1 Thessalonians 5:18 - How To Be Thankful Always.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) Give thanks in
all circumstances, for this is God's will for
you in Christ Jesus.
COMMENTARY PEARL
I've always struggled with this verse,
whether I encountered it in my Bible reading or sang
it as a chorus in church. Really? In
everything, give thanks? Everything?
I've always been a "glass half empty"
kind of gal and have always been able to think of
plenty of things for which I wasn't the least bit
thankful. I secretly thought it was kind of
unreasonable for God to expect this of me or others whose
lives were much more difficult than mine.
Through the years the verse niggled at
me. I still offered thanks out of obedience,
wishing I was better at it.
It's been gradual, but I've changed. I
read the Bible and saw how Jesus lived. His
gratitude was so natural as to be almost invisible to
me. Jesus was often heard thanking His Father
and I couldn't imagine Him doing it
half-heartedly. Jesus loved God and was sure of His love in
return. He never lost sight of it.
I don't always like my circumstances, but
I now recognize that I'm unqualified to judge
them. Jesus has shown me the Father. I've finally
seen His uninterrupted, never-ending love for
me.
And now I can't keep quiet or thank Him
enough! by Suzanne Davenport Tietjen
Consider reading Psalm 136 aloud in a
modern translation like The Message before your
Thanksgiving meal. (If you're eating with children, they
love to say the "His Love never quits" refrain.)
Let the repetition drum the truth of God's love
into your heart today. [Mornings With Jesus 2018
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191001-1055.html
EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON 28 REVELATIONS OF
JESUS
1st of 28: Divine Dining:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7j1QIKqmY
2nd of 28: Pictures of the Divine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNI-OQ7-eQ
3rd of 28: A Dirty Bible:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkPvBuuFd4
4th of 28: Cared For:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXyJVdcCds
5th of 28: Saved:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX45kGRe1HI
6th of 28: You Can Change:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0gkvK18fo
7th of 28: Reprogramming Our Brains:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov36f_RapXc
8th of 28 Our Holy Father:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XabXLEXsxbY
9th of 28 Gifts of Service:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtuGZviodkA
10th of 28 The Holy Spirit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in89XVs4cGo
11th of 28 The Law of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Q601HjogI
12th of 28 The Sabbath:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sakgnKoTzZI
Live ongoing series in progress.
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs