IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18

As the children of God we are expected to face even the adverse circumstances with the spirit of unfailing gratitude in our lives. Paul and Silas had exemplified this spirit when imprisoned at Philippi (Acts 16:25). Such an attitude is made possible only by the grace of God. It can become a vital reality only when we truly experience and accept Romans 8:28. Giving thanks to God under all circumstances is possible to those who say “AMEN” to the will of God in their day to day walk with God.  John Chrysostom one of the Church Fathers lived three hundred years after Paul lived. He was a good and brave man who preached very plainly against iniquity of all kinds. The empress was not a good woman, so she schemed to have him falsely accused and banished. He died an exile from his home. Thirty years later, his body was bought back to Constantinople for burial in the imperial tomb. Chrysostom's motto was inscribed on the tomb: "PRAISE GOD FOR EVERYTHING!" As his friends testified, "When he was driven from home, when he was a stranger in the strange land, his letters would often end with that doxology, 'Praise God for all things!' “Where did Chrysostom get his motto? From Paul—"In everything give thanks" (1 Thessalonians. 5:18).

After William Carey was well established in his pioneer missionary work in India, his supporters in England sent a printer to assist him. Soon the two men were turning out portions of the Bible for distribution. Carey had spent many years learning the language so that he could produce the scriptures in the local dialect. He had also prepared dictionaries and grammars for the use of his successors.  One day while Carey was away, a fire broke out and completely destroyed the building, the presses, many Bibles, and the precious manuscripts, dictionaries, and grammars. When he returned and was told of the tragic loss, he showed no sign of despair or impatience. Instead, he knelt and thanked God that he still had the strength to do the work over again. He started immediately, not wasting a moment in self-pity. Before his death, he had duplicated and even improved on his earlier achievements.

Let us commit ourselves to praise God for everything that happens to us under his government.