Thanksgiving 2020. It would be a disservice to look at this
year and even with all that is gone on and at this very moment and not find
something to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving a time of sharing and caring. Thanksgiving for
our GOD, our family, friends and the many blessings we have. I know we cannot
but help look at the adversity of what we see today. To even find the words to
describe the time of trouble we are currently living in. Well, it seems almost
too much to keep count of. I ask, has there ever been such a Thanksgiving like
this one? The demands of social distancing. In certain parts of the country we
see the mandatory “no more than ten people gathered together…” Just up
the road from me if you are caught without a mask it’s a $200.00 fine. The talk
has been that there are possible lock downs for weeks. We see the numbers going
up with the number of virus infections. And there are many other things that can
be said of the ever more increasing of other things that have many stressed,
angry, and confused as how we are here.
Yet, the challenge for many is not just having a
Thanksgiving with its turkey and dressing and all the fixings, but a challenge
of Giving Thanks.
·
Can we be Thankful?
·
Can we give Thanks?
Maybe the more pertinent question is.
·
Will we give Thanks?
Paul left us this word to take care of where we are all at.
1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
KJV
In everything give thanks. That is quite a feat when
in contrast of the times we are in. Yet, this is exactly what is to be
expected. This is not a suggestion but a commandment of Paul. What we can see
is this. The church is to give thanks in every thing. The saints
of GOD are to give thanks.
It is worth noting from whom this is coming from. The guy
that has been beaten and on more than one occasion. This is coming from a guy
that has been cold, naked, shipwrecked, much labor, persecuted, perils of
robbers and perils of his own countrymen. On and on we could list this from a
guy who has suffered in weakness and in loss. Yet, this same guy gives forth this
commandment. IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS. Then Paul from this command tells
from whence this comes… FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD. Paul here gives no
way out. There is no excuse. Paul does away from any reason that could ever be
given to not GIVE THANKS. How? FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD.
I could draw from the many blessings that come from being
thankful. I could point out the fact of having favor with GOD and with man when
having such an attitude of gratitude. I could draw from the fact of just how
having a grateful heart is the defeat of stress, sickness, and disease. I could
make a strong case that a person who dares to GIVE THANKS in the face of
the devil. It is that kind of individual that cannot be defeated by satan himself.
But no, I don’t have to. Because Paul already stated the obvious truth. TO
GIVE THANKS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST CONCERNING YOU.
YOU!!! Now that seems to also do a way with any argument of
us putting this on our neighbor or anyone else. That this as Paul states and
with no wiggle room I might add. THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST CONCERNING
YOU.
SO, IT IS TO YOU AND ME THERE IS NO WAY OUT. TO BE IN THE WILL
OF GOD WE MUST GIVE THANKS.
As I asked above. Can we give thanks? Can we be thankful? Well
no need to ask when the answer is right in front of us. There is no choice in the
matter but as the song says, WHEN I THINK OF THE GOODNESS OF JESUS AND ALL THAT
HE HAS DONE FOR ME. Well, I think reader you get the message.
1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
KJV
Bless you. Thank you for reading.
