As Thanksgiving is coming tomorrow, gratitude is on my mind. But, I do wonder, why is it that a holiday, something that only comes once a year, gets us to think about thankfulness, when it is supposed to be continually on our minds?
God's Word makes it clear that as a follower of Jesus, being thankful is not an option. It is a way of life.
The Apostle Paul wrote this to believers in Thessalonica: "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
This verse stands out to me for a couple of reasons:
Paul taught that we are to be thankful in ALL circumstances. We are to be thankful if our holiday traditions have changed. We are to be thankful if we are facing something we never thought we would face. We are to be thankful if things are going exactly how we want them to. Whatever our current season looks like, it is to be one of thankfulness. And, Paul knew all too well what this looked like. He faced many trials and tribulations, but he held to his faith in Christ and praised Him no matter what. The fact is, as Christians, even if we lost everything we had, we still have something to be thankful for: the Gospel. Christ has saved us, and if that is all He ever did for us, it would be worth thanking Him for all eternity.
Paul went as far as to say that thankfulness was God's Will for us. So many of us spend so much time chasing God's Will for our lives, but what if I told you that His Will for your life is for it to be one of gratitude to Him?
So, no matter what your Thanksgiving may look like tomorrow, make it a point to spend your day thanking God for what He has done in your life. After all, it is His Will for your life.
(Yes, I know this a Christmas themed picture. It's fine. We love Christmas around here.)
Comments