Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
One of God’s will in our life is we must always give thanks in everything.
Psalms 106:1
106:1 Praise theLord! Oh, give thanks to theLord, forHe isgood! For His mercyenduresforever.
The base to give thanks is we always appreciate and experience the mercy and grace of God in our life.
King David admits that the goodness and mercy of God follow every step of our life. Every step in our life is because of the goodness and mercy of God.
The condition to give thanks is as follows:
If we have pure heart (there is the Word), we are strong and of good courage (there is Holy Spirit), the heart that trusts and obeys God (there is love), we will be encouraged to give thanks to God everywhere, anytime, and in any conditions.
Philippians 4:7
4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
If we always give thanks, we will experience the peace from God that surpasses our mind. Anything could happen in this world but we must keep peaceful in our heart so we can give thanks to God.
The result of peace that surpasses our mind is as follows:
God blesses us.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
One of God’s will in our life is we must always give thanks in everything.
Psalms 106:1
106:1 Praise theLord! Oh, give thanks to theLord, forHe isgood! For His mercyenduresforever.
The base to give thanks is we always appreciate and experience the mercy and grace of God in our life.
King David admits that the goodness and mercy of God follow every step of our life. Every step in our life is because of the goodness and mercy of God.
The condition to give thanks is as follows:
- The Word of Jesus must dwell in our life.
Colossians 3:16
3:16 Let the word of Christ dwellin you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The Word of Jesus is the revealed Word whose verse is explained by another verse in Bible. This is the teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword.
How does the Word dwell in our heart?- Hearing the Word solemnly as our need until understanding it.
- Believing and having faith to the Word.
- Practicing the Word.
The activity of the Word that is ingrained is sanctifying the heart from seven evil and unclean desires.
Matthew 15:19
15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
If the heart is purified from seven evil and unclean desires until there is no more lie and blasphemy, we will be able to give thank to God.
Thus, from pure heart always comes thanksgiving to God. - Hearing the Word solemnly as our need until understanding it.
- Being strong and of good courage.
1 Timothy 1:12
1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, puttingme into the ministry,
Ephesians 3:16
3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
Holy Spirit gives extra strength so we are strong and of good courage to face anything. Without it, our flesh will be proud, disappointed, and desperate easily.
The practice of strong heart and of good courage is being faithful, trustworthy, responsible, and fervent in ministry until the end line. Even we find many obstacles, we must be strong and of good courage. Holy Spirit will help us to give thanks to God. - There is no worry and doubt.
Philippians 4:6
4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Worry or doubt is thorn or curse that is labor, heavy burden, sorrow, sadness, tears, misery. And one will murmur.
One who worries and doubts does not have the love of God in his life. The more he serves, the more he feels labor.
1 Peter 5:7
5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
We must cast all worries and doubts to God, so we can be His sheep that is shepherded well. In shepherding, our heart is filled by the love of God so we can love, believe and obey Him. Thing that makes doubts is strange voice.
If we have pure heart (there is the Word), we are strong and of good courage (there is Holy Spirit), the heart that trusts and obeys God (there is love), we will be encouraged to give thanks to God everywhere, anytime, and in any conditions.
Philippians 4:7
4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
If we always give thanks, we will experience the peace from God that surpasses our mind. Anything could happen in this world but we must keep peaceful in our heart so we can give thanks to God.
The result of peace that surpasses our mind is as follows:
- We live in righteousness so we are cared and blessed by God until our descendants. Moreover, we become blessing for others.
Isaiah 32:17
32:17 The work of righteousness will be peace,And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. - Everything becomes calm in His time.
Mark 4:39
4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,“Peace, be still!”And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Calmness means everything is finished, easy and light, successful, and beautiful in His time. - Our body, soul, and spirit are sanctified and changed until perfect like Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:24 He who calls youisfaithful, who also will doit.
We become His Bride that is lifted up to glorious clouds. At that place we only give thanks and worship God.
Revelations 19:6-7
19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For theLord God Omnipotent reigns!
19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
God blesses us.