In Every Thing Give Thanks ? #99

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

In everything give thanks? Paul said everything. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. It’s impossible to curse what God has blessed, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good. We should be thankful and rejoice-full for it's an eternal blessing disguise in an unattractive package.

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. God uses the trails and tribulation as a hammer to soften and to mold our hearts to His desires. The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Like the gold is purified by the fire so is our commitment to God will be tested by the struggles of life.

Job, a blessed and devoted man that walked blameless before God, was not exempt from the struggles of life. Satan challenge Job’s integrity, but was unable to find fault in him. God had placed a hedge around Job, his family and his belonging to protect them from the enemies. Satan accused Job falsely by proposing to God that he only serve Him for protection. God removed Job's protection, and allow Satan to do his best to get Job to curse God by taking his wealth, children, and his physical health. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. All of Satan's attacks were allowed and supervised by God for he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

Shall God spare us because we are His children? That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. His will is eminent over our comfort. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Be thankful in every situation in times of adversity or in times of prosperity. It is the will of God, and there is no good reason to complaint against it, things could get worse. Count your blessing and you'll find no reason to complaint and all the reason to be thankful.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. We shall expect outward tribulation; however it's God's design that only in Christ we shall obtain inward peace. He sent us to proclaim peace on earth, and good-will towards men in the midst of a trouble world. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Mat 5:11-12, Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28, 1Peter 1:7, Job 1:20-22, PS 103:14, Mat 5:45, Job 2:10, John 16:33, Phil 4:6, 1 Peter5:7

KJV