"In everything give thanks." — I Thess. 5:18a
Here is the third injunction in the challenging trilogy currently under consideration. What is most challenging about it, like that of "Rejoice evermore," is its all-inclusiveness — "everything." There is so much in life as we experience and interpret it that hardly seems thank worthy. How can we "give thanks" in the face of crushing natural disasters with their devastating effects? In financial reverses or poverty? Illness? Bereavement? Wayward children, cheating spouses, broken families, to name some?
The answer is, of course, by faith; faith that construes everything as under the control of God and suited to the outworking of His sovereign will. If we are to give thanks in everything, we must have confidence in God's power, wisdom, providence, righteousness, justice, His goodness—and His preeminence.
And, despite the difficulty, this is not an isolated emphasis. In the classic passage, Philippians 4:6, we are exhorted, "… in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God (italics mine)." And, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks unto His name [Heb. 13:15]." And in close parallel to our text, "[Give] thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ [Eph. 5:20]."
We are assured in scripture that God works "all things after the counsel of His own will [Eph. 1:11]," and that all things are working together for good to those who love Him (Rom. 8:28.) We are instructed that wind and waves are under His control, "For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof [Ps. 107:25]." We are assured that "As for God, His way is perfect [Psalm 18:30]," and He makes even the wrath of men to praise Him (cf. Ps. 76:10.) What matters most is the outworking of His will and plan, not my 'life's little day.' Our individual history is woven into the larger plan as individual threads are woven into a great tapestry. By itself no single thread has meaning, but worked into the whole, each contributes to the end result, the dark ones as well as the bright ones. It is from that perspective that we are called to perennial thanksgiving— "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal [II Cor. 4:18]."
Think of an environment in which this principle was assiduously applied. There would be no complaining about anything; only praise and worship in the assurance that God is in control and knows what He is doing. In fact, that is the atmosphere He is seeking to create in the church, making it a stunning contrast to the sinful society around us. But, how miserably we fail!
Rejoice - in everything. Pray - about everything. Give thanks -for everything. "For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." "Impossible," you say. But "with God nothing shall be impossible [Luke 1:37]," as we are reminded when at this season of the year we reflect on the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the Savior Himself said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God [Luke 18:27]."
A number of years ago a friend sent us a little motto which now graces our refrigerator. It says simply, "I can't, but GOD can." If we look at these commands in light of our human resources, we will not even make progress in the right direction. If we look at them from the perspective of His resources, He is able to cultivate them in us.
God is able "to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us… [Eph. 3:20]." Will you ask Him? Will you let Him?
For our good and His glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
Here is the third injunction in the challenging trilogy currently under consideration. What is most challenging about it, like that of "Rejoice evermore," is its all-inclusiveness — "everything." There is so much in life as we experience and interpret it that hardly seems thank worthy. How can we "give thanks" in the face of crushing natural disasters with their devastating effects? In financial reverses or poverty? Illness? Bereavement? Wayward children, cheating spouses, broken families, to name some?
The answer is, of course, by faith; faith that construes everything as under the control of God and suited to the outworking of His sovereign will. If we are to give thanks in everything, we must have confidence in God's power, wisdom, providence, righteousness, justice, His goodness—and His preeminence.
And, despite the difficulty, this is not an isolated emphasis. In the classic passage, Philippians 4:6, we are exhorted, "… in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God (italics mine)." And, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks unto His name [Heb. 13:15]." And in close parallel to our text, "[Give] thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ [Eph. 5:20]."
We are assured in scripture that God works "all things after the counsel of His own will [Eph. 1:11]," and that all things are working together for good to those who love Him (Rom. 8:28.) We are instructed that wind and waves are under His control, "For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof [Ps. 107:25]." We are assured that "As for God, His way is perfect [Psalm 18:30]," and He makes even the wrath of men to praise Him (cf. Ps. 76:10.) What matters most is the outworking of His will and plan, not my 'life's little day.' Our individual history is woven into the larger plan as individual threads are woven into a great tapestry. By itself no single thread has meaning, but worked into the whole, each contributes to the end result, the dark ones as well as the bright ones. It is from that perspective that we are called to perennial thanksgiving— "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal [II Cor. 4:18]."
Think of an environment in which this principle was assiduously applied. There would be no complaining about anything; only praise and worship in the assurance that God is in control and knows what He is doing. In fact, that is the atmosphere He is seeking to create in the church, making it a stunning contrast to the sinful society around us. But, how miserably we fail!
Rejoice - in everything. Pray - about everything. Give thanks -for everything. "For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." "Impossible," you say. But "with God nothing shall be impossible [Luke 1:37]," as we are reminded when at this season of the year we reflect on the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the Savior Himself said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God [Luke 18:27]."
A number of years ago a friend sent us a little motto which now graces our refrigerator. It says simply, "I can't, but GOD can." If we look at these commands in light of our human resources, we will not even make progress in the right direction. If we look at them from the perspective of His resources, He is able to cultivate them in us.
God is able "to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us… [Eph. 3:20]." Will you ask Him? Will you let Him?
For our good and His glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
No comments:
Post a Comment