Theme Week – Thanks: 1 Thessalonians 5
Old Testament: Ezekiel 47 & 48
Poetry: Psalm 112
Today is thanksgiving! It’s THE day of giving thanks, for everything in life!
For everything…
For everything? Is that what the Bible says?
Think about what you have done and been through this year.
Yes, you moved out.
You started your job.
You brought your grades up.
You had the courage to tell him you liked him, or even just sit next to her.
But, you lost the game.
Your best friend betrayed you.
Your grandpa died.
You saw war continue across the world and breakout in Israel and Gaza.
For everything?
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“In.” Not “for.”
Luckily, my version does have “in all circumstances”, not simply “in everything.” The translators and editors want to focus on the fact that “in every circumstance” we are to give thanks to God.
We are not commanded to give thanks to God for the pain we endure, the loss we experience, or the death of a loved one. God is on a mission to destroy pain, mourning, and death; Revelation 21 makes it clear he doesn’t like that any more than you or I do, and in fact hates it far more than we could.
We ARE commanded to give thanks to God for the good things even in the middle of the pain. In the middle of the loss. In the death of a loved one.
I am not claiming it’s easy; I am saying it is possible. It is God’s will for you and I to give thanks in all circumstance. When we are living in the spirit and not quenching it, this is much more easy to achieve. The entire section of Thessalonians is how to live in response to the spirit.
May you be at peace around your dinner tables today.
May you encourage, help, and be patient with your family and friends who gather.
May you always seek to do good to one another.
May you rejoice.
May you pray.
And may you give thanks, in all circumstances.
Amen.
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(Note : For full disclosure, Ephesians 5:20 does say, in English “give thanks all the time for everything”. According to multiple scholars and commentaries, the word for “everything” (panton in the Greek) doesn’t have to mean “everything there is” but is determined by the context; Ephesians is consistent about the blessings of God coming upon people. There are many who would say this is not about pain, loss, death, or sin, but about the blessings of God. Others would say something like : “we should thank God for even evil things, because God will ultimately use even those circumstances and pains for our good, in spite of the hurt they cause.” While this is true and should be the goal of the mature Christian, the point stands for us still: God is against our pain and suffering needlessly, but he can take the pain and suffering of this world and make it good, and for his blessings, we should give thanks.)
-Jake Ballard
Reflection Questions
- What great blessings have you seen and enjoyed this year? How will you give thanks for them?
- What difficult times have you been through this year, or are in right now? Even in those difficulties what did you, or can you, find to give thanks to God for?
- By choosing to be thankful to God even in the midst of pain and suffering what other feelings and thoughts do you diminish?
- Who do you think gains the most from your thankfulness?
Seek Grow Love 