In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
In everything and in every circumstance believers are to give thanks, for this is God's will for them in Christ Jesus and belongs to a life of faith, victory and joy with continual rejoicing and prayer. The command itself carries assurance that even what seems against them will work for their good, since God would not call them to give thanks for what would harm them. To give such thanks is to trust His loving care to work all things for their good and sanctification, seeing good in everything and ceasing to fret. Faith shows itself in heartfelt praise and rejoicing rather than cold dullness, rising above depression and unbelief as believers trust Christ to hear prayer and rest in His peace even before feeling the blessing sought. Prayer is not asking only but mingling petitions with thanks and praise for daily mercies, guardianship and protection, and with cheerful songs that clothe the soul in joy and light instead of heaviness and mourning.
Meaning of the Command
The command is to give thanks in everything and in every circumstance, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning believers. It belongs to a life of faith and victory and joy in God. It stands together with continual rejoicing and prayer as the pattern of that life.
The very giving of the command carries assurance, for even things that appear to be against believers will work for their good. God would not bid thankfulness for what would do harm, nor ask for thanks for something that would injure.
To give thanks in every circumstance is therefore to trust that God is caring for believers and will work for their good and even their sanctification. What seems to be against them can be made to serve that good. It means seeing the good in everything, ceasing to fret, and relying on His love and care.
Faith, Prayer, and Praise
Faith shows itself in thanksgiving in every part of life, with praise flowing from the heart. The believer is to rejoice in the Lord rather than remain cold or dull.
Giving thanks in every circumstance for keeping power through Jesus Christ lifts above depression and unbelief. Such thankfulness shows the truth is changing the life. As Christ is trusted to hear and answer prayer and His word is relied upon, His peace can rest upon the soul even before the joy and blessing desired are felt.
Prayer is not to consist only of asking for and receiving blessings, but is to include thanks and praise for benefits, goodness, mercies, guardianship and watchcare. Daily undeserved mercies are to be acknowledged, including protection from dangers not seen, with humble, sincere love and with recognition in every prayer of divine guardianship and watchcare. Praise mingled with petitions gives greater power in prayer, and as goodness and mercy are considered, needs will be considered in return.
Thanks in everything is to be given in cheerful, joyous songs of praise and thanksgiving expressing appreciation for the Christian hope. This is the duty of those who receive Christ as a sin-pardoning Saviour, whose sin is taken away and to whom His righteousness is imparted. When promises are freely and fully accepted, joy is made full and the brightness of heaven is brought into the life. Such thanksgiving strips the soul of the garments of heaviness and mourning and clothes it with joy and gladness and garments of light. It proves the gospel to be good tidings of great joy and gives Christians, above all others, the right to sing songs of rejoicing as children of the heavenly King and members of the royal family. This singing is to be done with soberness and constant watchfulness, never light or frivolous yet always cheerful, and heavenly angels join in these songs and cannot be silent.
A life of praise and thanksgiving belongs with learning to rejoice and making room for the gospel. As Christ dwells within and guides, piety and faith grow.
Grateful Life in Practice
To be polite toward God is to render Him thanksgiving and praise and glory for His blessings. That politeness is voiced aloud when the heart is touched in meeting, in words such as Thank the Lord, Praise the Lord, Praise God, and Glory be to God. Such offered praise glorifies God, and to revive this old-fashioned religion is not fanaticism.
The will of God in Christ calls for a spirit of contentment and gratitude even when circumstances are humble. That gratitude is to be visible in the cheerfulness and sympathy and love shown to visitors. Peace with God leads a person to give thanks in every circumstance. By contrast, murmuring and dwelling on past injuries and trials make the heart unhappy and unfit for God's peace.
Thanking God for every token of His love and grace means praising God and taking courage. It means refusing to sit as criticizers, refusing to turn from heavenly benefits, and refusing to sit in judgment to condemn God's ways and manner of working because others do it. There is no reason to resist the Spirit of God. Thanks to God are to be given constantly, including for the principles of health reform. The same spirit meets even an unwanted separation cheerfully and becomes reconciled to it if it is in God's order.
In everything and in every circumstance believers are to give thanks, for this is God's will for them in Christ Jesus and belongs to a life of faith, victory and joy with continual rejoicing and prayer. The command itself carries assurance that even what seems against them will work for their good, since God would not call them to give thanks for what would harm them. To give such thanks is to trust His loving care to work all things for their good and sanctification, seeing good in everything and ceasing to fret. Faith shows itself in heartfelt praise and rejoicing rather than cold dullness, rising above depression and unbelief as believers trust Christ to hear prayer and rest in His peace even before feeling the blessing sought. Prayer is not asking only but mingling petitions with thanks and praise for daily mercies, guardianship and protection, and with cheerful songs that clothe the soul in joy and light instead of heaviness and mourning.
Meaning of the Command
The command is to give thanks in everything and in every circumstance, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning believers. It belongs to a life of faith and victory and joy in God. It stands together with continual rejoicing and prayer as the pattern of that life.
The very giving of the command carries assurance, for even things that appear to be against believers will work for their good. God would not bid thankfulness for what would do harm, nor ask for thanks for something that would injure.
To give thanks in every circumstance is therefore to trust that God is caring for believers and will work for their good and even their sanctification. What seems to be against them can be made to serve that good. It means seeing the good in everything, ceasing to fret, and relying on His love and care.
Faith, Prayer, and Praise
Faith shows itself in thanksgiving in every part of life, with praise flowing from the heart. The believer is to rejoice in the Lord rather than remain cold or dull.
Giving thanks in every circumstance for keeping power through Jesus Christ lifts above depression and unbelief. Such thankfulness shows the truth is changing the life. As Christ is trusted to hear and answer prayer and His word is relied upon, His peace can rest upon the soul even before the joy and blessing desired are felt.
Prayer is not to consist only of asking for and receiving blessings, but is to include thanks and praise for benefits, goodness, mercies, guardianship and watchcare. Daily undeserved mercies are to be acknowledged, including protection from dangers not seen, with humble, sincere love and with recognition in every prayer of divine guardianship and watchcare. Praise mingled with petitions gives greater power in prayer, and as goodness and mercy are considered, needs will be considered in return.
Thanks in everything is to be given in cheerful, joyous songs of praise and thanksgiving expressing appreciation for the Christian hope. This is the duty of those who receive Christ as a sin-pardoning Saviour, whose sin is taken away and to whom His righteousness is imparted. When promises are freely and fully accepted, joy is made full and the brightness of heaven is brought into the life. Such thanksgiving strips the soul of the garments of heaviness and mourning and clothes it with joy and gladness and garments of light. It proves the gospel to be good tidings of great joy and gives Christians, above all others, the right to sing songs of rejoicing as children of the heavenly King and members of the royal family. This singing is to be done with soberness and constant watchfulness, never light or frivolous yet always cheerful, and heavenly angels join in these songs and cannot be silent.
A life of praise and thanksgiving belongs with learning to rejoice and making room for the gospel. As Christ dwells within and guides, piety and faith grow.
Grateful Life in Practice
To be polite toward God is to render Him thanksgiving and praise and glory for His blessings. That politeness is voiced aloud when the heart is touched in meeting, in words such as Thank the Lord, Praise the Lord, Praise God, and Glory be to God. Such offered praise glorifies God, and to revive this old-fashioned religion is not fanaticism.
The will of God in Christ calls for a spirit of contentment and gratitude even when circumstances are humble. That gratitude is to be visible in the cheerfulness and sympathy and love shown to visitors. Peace with God leads a person to give thanks in every circumstance. By contrast, murmuring and dwelling on past injuries and trials make the heart unhappy and unfit for God's peace.
Thanking God for every token of His love and grace means praising God and taking courage. It means refusing to sit as criticizers, refusing to turn from heavenly benefits, and refusing to sit in judgment to condemn God's ways and manner of working because others do it. There is no reason to resist the Spirit of God. Thanks to God are to be given constantly, including for the principles of health reform. The same spirit meets even an unwanted separation cheerfully and becomes reconciled to it if it is in God's order.