-GIVE THANKS
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
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-In everythng give
thanks; for this is
the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.
--1 Thess. 5:18
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In Lansing, Michigan, we don't get many sunny days during the winter. But last year God blessed us with one of those beautiful days, and it seemed that almost everyone was thanking God, except me. As I left my office, a man said, "What a wonderful day we're having. This is a gift from God!" To which I replied, "Yes, but we're getting snow later this week." What ingratitude!

The apostle Paul helped his readers to develop a theology of gratitude. He wrote about thanksgiving more often than any other New Testament author. From the 23 times he used the word, we learn a few lessons about it.

Thanksgiving was always directed toward God and never toward people. People were gifts from God, and Paul thanked God for their growth, love, and faith (1 Cor. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:2). Thanksgiving is given through Jesus for everything (Col. 3:15,17). Paul believed followers of Jesus could be thankful for everything because God is sovereign, and He is working things out for the believers'good (1 Thess. 5:18).

May we intentionally be aware of God's gifts all around us and respond with gratitude. In response to God's gifts, it's natural to say, "Thank You, Lord!"

'Lord, for days that are sunny or gray we simply
want to say, Thank You! And for the daily grace
You give us in Your Son, may we always be faithful
to say, Thank You! You are so good to us. In Christ Jesus.'
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-GRATITUDE IS A NATURAL RESPONSE TO GOD'S GRACE.

--ODB/MW