Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 11
Monday


THANKFUL IN
ALL THINGS

READ:
1 Thessalonians
5:12-22
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In everything
give thanks.
1 Thessalonians
5:12-22
___________________________________________________________

My daughter is allergic to peanuts. Her sensitivity is so acute that eating even the tiniest fragment of a peanut threatens her life. As a result, we scrutinize food package labels. We carry a pre-filled syringe of medicine (to treat allergic reactions) wherever we go. And, when we eat out, we call ahead and quiz the wait staff about the restaurant's menu items.

Despite these precautions, I still feel concerned__both for her current safety and for her future safety. This situation is not something I would naturally be thankful about. Yet, God's Word challenges: "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18). There's no getting around it. God wants us to pray with thanksgiving when the future is uncertain, when heartbreak hits, and when short_falls come.

It's hard to be grateful in difficulties, but it's not impossible. Daniel "prayed and gave thanks" (Dan. 6:10), knowing that his life was in danger. Jonah called out "with the voice of thanksgiving" (Jonah 2:9) while inside a fish! These examples, coupled with God's promise that He will work all things together for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28), can inspire us to be thankful in all things. ))Jennifer Benson Schuldt

```````````````Thanks for roses by the wayside,``````````````
````````````Thanks for thorns their stems contain.`````````````
```````````Thanks for homes and thanks for fireside````````````
````````Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain! __Hultman````````
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In all circumstances, we can give thanks
that God has not left us on our own.

***********Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22*********

1 And we urge you,
brethren, to recognize those
who labor among you, and
are over you in the Lord
and admonish you, 13 and to
esteem them very highly in
love for their work's sake.
Be at peace among
yourselves. 14 Now we
exhort you, brethren, warn
those who are unruly,
comfort the fainthearted,
uphold the weak, be patient
with all. 15 See that no one
renders evil for evil to
anyone, but always pursue
what is good both for
yourselves and for all.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray
without ceasing, 18 in
everything give thanks; for
this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the
Spirit. 20 Do not despise
prophecies. 21 Test all
things; hold fast what is
good. 22 Abstain from every
form of evil.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In rapid-fire succession, Paul closes his letter to the church in
Thessalonica with a number of instructions, which sound similar
to much of the wisdom sayings from the book of Proverbs: "Be at
peace among yourselves....Warn those who are unruly....
See that no one renders evil for evil" (1 Thess. 5:13-15). Our faith
is more than believing the right things about God, though it is
certainly that. Our faith is to be practical and to make a difference
in how we behave and respond to one another. James said, "Show
me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by
my works" (James 2:18). Faith is active and demonstrable.