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."
When we come to the end of the year we generally look back to mark our progress, our gains and losses, and count our blessings. There are many things to be thankful for, and a few regrets. Let us thank our mighty God for all things that we, His children, enjoy.
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 returned to thank 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. Praise and appreciation of His loving kindness brings us the advantage of peace because God dwells in the praises of His people.
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! He knew that Jesus had allowed him to be in that awful place to bring the gospel to the lost. Many prisoners also received eternal life there.
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! It scares him off.
Satan expects humans to reject and blame 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'. Satan has declared that he will defeat God and rule the universe, and we are his only hope. Let us deny him by obeying the Lord in the things He writes on our hearts every morning.
Remember 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.
Daniel 3 v 16 - 18: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
That is true and perfect faith, being willing to die for what you believe in. No compromise with Satan and his demon idols. And God heard and made an example of these brave Hebrews and gave them a testimony that blesses us today. Something we are thankful for, O Lord.
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.
Deuteronomy 8 v 17 - 19: "And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish."
So let us get our priorities right and know that our Father loves us and does more for us than we ask or know. Keep the blessings rolling in by being thankful to Him and kind to others.
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 at times, but You only have our best interests at heart and we will give thanks in all things. In Jesus' name. Amen.
