Tuesday, November 26, 2019
We Still Need to Say Thank You
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 nkjv)
In a relatively short period of time, poor Job lost everything that was precious to him. He lost his family, his health, and his possessions. And to make matters worse, his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9 nkjv).
Job lost it all, yet he gave thanks to God. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21 nkjv).
When something good happens in our lives, we give God the glory. But what about when things are not going well? We still need to say, “Thank you, Jesus.”
Sometimes praising the Lord is a sacrifice, but we should always do it. As the apostle Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 nkjv).
Notice that Paul tells us to give thanks “in everything.” In Greek, this phrase means “in connection with everything that occurs.” Of course, this would not include personal sin. We wouldn’t give thanks for a sin we committed or the repercussions we face as a result. But we should be thankful for the other things.
There are no exceptions, no excuses. Nothing is outside these parameters.
You might say, “My heart is not in it.”
It doesn't matter whether your heart is in it. This is about giving thanks because God is good. It’s about giving thanks because God is in control of your life. Give thanks because He’s in control of all circumstances surrounding your life.
The fact of the matter is that for the Christian, every day should be Thanksgiving, minus the turkey dinner, of course. Like Job, we can give thanks, even when times are hard.
Copyright © 2019 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
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Relationships can be one of life’s greatest blessings. They can also be one of life’s greatest challenges. In his new book Am I Doing This Right?, Pastor Greg Laurie explores what the Bible says about singleness, dating, marriage, friendships, family, and even how we relate to people who don’t share our faith. Drawing from Scripture and personal experience, Greg offers practical guidance for building relationships that honor God and stand the test of time.
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