06/30/2019
Do we give thanks to God as we should? Are our words the outpouring of our hearts, and the underlying foundation of our thankfulness a true and firm love of Him? It is not enough to thank the Lord when He has been exceedingly good to us, but in all things. Do we do this in sincerity, or maybe the question should be... do we do this at all?
“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
It is extremely difficult to give thanks for things we don’t enjoy or understand. To do so requires trust, and faith that is beyond what we see as reasonable. If we think back to our childhoods we can all remember times when our parents had us do things that we really didn’t want to do, and that at the time we thought almost abusive... like eating everything on our plate, going to bed at a certain hour, doing our homework, practicing a musical instrument, or one of hundreds of other such incredibly uncomfortable, and unreasonable, things they said were good for us. Can you recall those things in your life?
“But Moses said to the Lord, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”
Exodus 4:10-11 ESV
Moses argued with God just like we did as a child with our parents. He didn’t believe that this thing God was asking of him made good sense, or was even doable... yet He did as God instructed, and later he came to understand, and he praised God. He even sang these words...
“If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!”
Deuteronomy 32:29 ESV
But, even though we interpret this song as one of giving thanks (Exodus 15:2), nowhere do we hear the words thank you, or even the word thanksgiving, in relation to Moses. They praised, but never did they say thank you as the psalmist instructed...
“Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”
Psalms 105:1-2 ESV
Praising carries with it the implication of giving thanks, but there can be no substitute for actually saying the word thanks, or thank you. Some things in life must be said “Thank You” is among them, just as “I Love You” is. We can act out these things, but they are so important that they must be said outright. Notice in Psalm 100 that there is a clear distinction made between thanksgiving and praise...
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
Psalms 100:4 ESV
So perhaps we should look back on our lives and ask ourselves if we missed opportunities to say thank you? I never specifically thanked my parents for making me eat everything on my plate, but by doing so they made me healthy. I should thank them for all the many thankless things they did in my life that I later found to have been valuable. I have reminisced with my brothers and sisters about them as we laughed about how we did were made to do these things, and this is a form of praise, but did we ever outright say “Thank You” for those things? Do I give thanks to God in like manner?
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Ephesians 5:17-20 ESV
When we are young, whether it be in years, or in faith, we are asked to do, or bear, things that we don’t understand, and can’t see the value in. The Bible instructs is to give God thanks for everything, and in this you might argue that the loss of a loved one, or a business that just collapsed, is nothing to be thankful for, but by faith these are in fact things that will ultimately become good. All things are not good, but by working together within God’s will they will yield a good result. I say it this way “ All things are not good, but the good and the bad work together to produce good in all things.”
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 ESV
Finally we come to the spirit in which we say thank you. Do we do so reluctantly like the child who is made to say “I’m Sorry” to another for something they really weren’t very sorry for? Do we say “thank you” in that same curt manner, or do we give thanks from the bottom of our hearts, and in truth? Are we led crying and dragging our feet to the prayer closet where on our knees we reluctantly give thanks, or do we have enough faith in God that we can thank Him sincerely for even the pain, suffering, and hurt in our lives... because we know that these things will ultimately bring good? We “praise” God in the storms of our life, and this is a good start, but can we find it within ourselves to “thank” Him for that storm?
“But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalms 69:29-30 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for every circumstance and thing in my life. I thank you for the joy and the suffering, the laughter and the tears, because I know that your Word is true, and that everything works together for good in my life. Hear the love in my praise Father, and hear it also in my thanksgiving as I thank you for the hurt I sometimes feel. Help me Holy Father to resist making excuses for you in the tribulations I face, because they are just as much a part of your plan for me as the good, and in that moment when at last I stand before you, and this mystery is revealed... I will understand your purpose and why my faith allowed me to lovingly thank you in all these things. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who works all things to our good, and turns all tears to joy. Praised be your name for every good thing, and for the storms that bring the rain. Thank you Holy Father for your Son Jesus Christ alongside whom I suffer, offer praise, and give thanks to you. All glory is yours Gracious Father, for your mercy is perfect and grace divine. We thank you Lord for the nails and the redemption because one without the other would not have sufficed.
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:4-5 ESV
Rich Forbes