4-17-2014

      Good Morning All,

      1 Thessalonians 5: 18; “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

       Do you ever have one of “those days”?  You know; the kind of day that starts out bad and then seems to go downhill from there.  It might start with the electricity flickering enough to mess up the alarm clock so you oversleep by a half of an hour.  Then you stub your toe or cut yourself shaving or you spill coffee on your work outfit and now you have to change clothes.  You go to get in the car and it either won’t start or has a flat tire or both.  Sometimes you have one of those days and it is a day like that which often makes it hard to give thanks in all circumstances.

     We have days like this.  It seems that things just begin to pile on top of each other.  While it happens, we can be really frustrated but a few days later; we will often snicker when we think about it.  It might take some time to get the proper perspective on the event but we do.  Yet these little events should help us see that, most of the time, our lives go fairly smoothly.

    Yet there are times when it is very difficult to give thanks.  We look at our lives and wonder how do we give thanks?  We may have health problems or finance problems or relational problems; all these can make it difficult to give thanks.  We look at the world around us, maybe our neighbor’s new car or listen to their tales of wonderful trips and then look at our lives and wonder what is there to give thanks for.  So why would we give thanks in all circumstances?

    The first thing we need to look at and remember is that our circumstances are beyond this earthly life.  Our circumstances involve our heavenly life; for our life has been changed, dramatically. When Jesus walked out of the tomb everything changed.  We no longer fear death or are we terrorized by the devil.  When Jesus walked out of the tomb; it became a new day, a new life and a new existence. 

     So our circumstances are to be viewed differently.  Our circumstances are now being God’s holy and redeemed children.  We are in this circumstance every day and this is why we should be thankful in all circumstances.  Every day, we are living in our new life, freed from sin and the power of the devil.  No matter what he tries to throw at you, it will never stick because you have been washed in the blood of Jesus.  We are cleansed, thoroughly washed.  We are new creatures in God.  We know that our circumstance will not change; we are in God’s care and nothing will ever change that.  Our hope, our future is secure.

    So if your car doesn’t start; well you are still living the life of a redeemed child of God.  If your alarm doesn’t go off; the same is true.  But at a much deeper level, if your spouse leaves you; you are still a redeemed child of God and we can give thanks for this wonderful blessing.

Father of grace, we give you thanks for the mercy that you give to us through Jesus.  Help us to always give thanks to you.  Help us to see that all our problems truly do pale when we see your glory given to us because of Jesus.  Help those who do not experience this certainty and this comfort.  Guide them by your Spirit that they may know your peace.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret