Giving Thanks

How can a follower of Christ give thanks in all circumstances?

Jon Bloom shares insights in his article:

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-can-we-give-thanks-in-all-circumstances

Are we living as a stream of fresh water? Do we refresh others spiritually and encourage others in their difficult seasons of life?

The Scriptural Command

Paul writes to the suffering believers at Thessalonica. Consider that his audience is faithfully enduring persecution for standing firm in faith. He instructs them in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22. Berean Standard Bible, highlights mine.

14And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

16Rejoice at all times. 17Pray without ceasing. 18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20Do not treat prophecies with contempt, 21but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.

Paul lays out several ideas in this passage. First, we are to admonish those we see who are walking astray. If we know someone is walking in a manner that will lead to sorrow/destruction we should warn and encourage them to repent and walk along God’s path. Second, we are to be encouragers and people who strengthen others–consider Romans 15:1-4

1We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

We are to lift others up and seek to please others. God’s Word gives us hope!

Jesus is our Bread of Life and His Blood is the New Covenant Matthew 26:27Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is My blood of the covenant,which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Our Example of Giving Thanks

Jesus shows us how to give thanks even in our most difficult moments. Jon reminds us:

Jesus’s thanks was not based on his present circumstances. He was about to endure the worst possible horror. He felt thankful to the Father for the grace and glory that was coming because of the cross and this gave him joy.

Ann Voskamp uses the term Eucharisteo—

The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace.” Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks.

He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.”

Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy.

Source: https://www.theologyofwork.org/the-high-calling/blog/dont-worry-be-thankful-eucharisteo-ann-voskamp

Why is this concept so important? Ann answers:

“Why is remembering and giving thanks the core of the Christ-faith? Because remembering with thanks is what causes us to trust; to really believe. Re-membering, giving thanks, is what makes us a member again of the body of Christ. Re-membering, giving thanks is what puts us back together again in this hurried, broken, fragmented world.“

Source: Ibid.

How Jesus was able to give thanks?

His focus was on His Father and fulfilling His mission. Jon points out:

Jesus’s eyes were on his future joy. He got through the cross by not focusing on the cross but on the promised joy that would result from it.

That’s where God wants your eyes: on the future joy he has promised you.

There is value in your sorrows!

“In fact, the trouble that you endure has a purpose: in it you are displaying the reality of Jesus to the world in a unique way. The kingdom of God is most clearly shown on earth when Christians gratefully suffer present trouble because they see a future weight of glory coming that makes everything this world throws at them as “light momentary afflictions” in comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17).”

Let us turn our eyes to Christ and find hope in the joy He gives us! Recall the first two lines of the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”

O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There’s light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace.