The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"In Everything Give Thanks"
"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thessalonians 5:18).
Why does our Heavenly Father command our gratitude "in everything?"
Certainly, the first reason involves the honor we bring to His Son when we give thanks. All of God's gifts and provision come to us "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). The blood of the Lamb purchased not only our redemption from sin, but also everything God gives and provides. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). That which God gives to us freely cost the Lord Jesus a far more self sacrificial price than we will ever know. Thus, our Father's will that we give thanks in everything greatly glorifies His beloved Son and our beloved Savior.
God also has loving purpose for our hearts in His calling to gratitude. He desires His peace to "rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15). No possibility of such grace exists unaccompanied by gratitude. Consider thanksgiving's antithesis:
"I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed" (Psalm 77:3).
Peace flies when complaint cries. We must view the temptation to grumble as a devilish, worldly, and fleshly enemy who seeks to trounce the tranquility of our hearts. Indeed, we all have likely said, "I would complain, but it wouldn't do any good." True, but far more, complaint does great harm in the heart. Peace and thanksgiving beautifully coexist. Peace and complaint harmfully repel one another. Thus, we seek to walk in gratitude in order to overcome the temptation to discontent, and to glorify the Prince of peace by knowing His peace in our hearts.
A final thought. Gratitude and unthankfulness both bear infectious capacity to influence others. No more influential believer exists for the glory of God than the one who walks in the attitude and expression of consistent thanksgiving. The reverse is true for the Christian who allows bitterness to poison his own soul, and inevitably the souls of others. We influence our sphere of influence to either peace or discontent by our countenance, demeanor, attitudes, words, and actions. No middle ground exists regarding such influence. Thus, we seek to devote ourselves to the gratitude whereby we glorify the Lord Jesus, know His peace in our hearts, and lead others to the same blessedness known when we heed the command so graced by promise - "In everything give thanks."
"Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6-7)
Weekly Memory Verse
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
(I Timothy 1:14)
6747
6720
No comments:
Post a Comment