GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

October 8, 2023

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 

1 Thessalonians is the letter from Paul to the Thessalonica church who only had a short time to hear the gospel but kept their faith in hardships despite their new beliefs in Jesus. Some say Paul had only 3weeks to preach in Thessalonica because of persecution. When Paul heard the news of the faithful Thessalonica church, he was so happy and glad. So this letter consists of compliments, consolations and encouragement. Especially, these 3 short verses, verses 16-18 teach us the attitudes of Christians toward Jesus’ second coming. I pray that we may practice these attitudes until Jesus comes again.

 

Part 1. Rejoice always (16)

 

These 3 verses contain 3 verbs, Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks. It may not be the order by importance. However, I agree with the selection of Paul who put 'rejoice always’ as the first of Christian attitudes. If you read the Bible, you can notice that more than 100 times God says to the people, ‘Do not be afraid’ (81 times), ‘Do not fear’ (45 times), ‘Do not worry’ (11 times) and “Do not be anxious” (1 time). These phrases are so comforting to us when we are in unstable situations. However, one step further, God wants us to rejoice and be joyful in the Lord. How could we do that?

 

Oxford Dictionary defines “To ‘rejoice is to feel or show great joy or delight.” Worldly joy depends on each person’s emotions and situations. Also, it is temporary. In the NIV (New International Version) Bible, the words “rejoice” appear 154 times, “joy and joyful” 242 times. The Biblical view of rejoice does not depend on our situations or conditions. Because it is on God who is faithful, everlasting and good. One of the pastors says, "Christian joy flows from realizing our position in Christ: who you are in Jesus, and what Jesus has done for you.”

 

Jesus died for all my sins and yours on the cross and Jesus was resurrected. Which confirms that our salvation is secure. So we can praise and rejoice in any situation. In other words, the fundamental reason we can rejoice always is resurrection hope in Jesus Christ. We are no longer the enemy of God. By Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection, we are adopted as children of God when we believe in Jesus. Do you know how amazing privilege this is? We are guaranteed to be back as the princes and princesses of heaven after we finish our trip in this world.

 

I want to introduce one Korean poem which is translated into English.

 

Back to Heaven

 

I'll go back to heaven again.

Hand in hand with the dew

that melts at the touch of the dawning day,

 

I'll go back to heaven again.

With the dusk, together, just we two,

at a sign from a cloud after playing on the slopes

 

I'll go back to heaven again.

At the end of my outing to this beautiful world

I'll go back and say: It was beautiful. . . .

 

I also want to say in front of God like that. So if we have the clear resurrection hope, we can always rejoice. Acts 16:25 says, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." When Paul was imprisoned, he could sing hymns to God because he had a clear resurrection hope. Our current struggles will turn out to be one of beautiful memories in God’s sight. So let's rejoice always because we are witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Then people around us may want to know the secret of our joy. May God help us to remember this truth, whatever situation we may encounter.

 

Part 2. Pray continually (17)

 

Even worldly people know that Christians pray. Prayer is the main attribute of Christians. What is prayer? Prayer is communication with God. We can request what we want. God listens to us. Prayer can change our bad character to bear Christ-like character. Galatians 5:22,23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Also, prayer is to give control from ourselves to the Holy Spirit who works in us. Prayer is the weapon to fight against Satan and evil thoughts. We all agree and know that prayer is so important in Christian life.

 

However, due to the human tendency of laziness and arrogance, we ignore and skip to pray. We only realize that we can pray to God when urgent emergency happens. Most of the times, we forget to pray. We are not used to pray. Some people say that prayer is the breath of the soul. Spiritually we are dead because we don't pray. Muslims pray 5 times a day. You can google and find the exact Muslim prayer times which change every day. They are so eager to keep doing that. Big companies even make prayer room available mostly for Muslim workers. Even Muslims do this much, how much more Christian need to pray harder? Yes, the Bible says to us, “Pray continually.” Other version says, “Never stop praying.” Shamefully I don't.

 

In order to pray continually, we need to practice habits of holiness. Can we start to spare 10min a day among 1440 minutes which is 24 hours? You can download “Bible” App which have lot of useful functions like saving prayer topics, and various Bible reading plans and it can track. So for me, I can check if that app restarted '1', it reminds me that I didn't read the Bible even one time a day before. It alert me to repent about how much I am lost in this world. The habit of prayer cannot build naturally. We need to regularly and habitually pray like Jesus in Luke 22:39, 'Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives (to pray).  

 

Part 3. Give thanks in all circumstances (18a)

 

The Bible starts, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This proclamation is fundamental of our faith. God is the Creator and all other things are created by God. What is the purpose of the creation? Isaiah 43:7 says "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” All creation was created to praise for God's glory. So our duty is to glorify God by rejoicing, praying and giving thanks to God. Particularly, giving thanks is not simply having thankful heart. Do you know that even unbelievers practice gratitude and thankful heart which bring positive things in life which was proved scientifically? As God's perfect creation with specific purpose, we can give thanks to God in every moment. Even if we may experience tunnels of darkness or waves of turbulent hearts, if we look at them from God’s point of view, all things will turn out beautifully in His time and in His way. Giving thanks is the best way to move away from me and my problems to God’s goodness who wants us to be happy children of God.

 

I have a son, named Joseph. I want him to be happy and to enjoy his life. I want to do everything he wants even though I have limitations to give. Sometimes, I gave him chores, errands and directions which he doesn't like. But I know that these tasks make him a responsible, trained and well-mannered person. Because I love him. I don't want him to be spoiled. I had a chance to teach him to ride a bicycle with no training wheels with Wah Paw. He was afraid and unwilling to do at first because of worries of falling down. But I knew that he would be more joyful if he could ride alone. So I insisted that he ride and said, "I will hold your back not to fall down". A few times of trial and error, he could finally manage and I could see Joseph's smile. This is the privileged joy of a father to see his child grow with a smile. David says, "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand."(NLT, Psalms 37:23,24) Life is like the first time on a bicycle. If you trust God who holds you back, you can be calm and start pedalling to life.

 

However, if Joseph complains continually, my heart is sad and feels heavy for him. All my best plans for him will not work. Sometimes I let him do what he insists on, even though it would lead to a bad conclusion. The unthankful heart comes from the Me-centered idea. They are those who cannot accept who God is and who I am in God. Modern humanism culture encourages us to praise ourselves like "This is who I am", "Love yourself", and "I define myself". It sounds so cool and nothing wrong. However, this is the opposite of what God wants us to know. Self-esteem or dignity defined by ourselves has a limitation which changes by our conditions or by others. Also, it adds up burdens to defend my pride all the time. The Bible clearly tells about the people who do not thank God. "Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools." (NLT, Ro 1:21) Could you feel Paul's pitiful heart toward unbelievers? If we admit that God is the Creator, we cannot but give thanks to God. Most of all, God sacrificed his only son, Jesus for the sins of you and me. When we believe, we are adopted as God's children. Not mere creatures but God's privileged sons and daughters who will inherit the Kingdom of God. So whatever situation you are in, we are in God’s master plan; "because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." (Proverbs 3:12) I am not a perfect father. I showed my son many bad sides like anger, impatience, incompetence, weakness and so on. However, our God is perfect and the good father who wants us to be a joyful child. For this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

 

Our basic attitude in life is to give thanks in all circumstances. If we encounter happy events, we can rejoice with praising God. If we experience a hard time when we cannot think about rejoicing, we can pray to God. For 24/7, 365 days, God wants us to connect to him as he connected to us. When we face all events in life including fear or troubles, if we can trust God's plan for us to learn through the lesson with thankful heart, God will delight in our growth like when I see Joseph riding the bicycle. "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."(NLT, Zephaniah 3:17) This unending relationship with Father God and child will gradually sanctify us as the holy children of God. Lastly, Paul encourages all believers in verses 23 and 24," May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."(NLT)

 

2 years before I came to Canada, my life was full of unthankfulness. My father and step-mother lost their home by trying to pioneer a church and they asked me for money even though I did not have a stable job. My sister also barely supported herself and lost her faith in God. I was so angry at God and wondered how God did not bless my family who served God for 3 generations sincerely. In those times I prayed like, “If you don’t want to bless me, please take my life. Why torture me to live like bugs?” Full of resentment, I didn’t want to honour God anymore. However, I could not run away from God completely because I didn’t have money to rent a room. At that time I lived in a guest room in SNU UBF church. So at least I had to attend the worship service. It was my lowest moment. One of the shepherdesses suggested that I write 10 Thanksgiving topics a day. I carried all the time small note and a pen in my pocket, and I struggled to write Thanksgiving topics intentionally. Slowly but gradually, my life changed. My negative attitude toward life changed. Within a month, I got a job and also married my wife, Wah Paw. Recently, my workplace notified me that I did 5 years of service. In my life, I never worked at one company for this long. I thank my wife who bore me and packed my lunch for 5 years. My life is filled with thanksgiving. I started again from last year to write Thanksgiving topics. Please try to write 10 thanks topics every day like me. Then God will bless you richly in your life.     

 

Personally, ‘Rejoice always’ was the hardest verse for me to practice. When I realized my sinfulness, I was filled with a guilty conscience for Jesus who died for me. I felt that the gap between the humbleness of Jesus and the wickedness of myself was too big. These all add up to my negative attitude and I developed depression. Even Christians can fall into depression if we don’t have a clear faith in Jesus’ resurrection. Through 3 times of serving resurrection messages, I am freed from Satan's condemnation for my sin and weakness. But living this life with a thankful and joyful heart is what Father God wants me to do. 

 

I pray that all of you may remember Jesus’ resurrection and what Jesus has done for you, and who you are in Jesus. And then, these 3 verses, rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances may guide us to the thanksgiving life every day.

 

Big Idea: God is joyful to see us when we give thanks in all circumstances