Giving Thanks
Pastor Dave Monreal, Lead Pastor
| Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV) I want to focus on a small word in this verse, the word, “in.” Notice what Paul says, “Give thanks IN all circumstances…” Another translation says, “…in everything give thanks…” (NASB) Notice Paul does not say, give thanks FOR all things. If he had said that the meaning would be very different. This would mean that we would have to thank God for the evil itself or the illness itself. But what Paul does mean is that regardless of our circumstances, whether good or bad, we can have a heart of thanksgiving and see his hand in the midst of it. Why is this an important distinction? There are both natural evils, things that occur because we live in a fallen world such as hurricanes, cancer, or the coronavirus, as well as personal evil by sinful people who choose to do that harm others or themselves. We do not have to say that evil is anything other than what it is, evil. We do not have to try to convince ourselves that what is happening is not bad or that we don’t want it in our lives. We can be honest about hating what is evil and hold fast to what is good. (Romans 12:9) What this verse is teaching us is that we need to remember that God’s hand is guiding all things (Providence) and that he is still on his throne ruling and reigning (Sovereignty). He is actively involved in his creation and he is intimately interested in the lives of his children. Everything we go through is previewed and permitted by God for a good purpose in the life of the believer. It may be personally good or good for the advancement of the gospel, but it is nonetheless good. In other words, God can redeem and use the sinful or painful realities of our lives for his good purpose. We thank God, not because COVID-19 is actually good (because it is not), but because God is actively at work in the midst of it accomplishing his good purpose. As I mentioned last week, this is why Joseph could say that God sent him to Egypt even though it was the sinful actions of his brothers, the lust of his master’s wife, and the forgetfulness of the baker and cupbearer that eventually allowed him to be Pharaoh’s right-hand man. This is also why he could say to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20 ESV) Paul is not calling us to thank God for the misery and pain that befalls us but, to be thankful that God is at work redeeming the broken things and making something beautiful out of it. Maybe you cannot see your family this Thanksgiving. Perhaps you or a loved one is struggling with COVID-19. Perhaps you have received a dreaded diagnosis that changes everything. In the midst of this remember God is at work, and for this, you can give thanks! |
cacadmin
