…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Give Thanks
In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving. Many other nations have their own opportunities to express their thanks for God’s blessings. Lasting for seven days, Sukkot is a national holiday in Israel that takes place between the end of September and the end of October. Sukkot is also known as “The Festival of Ingathering” because of its connection to the harvest, or gathering of crops. The festival also commemorates the 40 years the children of Israel wandered in the desert after being freed from slavery in Egypt.
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There is so much in life that is a blessing. Sadly, we take much of it for granted or spend so much time on the negatives that we miss those incredible blessings. The antidote is to live with a constant attitude of thanksgiving, and for the follower of Jesus, this is God’s will. How do we know this is God’s will? Well, because Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thanking God in all circumstances is the third of three staccato commands that Paul gives in this chapter – rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. Because we have added verse numbers, we can miss the flow of this – each of these is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. When it comes to thanking God in every circumstance, that only comes as we grow in faith and understand that God is always at work, shaping us, teaching us, drawing us closer to Himself. Today, as you express your thanks no matter what, watch how gratitude shifts your perspective and your spirit.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley