THE FRAGRANCE
OF THANKSGIVING (Thanks/ Thankfulness)
1Thessalonians
5:18 Give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for
you. (ESV); In everything give thanks: for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (KJV)
This blog post is short because it is long overdue and also due to the
fact that I don’t have much to write, as it is a pretty straight forward one.
But let me nip some juice, if I can call it that, from the two earlier posts. The Celebrated Secrete of Contentment (1Tim 6:6-8; Phil
4:11-13) should at least bolster a closer, peaceful and
sweeter walk with the Lord. God commands us to be content. In The Distinguished vessel of Usefulness
based on 2Tim 2:21, I
concluded with the fact that one cannot miss the value and beauty of usefulness
as it distinguishes and reveals God’s people and His saving grace upon them. We
honour Jesus and God our Father as we bear fruit, and he makes us (by pruning)
to be even more fruitful. I deduced that assurance of salvation is also enjoyed
through this fruit and that it is and will be rewarded!
Now, if celebrating can be in different forms, so does
thanksgiving have many expressions. However difficult giving thanks might be in
some circumstance, we are exhorted to offer it as a moral obligation to God in
all things at all times. And thankfully, we are considering the time of
rejoicing and gladness when thanksgiving seems or should be so obvious and
fitting. The rejoicing which should be always in the Lord!
Yet how much and very often are we self-focused and self-pleasing
in those celebrations that there’s not even
a thought of, or an ounce of thanks to the God whose air we breathe and
goodness we enjoy! It is about us with loved ones and friends, our achievements
and feelings of being fortunate and blessed without a real view of and
relationship with God, the one who blesses. The thought-focus during the
celebrations is often about what was left out or how best we will celebrate
next time, and perhaps what is left to accomplish and how we need God’s help
but not needing to give him thanks or acknowledge him.
Sometimes we are grumbling, scrutinizing and asking why and how some
“nice” things did not happen as expected or requested, and how and why bad
things have spoilt almost everything! Ungratefully, instead of giving thanks,
some people arrogantly even give instructions to God during their celebrations.
With brute instinct and sometimes glorying in shame, most people are blinded by
selfishness and sheer love for pleasure. Such people should not simply claim
ignorance or oversight what God demands. It reminds me of a critical question
the Lord our God asked in the days of the prophets and still asks today, ‘And when you eat and when you drink, do
you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?’ Zechariah 7:6.
Those of us who profess to be
Christians should not behave like this.
I
have recommended that reflecting on our lives, meditation on God’s word and
obeying or putting it into practice is the rational thing to do and the underlying
or over-aching anti-dote if we are to celebrate whatever occasion
so that it is not in a cunning manner mere indulgence. Here are some more petty
simple reasons why we should give thanks to God as we celebrate:
1. We owe our all to the Almighty
and gracious God;
2. It is for our good (it
is God’s Will as seen in 1 Thes)
3. God knows best, we give the
glory to him when we are thankful
This is the will
of God in Christ Jesus concerning us, that we give thanks, seeing God is
reconciled to us in Christ Jesus; in him, through him, and for his sake, he
allows us to rejoice evermore, and appoints us in every thing to give thanks.
It is plainly pleasing to God!
For this reason, that all things work together
for good to them that love God; therefore, every occasion may be a subject of
gratitude and thankfulness. Beloved, gratitude (thankfulness)
and obedience are inseparably connected, be thankful always!
WHEN IN GLORY
PERFECTED, I SEE YOU AS YOU ARE
PRIVILEGED TO
HALLOW YOUR HOLY NAME
O let me be, God of
my soul
Wholly to thee,
full of praise!
ETERNALLY GRATEFUL,
A BLESSED SOUL
AMID
GREAT MULTITUDES, BOUGHT BY CHRIST!
(Words
from God
of My Soul, the song)
