Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
-I Thessalonians 5:18, NLT
Why would the author of I Thessalonians command us to be thankful unless this was something we have to choose to do?
The temptation is to allow life’s circumstances to dictate the spiritual climate of our souls. This is what it looks like to be tossed about like a boat in a stormy sea. Maturity in the Spirit means we set our own climate for our souls.
How do we set the spiritual climate in our souls?
I believe it is by obeying the command in this verse.
We ALWAYS have something worth offering up in thanks. This is what this verse exposes. The discipline of choosing thanksgiving is something we can cultivate always.
Is our thanksgiving dependent upon circumstances? No.
“All” means “all.”
That said, I don’t think this verse means giving thanks for all circumstances. I believe we can give thanks in every circumstance even if it is evil, which adultery is.
When we tune our spirits to thanksgiving, we are tuning into God’s grace. We are taping into the Vine and drawing from the life giving flow of God’s love for us.
It is a discipline because we often have to do this despite our circumstances. However, the rewards are real. I know as I have tasted them, and they are truly good!
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*A version of this post ran previously.
