“In everything give thanks, for this is will of God for you.” 1Thess. 5:18
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In my previous entry, I wrote about the dark place of deep disappointment, discouragement, doubts; and the decisions we make when we experience those emotions. We will go through times of grieving when our disappointments are due to losses that deeply affect our lives. But, even when being “thankful” is the last thing you may feel like doing, we still need to do it. Why? Because, I believe this verse is NOT a harsh, critical command that has to be obeyed “or else”. No! We are given these verses as instructional principles, so that we may more deeply know our God, and His promises for us!
II Timothy 3: 16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
II Peter 1: 2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (NKJV)
When we are willing to choose to “give thanks IN all things”…we are stating that we trust an all-powerful God to be in control.
“Nothing under His control can ever be out of control.”
(Swindoll, Charles R. Intimacy with The Almighty Word Pub. Dallas, TX 1996 p. 72)
There are so many other verses that we could look at, but even in these two examples, we learn that the Scriptures are given to us to instruct us, reproof and correct us, and train us in righteousness. What are the results? Being “complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”; through knowledge of Him we are “given…all things that pertain to life and godliness…exceedingly great and precious promises…”!
Do these verses “feel” real and true? Probably not when you are in the toughest times of your life, but are they true? YES! If you haven’t taken 1 Thessalonians 5:18 seriously, or followed its instruction very often, do so today!
Let God show Himself mighty in YOUR life! His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts…they are much higher than ours. (Isaiah 55: 8-9)
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!
Let all the nations praise Him!
Dear Lord, Grant us Your grace and peace in the times when we are at our ‘lowest’. Grant us Your grace to truly thank and praise YOU in all things, for You are worthy to be praised! Amen!