Give Thanks!

Give Thanks!

‭1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC‬

[18] Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

After being charged to rejoice at all times, and to pray continually, there is now the charge to give thanks in everything. There must be no half-measures when it comes to a walk with God. My entire life must be involved in a walk with God. I cannot afford to be warm today and cold tomorrow. Based on the principles of the Bible, that is being lukewarm. The end result of such a state is that God would spue such a person out of his mouth because He has no use for a person who cannot make up his mind what he will be committed to. Am I such a person whose heart is still split across different engagements, or have I learnt the secret of access into the throne of grace? 

Giving thanks in everything would require that my heart acknowledges that God is in charge of all things, and nothing happens without His permission or consent. 

For a child of God, this is critical. In the face of the complexities in our lives, such as economic turmoil, financial woes, political conflicts, even family tussles and breakups, God still says I should give thanks in everything. No matter what comes my way, if I am able to give thanks, I tell God that He is Lord and Master over all situations in and around me, even when they do not look like that. I am opening up the channels for God to do even greater things in my life. Is there any area of my life that is making it hard for me to give thanks for? I love one definition of giving, which is: 'freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone)'. Of my own freewill, without any compulsion, I offer up thanks to God. If I don't give it, it does not change who God is, but giving thanks means I acknowledge that God wants it. 

God does not owe a man, so you are sure that when you give thanks, God is moved to give you something too. The verse says it is God's will that I give thanks, and when I do the will of God, God will also do amazing things in my life. God does not owe a man; if I obey, He will move mightily in my life. The opposite is also very true. There is the not-so-small matter of who the verse above speaks to, and that is for those who are in Christ Jesus. This is very important, because your location will always drive your motivation. If I know who I am, who I belong to, and what is expected of me, there will not be any struggle with obeying the demands of my identity, ownership and allegiance. Am I in Christ, or do I have other equally pressing allegiances, making it difficult to focus on God alone? I must remember that doing God's will is the only way to earn His approval, and to experience His power. Nothing else works. God's time of favour is here.