Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Th 5:18
We celebrate Thanksgiving this week in the US. Maybe you are not exactly looking forward to the day of Thanksgiving. I know there have been times in my life when I was not due to circumstances. I heard a great sermon this morning on thankfulness. It is easy to be thankful when things are going well, when we are not stressed, when we have time in our lives, money in the bank, and are enjoying and anticipating the joy of fellowship with family and friends. It is much more difficult to be thankful in all circumstances. I must confess, I am not very good at being thankful in all circumstances. I do not enjoy the adverse times enough. I enjoy working hard and exercising. I enjoy pushing my 55+ year old body. But for some reason, I have never enjoyed the difficult circumstances – I tend toward the “Why me?” response. The pastor had a great acrostic for THANKS;
T = thank God for my things – We should be thankful for what God has given us. We should not be coveting what others have.
H = helpers – thank God for the people He has put in my life to help me along.
A = adversity – appreciate adversity for we know that Matthew 5 tells us we are Blessed when we have adversity
N = now – be thankful for the here and now, where God has placed us and the work He has given us, our current place in life
K = kids – children are great and are to be enjoyed
S = Salvation – be thankful for Christ Jesus death on the cross for our salvation and for God’s sovereignity God is at work in your life and in my life. I am thankful for God’s provision and soverignity.
I am thankful for folks like the ones pictured above – who in very humble circumstances are thankful and recognize Christ as the source of their hope. And I am thankful for the sacrifice of those pictured below – who represent so many who have sacrificed on my behalf.
Blessed Thanksgiving to you all,
mike