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"LIVING THE THANKFUL LIFE “ 1st Thessalonians 5: 16-18
“Thank's For Everything," and with these words a young man , with his car full of clothes - - money for food in his pocket, drove out of the driveway; and it was months before his parents heard a word from him. “Thank's, Mom and Dad, Thank's for Eeverything." And he was on his way, forgetting how his parents sacrificed to send him to college. Living the 'Thankful Life' is not expressing thanks only in general. Thanks for everything is not sufficient. There must be thanks in particular - - to a particular person, for particular things. The thankful life takes nothing in granted. Our text does not say “Thanks for everything. It says “In everything give thanks.” Paul said to the Ephesians {5:20}: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then to the Colossians [3: 17}: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, and giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Living the thankful life is being thankful whatever the circumstances may be. In fact, the thankful life does not depend upon circumstances. We are told that those living below the poverty level in the U.S. are wealthy in comparison to some in other countries. YET, what ultimate thanks are given for the provisions. With thankful hearts remember, remember the Lord our God. Some say that the hardest thanksgiving is that which is made in ADVERSITY. Habakkuk {3: 17-18]: “although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat - - the flock shall be cut off from the fold, & here shall be no heard in the stall: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” In living the thankful life we heed the words of Paul; give thanks whatever happens - - in joy or sorrow - - in comfort or suffering - - REMEMBERING, that it is within the power of God to make all things work together for good & that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Martin Luther said:“When I cannot pray, I always begin to sing.” The devil is a chronic grumbler; the Christian should be a living DOXOLOGY.
Four times during His earthly life our blessed Lord gave thanks to the Father. When He met the multitude with the loaves & fishes, He taught us to give thanks for our daily bread; “Whatever therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God”[I Cor. 10: 31]. Our blessed Lord gave thanks when he prayed at Lazarus's grave, he said: “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.” Jesus gave thanks when he took the cup, passed it on to his disciples. He was thanking God for the great salvation which He Himself was about to accomplish, and which He would share with us, His disciples. Our songs of praise today should join the chorus of the ransomed as we praise the Lamb that was slain.
Paul said we should, “.. By prayer and Thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God.” The important and spiritual benefits of thanksgiving in our prayer life cannot be overemphasized. We are to thank Him for His work in creation. David reminds us concerning this area thanksgiving in Psalm’s 100: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. .” John, the Apostle tells us we should thank God for His [Rev. 4:11] work in creation throughout all eternity. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” We are to thank Him for His work in redemption. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” (Rev. 5:9). Dedication is the foundation of commitment. Paul explains this dedication in Romans 12: 1-2. He emphasizes three things:
FIRST, it is our body which it to be dedicated as a living sacrifice to God. SECOND, we are to avoid being comformed to this world, but strive to conform the world.~ AND THIRD; by doing the same we can discover God’s perfect will for our lives.
FINALLY, IN THE HOUR OF DEATH, WE CAN BE CONFIDENT, as David said: “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” Do you have the assurance? Are you “Living The Thankful Life? Is there a spiritual need? Well, today is the day of salvation; acknowledge this need.
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In "HIS" Service
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