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“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
I Thessalonians 5:18We are at that time of the year where we reflect. We look at what has happened as well as what we desired to happen. Some things have gone our way while other things haven’t. No matter what the case may be, we should always give thanks unto God.Things that happen don’t define us but help to reveal who we truly are. For example, the death of a loved one, a diagnosed disease, a car accident or other sudden adversity may occur unexpectedly, but does not change who you are as an individual. You are still you. You are you before it happened, while it is happening, and when it is over. The effects that it has on you will reveal the true character and nature of who we are.We are, as Believers and Receivers of Jesus, sons and daughters of the Most High God. Things that happen to us reveal our conviction of being such. If good things happen, we may be on “cloud 9” soaring high in our faith because we know, “God is so good”. On the other hand if bad things happen we may be “down in the dumps” with a “woe is me” attitude because things have not gone “our way”.But the Word of God says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” In other words, it is the will of God for you to always be thankful – even in unpleasant times. Why? Because God is Lord of all and Lord over all. The Apostle Paul went so far as to say this, “…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content(see Phil 4:11)”, as well as, “ But godliness with contentment is great gain (see I Tim 6:6)”. Content is defined as sufficient for one’s self, strong enough or processing enough to need no aid or support – self complacent. Contentment is defined as a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed – self satisfaction.The only true place to become self-complacent and/or self-satisfied is in Christ Jesus. In His sufficiency we are sufficient. IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS!“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God…” (II Corinthians 3:5)
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