Gratitude is God's Will for You

 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -I Thessalonians 5:18

What is God’s will for our local church family? Our plans may become complex webs of what we would like to see in our church. Yet, those are our own plans. What is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus? God’s will for us is not something we plan and inform God of, but rather what God desires and reveals to us.

Paul and Silas preached the good news of Christ throughout Thessalonica in Acts 17, which formed a local church that drew the attention of Rome as Jewish and Gentile converts to Christ hailed the divisive political statement, “Jesus is Lord.” Paul and Silas fled town; however, despite persecution and Paul and Silas’ absence, the church flourished. The Apostle Paul now tells the saints at Thessalonica that Christians can always be full of thanksgiving to God. This command came to a church who needed Paul’s beautiful message of Christ and the church’s glorious future hope while remaining faithful through persecution.

Paul challenges continued growth in this thriving church with this command: give thanks in all circumstances. First, you dear Christian are individually to be thankful to God at all times. “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips” (Psalm 34:1). Be thankful even if you are in exile like Daniel who gave thanks to God in private prayer three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Being thankful to God in all circumstances in our personal prayer life keeps the heart from stiffening or bitterness. In a word, the Lord keeps us humble.

God is good to remind us not only who we are as undeserving sinners, but who He is as gracious, loving, faithful Savior. O, to be reminded of His goodness and tender kindness toward me refreshes my heart prone to grow weary and stimulates a growing gratefulness to God! Such constant thanksgiving encourages my soul to maintain a peaceful, joyful posture toward both my labors and my love for His church.

Second, we as a church family are to be thankful in all circumstances together. “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-21).

The church in Thessalonica was a persecuted church; yet, God’s will for them in Christ Jesus was to display His greatness in receiving all things, both hardship or sunny days, freedom or imprisonment, prosperity or poverty professing God’s goodness with a cheerful heart ready to praise God for it all! A thankful church stands as a lighthouse beacon piercing the dark fog displaying God’s goodness to a dark and confused world.

The world may wonder what power fills the hearts of the church gathered to sing of God’s grace each and every Sunday full of gratitude in every circumstance. This joy and peace the world does not know remains forever elusive in the darkness, but what a warm ray of sunshine is our Savior’s mercy to us His bride the church! What a true blessing to each of our hearts and homes as God fills us with His mercies in Christ Jesus with the tremendous sound of a grateful church!

Heavenly Father, strengthen our weak hearts with gratitude. Increase our love for one another to encourage our thanksgiving in every circumstance that we may with cheerful hearts sing together the praises of our gracious God. In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who is mighty and given full authority in heaven and on earth. Amen.