20 Jan February 14th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “. . . give thanks in all circumstances . . . “

Ephesians 5:20 adds to what today’s devotional verse says.  It says, “ . . .  always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Give thanks to God “in all circumstances” and “for everything” is sometimes very difficult to do.  Giving Him thanks for a new, healthy son or daughter, grandchild or great-grandchild is a no brainer.  Giving Him thanks for healing comes naturally.  Saying thank you to God for His undeserved love, the forgiveness of your sins and for peace in your heart is obviously the thing to do.

Giving thanks to God, even thinking of giving thanks to Him, when the doctor informs you the cancer you have is incurable?  Giving Him thanks for the “pink slip” your boss just handed you?  Thanking Him for the walker that you must use for the rest of your life?  Giving thanks for these situations or many others like them is a horse of a different color, isn’t it?

However, 2 Thessalonians 5:18 and Ephesians 5:20 say to give thanks to God in all circumstances and for everything.  Isn’t this just too much?  It is more than you are capable of doing, isn’t it?  Think however of what God’s word says to you in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

It took decades for God’s good to finally be revealed in the life of Joseph.  Abused by his brothers, sold into slavery, unjustly accused, and then imprisoned because of the lie of Potipher’s wife, all so Joseph’s God given gifts and purpose would finally become known to the Egyptian Pharoah.  Only then did God’s purpose planned through Joseph becoming the second in command in Egypt was Joseph able to put into place seven years of gathering food to store for the seven years of famine that would follow.  Joseph was able to then say to his brothers in forgiving them their sins against him, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

Give thanks unto God in “all circumstances” and for everything.  O give thanks unto Him for He is good and His mercy endures forever.  (Psalm 118:29) What good does God intend to work through you for your sake and that of others?  To Him be the glory!

Prayer:  Father, grant me a faith that will not shrink, though pressed by many a foe.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Oh, for a faith that will not shrink Tho’ pressed by many a foe;

That will not tremble on the brink Of poverty or woe;

That will not murmur nor complain

Beneath the chast’ning rod,

But in the hour of grief or pain

Can lean up its God;

A faith that shines more bright and clear

When tempests rage without;

That, when in danger, knows no fear,

In darkness feels no doubt;

That bears unmoved the world’s dread frown

Nor heeds its scornful smile;

That sin’s wild ocean cannot drown

Nor Satan’s arts beguile;

A faith that keeps the narrow way

Till Life’s last spark is fled

And with a pure and heavenly ray

Lights up the dying bed.

Lord, give us such a faith as this;

And then, whate’er may come,

We’ll taste e’en now the hallowed bliss

Of an eternal home.

(TLH 396)