Let's Be Thankful
Scripture: Ephesians 5 v 20:
"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and
the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Colossians 3 v 15: "And let the peace of God rule in
your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye
thankful."
Do you remember the testimony of the ten lepers who were
healed of this dreadful disease by Jesus? This disease eats away at the
sufferer's bodies and they lose fingers, toes, nose, ears and are covered with
horrible sores.
After their healing one man came back and thanked Jesus
for his healing. Jesus asked where the other nine were. This one who thanked
Him also had the miracle of being made whole. His face, feet, hands were
restored to the way they were before he had leprosy. Because he gave thanks!
The other nine were healed but not made whole.
We are urged to give thanks in all things - good and bad
- because when we thank God instead of complaining, He is able to change the
circumstances to benefit everyone. Complaining and blaming God only gives
credit to Satan who will proceed to make matters worse.
I often speak of Richard Wurmbrand the Russian pastor
imprisoned and tortured in a Siberian prison for preaching the gospel. He
thanked his torturers daily that he was found worthy to suffer for the name of
Jesus. The communist prison authorities
had to keep bringing in new torturers as the old ones were meeting Jesus
through the faithful pastor.
The more thankful you are - even in difficult or sad
circumstances - the more of God's grace, mercy, power and miracles you will
see. To keep on praising and thanking God for the problems, trusting Jesus to
bring light out of darkness is true faith and faith frightens Satan.
Satan expects humans to reject God if they face serious
trials of long endurance. He is defeated if believers continue to have the
attitude 'and though He slay me, yet will I serve Him'.
Or the faith of those 3 Hebrews, Shadrack, Meshech and
Abednego, held captive in Babylon, who refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar's
idol. They were thrown bound into a fiery oven after proclaiming that the Lord
God would rescue them. The Son of Man was seen walking around with the three
faithful Jews inside the flames.
When the three men were brought out of the fire (which
killed the 7 men who threw them into it) there was not a blister, burn, nor
even the smell of smoke upon them. Then King Nebuchadnezzar commanded that the
Hebrew's God be honoured forever and the
3 men were promoted to governors.
Our God is real and worthy to be worshipped and
appreciated for the mighty things He continually does to protect us and provide
our needs. It is His mighty hand that prevents Satan from tearing this planet
apart. (Job 38). He loves us and restrains evil, only turning His face away
when utter wickedness forces Him to act.
Let us be thankful to Almighty God for sending His Son to
rescue us from eternal death which is permanent separation from Him and every
good thing. Our God is love. From Him flows the love we feel for Him and for
each other. From Him comes our compassion, love for the animals He created,
love for the beautiful planet He designed for us.
Our Father gave us the ability to feel joy, and sorrow,
to receive His blessings, healing, victory and holiness. Be thankful if you
have a job in trying financial times. Deuteronomy 8 says never forget that God
gave you the ability to make wealth. Give Him thanks for all these things.
Prayer: Father God we give thanks with grateful hearts
for all You do for us. Your ways are higher than our ways and we don't always
understand why things seem to go horribly wrong but You only have our best
interests at heart and we will give thanks in all things. In Jesus' name.
Amen.