that cause us anxiety and fear. However, whatever the event, we still have reason to be thankful, not because of the circumstances but because of the God who governs our life and orchestrates all events, both good and bad, to achieve our eternal good. God is not the cause of evil and adversity, but he is powerful and can still accomplish his purpose in our lives through the adversity we face. For that, we can be thankful. So this week, spend time giving thanks to God no matter the situation you are facing, for he is still in control and working in your life for your good and his glory.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-21
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This final admonishment has perhaps the most highly concentrated list of commands in the New Testament. In these rapid-fire statements, we find 15 imperatives. Each of them highlights actions that should be a continual behavior us our lives. These commands are not one-and-done commands where we fulfill our responsibility in a single act of obedience. Instead, they require continuous and repeated action on our part. In other words, these commands are to become part of our daily life and practice. Yet these things do not come naturally but require a willful determination on our part to fulfill them.
Nestled in this series of commands, we find the exhortation, “In everything give thanks.” The command is connected to the two previous commands to always rejoice and pray without ceasing. The three commands go together, with the middle command providing the foundation. In prayer, we realign our focus away from the circumstances we face to the God of the universe. To pray without ceasing elevates prayer beyond the verbal expression of our needs. Instead, it focuses prayer upon the attitude that we are to have. When Paul encourages us to pray without ceasing, he urges us to live with an attitude of submission and trust in God. When we become aware of God’s constant and abiding presence and work, we have the basis for joy and thanksgiving.
Yet the wording in this appeal is critical. Paul does not say to give thanks “for” every circumstance. This would not only be impossible but morally wrong. There are many things we are not to be thankful for. We are not to be thankful for sin. We are not to be thankful for the destruction of evil ravishing our world in which tragic events occur. We live in a broken world where death and decay are constant companions because of the devastation of sin.
Instead, Paul commands us to be thankful “in” everything. In other words, we can remain thankful in the midst of all circumstances, not because of the events, but because of the sovereign God who orchestrates every situation to accomplish what is for our ultimate good. This is the point Paul makes in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” The reason we have this hope is that we serve a God who is infinitely more powerful than any circumstance and can enable us to be triumphant in every circumstance and trial, even death itself (Romans 8:31-39).
As we enter Thanksgiving week, for some of us, there may be abundant reasons to give thanks. God’s goodness is readily visible as we enjoy his blessings of good health, financial security, and a life without any significant problems. However, for others of us, it may be more difficult. Life may not seem to be going well. We may face financial worries, the threat of life-threatening diseases, or circumstances that cause us anxiety and fear. However, whatever the event, we still have reason to be thankful, not because of the circumstances but because of the God who governs our life and orchestrates all events, both good and bad, to achieve our eternal good. God is not the cause of evil and adversity, but he is powerful and can still accomplish his purpose in our lives through the adversity we face. For that, we can be thankful. So this week, spend time giving thanks to God no matter the situation you are facing, for he is still in control and working in your life for your good and his glory.
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