“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and BE THANKFUL.” Colossians 3:15
One of the great proofs of godly faith is the thankful heart. Why is this so, and why is every believer exhorted to be thankful, even to give thanks in all things? It is for the simple reason that God is good, and the Giver of every good and perfect gift. The Apostle James, in his epistle, wrote of this when speaking of wisdom, and the need to receive it from God. He wrote: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him.” (1:5) This is a wonderful way to prove God, and to know Him working in the life. James then adds, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (v.17) We see here plainly that God, because He IS good, He gives only that which is good, according to His nature. We also learn that God’s will and desire is to give wisdom to the one who will seek Him for it, making the believer to BE a receiver of that which is good. So that, God is the blessed Giver of all things good, and the believer is called upon to be the receiver of that goodness. Upon receiving the “good gifts,” and primarily, the Holy Spirit, as Jesus made clear that we are to receive by prayer and faith, the believer is to be thankful. There is illustrated so very clearly by the following: “Every virtue that we possess, and every victory won, and every thought of holiness, are His and His alone.” If all that we receive of God is good, and this abundantly, then, not only are we called upon to be thankful, but we are to live in the attitude of faith that God does not make mistakes, and desires to bless us, that all the ends of the earth can know Him.
What then of the difficult times when reason cannot grasp the moving of the hand of God, and it seems that what confronts us is all but good? It is then in particular that the believer is called upon to let his light shine in the darkness, continuing to receive from God that which He desires to give, so that the knowledge of Christ can be known. How is this to be done?
First of all, let’s begin with a picture, one from Psalm 81, when the Lord spoke to Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (v.10) What does it mean to open one’s mouth, but to be in a position of need, not only recognizing the necessity of coming to God only, and wholly, but in an attitude of receiving from Him all that is needful. Notice the Lord speaks of fulness. God is no debtor to any man, but a God who abundantly blesses so that His kingdom will come, and His will, will be accomplished in the hearts and lives of men. This is God’s way of blessing, bringing the believer into conformity with Christ, then, in that blessed union, teaching each believer to pray in faith, to know the will of God, and to seek Him for the grace to receive the knowledge of it. In the knowledge that God gives according to the Scriptures, He gives that which is good, that which is according to His good and perfect will.
In the letters of Paul, he makes much of thanksgiving, by writing: “…In EVERYTHING give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18) To the Philippians he would write: “Be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, WITH THANKSGIVING, let your requests be known to God.” (4:6) Thanksgiving is faith’s confirmation.
Dear Father, Fill us with thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.