Verse of the Day
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
A few years ago I had the awesome opportunity to assist in teaching in children’s church. We had a very creative approach to ministry and getting the children to learn scripture. We would always try our best to get the children to sing the scriptures because we learned that they would have a better chance at learning it. This particular text the children were so successful at learning not because it was short but because of the way they learned it with hand claps and singing. I can still see their happy faces singing loud and proud because they knew the scripture and they knew how to apply the meaning of it in their lives.
The Apostle Paul introduced this text to us to paint a very clear picture for us all. First Paul shared with us in Philippians 4:11 that he was content in all circumstances. He was saying that he was satisfied with where he was in life and what he had. You may have heard people say that if God never blesses them with anything else they will be satisfied and this is what Paul was saying. So when we get to today’s text it makes sense for Paul, who is content in everything, to say give thanks in all circumstances.
Simply stated no matter where you are in life or what you have or want we should be thankful that we are here. If you stop and take a look at your life you will find that there is always going to be something that you still want to accomplish or some thing that you want either for you are your family. You may find that you are not where you want to be in your career or in life in general or you may even be at the lowest point of your life ever. Either way the truth is that God wants us all to be thankful in for the little things.
Our life could be so different right now no matter where you are and our circumstances could be so different. There are people in the world who are in far worse situations than we could ever imagine yet they are thankful just for the fact of having life. I haven’t accomplished all that I want to however I am so thankful that I am still able to provide for my family. I am thankful that even though my wife may not have everything that I want her to have, everything that we do have including our children we have together. I am so thankful that we have family and friends who care so much for us and pray for us consistently. I am so thankful that we serve a risen savior who sacrificed everything so that we could live abundantly by His grace and mercy.
I recently left the hospital visiting with a mother of an amazing High school Junior. She has been in and out of the hospital at least the last three years and now they have figured out what is going on. She shared with me heartbreak and disappointment that they are dealing with right now and how there is nothing that she can do it about it because she is sick. Not once did she complain neither is her son complaining about their circumstance. They are so thankful just to have life and each other that their circumstances have to take a number to get recognized. As I prayed with her I could feel that she was so grateful that she had God in her life, she still had her family and that I was there to visit her. Your current circumstances are only a comma in your life, it is not meant to be the end. God has the final say in everything so we just have to operate in His will and He will and the period in our lives as He see fit.
Be grateful for where you are and what you have and give thanks no matter what, your situation could be worse. If nothing else be thankful that you have the one and only true God in your life, I can’t imagine life without Him.
God Bless,
Jesse R. Watson Jr.