Give thanks in everything

 

It is easy enough to give thanks for whatever gives me joy. I could fill this page with examples and have answered prayer near the top of the list. But what about those things that are frustrating — like a computer problem, or no sign of spiritual growth in those I’m praying for, or a hot day filled with smoke from a wildfire? And even as I write this, I’m thinking that today might be another test. Last week God tested me about grumbling over the little things. Will this week be a test of giving thanks in everything?

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:12–22)

This passage about being thankful is a package. The command from God is given more description by the words around it. That is, be thankful and esteem those over me in the Lord and who admonish me. Yesterday’s sermon was admonishment. I didn’t like some of it. I’m more motivated by the wonder of God than a call to do this or that as part of my response. Here, Jesus is telling me to be thankful — even though I have been thinking otherwise.

Instead of having a negative attitude toward that sermon, I’m supposed to warn the unruly. Mmmm. Do I even know any who are unruly? I ought to look in the mirror for the answer to that!

I’m also to comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, and be patient with all. This certainly suggests to be thankful that God entrusts me to do that, even though it often comes across as a rebuke, more like “if you are so strong, then take care of those who are not, with patience and with thanksgiving that you are in that place.” This makes me think that when I suppose I am stronger than others, such vanity actually puts me in a lower place. Thanksgiving is designed to level the field, not draw me into a spirit of judging others. If God shows me anyone who is genuinely struggling, then I’m to humbly care for them, not think I am better than they are. Rebuke.

The next line about not being evil is strong, yet evil can be subtle, like boasting or responding to someone sharing a problem with, “I’ve never had that problem” making them feel even more alone. Evil is not always an unjust and wicked act. People can make me feel useless and unloved with a thoughtless remark indicating I can do the same to them. Being thankful cures that subtle way of harming another person.

What is good for everyone if not hearing a thankful heart expressing the goodness of God? The joy of the Lord comes out, not joy that circumstances are the best ever, but joy that Jesus is the best ever. It puts my focus on Him and His goodness, and in being thankful for Him, the focus of others is shifted too.

The Holy Spirit tells me what I should say — I just need to listen and say it. All prophecies are expressed as a done deal. How thankful I should be that God will do what He says, and how evil it is to think that His will is going to be anything but good. Again, the right attitude is a blessing, to God, to me, and to anyone who hears me being thankful.

PRAY: Jesus, You give many reasons that I should give thanks, and even on those days when all seems contrary, I can be thankful that You are in this mess with me and giving me joy anyway. I’m so thankful that You do what You do — and with a great deal of patience to teach me to just be thankful in everything as this is certainly Your will for me.

Turn my eyes upon Jesus . . .

ADHD or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition in which a person has trouble paying attention and focusing on tasks, tends to act without thinking, and has trouble sitting still. It may begin in early childhood and can continue into adulthood. Those who have it often struggle with a long to-do list and are better when given a shorter one with two or three items. As I read through 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, I thought of the difficulties this list of “how to walk and please God” would be for someone with ADHD without the power of the Holy Spirit to help us remember and do as the Lord says!

It begins with His will that I live the sanctified life, meaning a life set apart for God, not for the world, the flesh or the devil, but keeping myself holy and pure . . .

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3–8)

It follows that God’s love is involved, the kind of love that wants His best for others. Paul wrote a commendation to this church; they had been taught how to love by God and told them to continue. He added that they should “aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12)

Paul also addresses their confusion about the Second Coming of Christ. They had this incredible hope which enabled them to grieve for those who had died without the desperation that others feel, knowing that Jesus will come and those who died in Him with rise first. Then those who are alive will also be caught up together with them, meeting the Lord in the air. They were to encourage one another with this incredible hope.

He reminded them that that day would come suddenly and unexpectedly but they would not be surprised. They had all that God gave them and would escape the wrath of God to live with Jesus Christ forever. This meant they should “encourage one another and build one another up” just as they were doing.

The last part of this book is like a to-do list. It touched many parts of their lives, yet it was not a check list like my household chores, or a student’s homework, or the tasks necessary for someone’s employment. This is a list of actions. The Holy Spirit first gives the motivating attitudes and ideas and for which Christians must follow through with obedience . . .

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–22)

I’ve wondered about having mild ADHD. It affects others in varying degrees, yet the constant struggle to remember Christian responses and attitudes might have more to do with that sin nature that plagues us and that required God’s intervention. He sent Jesus to give us forgiveness for sin but also victory over it. The next verses that Paul writes give me great joy . . .

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24)

God sets me apart. He will perfect my holiness. In Christ, I am blameless and He is faithful to bring me to the wonderful reality that I become what He says I already am, not because I have an ability to tackle that to-do list but because He is my Savior and He is faithful to save me.

^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, this is the most important thing to remember. I cannot save myself. That list and the items not listed here are just too much for me. I forget them, get distracted, become selfish and fall on my face, but You never give up in Your great power to save and enable me to be the person You want me to be. I love You and thank You for Your faithfulness and Your ability to transform my life. Amen.

What is better than fun?

When serving as a camp counselor for teenage girls, one of them asked me about becoming a Christian. Her concern was, “I will not have any fun.”

Those of us who are Christians know that there is both truth and falsehood in this concern. Being a Christian is not about fun as defined by those who party, drink too much, or lord it over others. For them, there is no fun in following Christ.

On another level, fun may include skiing, playing board games, and engaging in hobbies. Christians can enjoy many activities that are not sinful but fin.

However, there is a level of satisfaction that rises above both those definitions of fun. It is found in these to-do lists . . .

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–22, italics mine)

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice . . . . do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:4 & 6)

Only those who have Christ in their lives know what it means to “rejoice always,” to communicate with God all the time, and to be thankful in all circumstances. These three are not “fun” like the thrill of riding a roller coaster or driving a fast car, but all three are part of the sustaining undercurrent of life in Christ, an undercurrent that is so nourishing and satisfying that other kinds of ‘fun’ lose much of their appeal.

What can replace joy? There is nothing like the deep sense of knowing God is God and that He loves and accepts me in Christ, that He has given me all I need in Jesus, and because of Him everything that happens in life works together for my good (Romans 8:28-29). One day I will be like Jesus. Today, I can trust Him for every problem and need, every concern and burden. This gives me a joy that fun cannot replace.

Being able to pray without ceasing is not about audible prayer all the time. It is about the attitude of knowing He is with me and wants me to depend on Him for everything. This remarkable privilege goes hand in hand with joy as “the joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10) and in His presence is joy forever more (Psalm 16:11).

Think of it; the One who created trillions of stars, everything that lives and moves, and provides all things needed in His creation walks beside me and communicates with me about every detail of my life. In His presence and talking with Him produces a deep confidence that fun cannot match.

Tracking right along with joy and prayer is thanksgiving. The good and wise God of all things cares about me. He gives me all that I need. He even says that I don’t need to worry. These three: joy, telling Him about it, and being thankful add up to an amazing experience: God listens and replaces all my concerns with a peace that cannot be explained. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) As much fun as ‘fun’ might be, it can never do that.

Every day I consult my to-do list and tackle it with the hope of checking off each item before bedtime. That often makes me feel satisfied, but as I read the to-do list of God, it is easy to see that these three items offer a deeper satisfaction, one that is mine even before starting any of my chores!

Jesus, Your presence with me fills me with delight. Being able to ask You about perplexities and decisions is a total wonder. Thanksgiving wipes away my tendency to want more, to complain (shame on me) yet knowing that all those shortcomings are already forgiven is the most amazing delight and wonder of all. I thank You, thank You, thank You.