"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." - I Thess. 5:18
Today we turn aside from our quest for nuggets of truth in I Corinthians to reflect upon the emphasis of the holiday soon to be upon us. In recent years I have noticed, as you also may have, how Thanksgiving is slighted in our present culture. In the marketplace it is interesting and saddening to see how much attention is focused on the meaningless Halloween, and then shifted immediately to our paganized Christmas. Thanksgiving, except for turkey and travel, just seems to fall through the cracks. Goblins get more than their share of attention, and gifts, the center of attraction in the modern "christmas," loom large, but gratitude is lost in the shuffle—especially gratitude to God.
As Christians we ought to make a difference. Our text would imply, it seems to me, that Thanksgiving should be our most important holiday. "In everything give thanks." The believer should live in an atmosphere of gratitude to God.
Thanksgiving is exemplified in scripture. The apostles engaged in it. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you," Paul wrote to the Philippians (1:3), expressing gratitude to God for their fellowship, faith and fidelity. Angels engage in thanksgiving. Rejoicing in the multitude of the redeemed from "all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues," standing in the presence of the Lamb of God in glory, "…all the angels stood round about the throne…and fell on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen (Rev. 7:9-12)." And the Savior himself exercised it. When He multiplied the loaves and fishes, He "gave thanks" (Mk. 8:6). When He stood before the grave of Lazarus, preparing to raise him from the dead, He "lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me…" (Jn. 11:41). And at the 'last supper,' "He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it." (Mk. 14:23)
Everywhere scripture reminds us of our indebtedness to God. "The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing (Ps. 145:15,16)." James enlarged on this theme when he declared, "Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (Jas. 1:17)." In these verses the logic of thanksgiving is driven home by the argument that all our need and every legitimate desire is satisfied out of His bountiful and beneficent hand.
But, our banner text for today carries the duty even further: "In everything give thanks…" This emphasis is reinforced in Ephesians 5:18-20, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto god and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…" Taken literally, these passages lay upon us the responsibility of thanksgiving to God even for the "negative' experiences of life. The ground for this is apparent, or at least suggested by that most familiar text, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28)." That leads to thanksgiving by faith. As the clouds bring promise of rain, without which the sunshine could not accomplish the harvest, so the dark things in the life of the believer are part of a wise Master plan that we can trust, and for which we can give thanks, even when we cannot see reason it is so.
Of course, the ultimate reason for the Christian to give thanks is the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift (II Cor. 9:15)." The gift of His Son and through Him the gift of eternal life is that which assures that however rough the road may be, we will arrive safely in the Father's house at the journey's end. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor. 15:53-58)."
"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." (Heb. 13:15)
His grace is the ultimate reason for our gratitude.
Yours for sustained thanksgiving,
"Pastor" Frasier [Have a blessed holiday!]
Today we turn aside from our quest for nuggets of truth in I Corinthians to reflect upon the emphasis of the holiday soon to be upon us. In recent years I have noticed, as you also may have, how Thanksgiving is slighted in our present culture. In the marketplace it is interesting and saddening to see how much attention is focused on the meaningless Halloween, and then shifted immediately to our paganized Christmas. Thanksgiving, except for turkey and travel, just seems to fall through the cracks. Goblins get more than their share of attention, and gifts, the center of attraction in the modern "christmas," loom large, but gratitude is lost in the shuffle—especially gratitude to God.
As Christians we ought to make a difference. Our text would imply, it seems to me, that Thanksgiving should be our most important holiday. "In everything give thanks." The believer should live in an atmosphere of gratitude to God.
Thanksgiving is exemplified in scripture. The apostles engaged in it. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you," Paul wrote to the Philippians (1:3), expressing gratitude to God for their fellowship, faith and fidelity. Angels engage in thanksgiving. Rejoicing in the multitude of the redeemed from "all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues," standing in the presence of the Lamb of God in glory, "…all the angels stood round about the throne…and fell on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen (Rev. 7:9-12)." And the Savior himself exercised it. When He multiplied the loaves and fishes, He "gave thanks" (Mk. 8:6). When He stood before the grave of Lazarus, preparing to raise him from the dead, He "lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me…" (Jn. 11:41). And at the 'last supper,' "He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it." (Mk. 14:23)
Everywhere scripture reminds us of our indebtedness to God. "The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing (Ps. 145:15,16)." James enlarged on this theme when he declared, "Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (Jas. 1:17)." In these verses the logic of thanksgiving is driven home by the argument that all our need and every legitimate desire is satisfied out of His bountiful and beneficent hand.
But, our banner text for today carries the duty even further: "In everything give thanks…" This emphasis is reinforced in Ephesians 5:18-20, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto god and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…" Taken literally, these passages lay upon us the responsibility of thanksgiving to God even for the "negative' experiences of life. The ground for this is apparent, or at least suggested by that most familiar text, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28)." That leads to thanksgiving by faith. As the clouds bring promise of rain, without which the sunshine could not accomplish the harvest, so the dark things in the life of the believer are part of a wise Master plan that we can trust, and for which we can give thanks, even when we cannot see reason it is so.
Of course, the ultimate reason for the Christian to give thanks is the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift (II Cor. 9:15)." The gift of His Son and through Him the gift of eternal life is that which assures that however rough the road may be, we will arrive safely in the Father's house at the journey's end. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor. 15:53-58)."
"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." (Heb. 13:15)
His grace is the ultimate reason for our gratitude.
Yours for sustained thanksgiving,
"Pastor" Frasier [Have a blessed holiday!]
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