Celeste
Sibley, a writer for the Atlanta Constitution, took
her children to a small restaurant for breakfast. It
was crowded, and they were forced to take separate
seats at the counter. Eight-year-old Mary sat at the
end of the counter, and when she was served she
cried, "Mommy, don't people ask the blessing in
this place?" Silence followed. But it was soon
broken by the waiter. He said, "Yes, we do,
sister. You give thanks." All of the people
bowed their heads with Mary, and she gave thanks.
Let's listen
to the command. It's found in 1st
Thessalonians 5:18, "In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you." One day "in the course of
His journey to Jerusalem, Jesus crossed the boundary
between Samaria and Galilee, and as He was
approaching a village ten lepers met him. They kept
their distance but shouted out, 'Jesus, Master, have
mercy on us!' When Jesus saw them, He said, 'Go and
show yourselves to the priests.' And it happened that
as they went on their way they were cured. One of the
number, when he saw that he was cured, turn around
and praised God at the top of his voice, and then
fell on his face before Jesus and thanked Him. This
man was a Samaritan. And at this Jesus remarked,
'Weren't there ten men healed? Where are the other
nine? Is nobody going to turn and praise God for what
has been done, except this stranger?' And he said to
the man, 'Stand up now, and go on your way. It is
your faith that has saved you.'" Something
happened to this man, that didn't happen to the other
nine. They found cleansing for their bodies. But he,
in addition to the cleansing of his body, found
salvation for his soul. The most wonderful gift in
all the world was given to him in response to his
gratefulness. I'm afraid that too many of us take for
granted what the Lord does for us. Not many of us
come back to worship at His feet. Are you like one of
the nine, or like this man? Oh, heed this command,
"Give thanks."
Let's look at
the compass. The Bible says, "In everything give
thanks." "What," you ask, "in
weakness?" Yes, for the Bible says, "His
strength is made perfect in weakness." "In
trials?" you ask. Yes, for the Bible says,
"for (you) shall come forth as pure gold."
"In waiting?" Yes, for the Bible says,
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength." Mrs. Charles Cowman called my
attention to Psalm 107:22 that reads, "The
sacrifices of thanksgiving." My heart was
strangely blessed as she asked, "What's a
sacrifice? It's an offering to God. A 'Sacrifice of
thanksgiving' is to praise God when you don't feel
like it; when you're depressed and despondent; when
your life is covered over with thick clouds and
midnight darkness: this is acceptable to God. While
we are admonished to 'pray without ceasing,' are we
not also commanded to 'rejoice evermore'? When shall
I praise God? When I feel happy, and when everything
is moving along smoothly? When there's no trial
crossing my pathway? It would be no sacrifice to
praise God at such a time as this. Sacrifice hurts.
It costs. It costs blood. The book of Jonah contains
a very precious truth, which throws a great deal of
light upon this subject. No one could have been in a
place where the outlook was darker: Jonah was at the
bottom of the sea with the 'weeds wrapped about his
head.' What a desperate situation. Humanly speaking,
every ray of hope was gone." What did he do? He
got his eyes off his surroundings and on the Savior.
He didn't pout, he prayed, and then he praised,
saying, "I will sacrifice with the voice of
thanksgiving." Then he sang, "Salvation is
of the Lord." Thanksgiving has a wonderful
lifting power. For when he praised God, the fish put
him out on dry land. Are you in a dark dungeon? Try
thanksgiving. And you, like Jonah, will be delivered.
Let's look at
the cause. The Bible says, "In everything give
thanks: for this is the will of God." That's the
cause. Mother and father - haven't you found it hard
to teach your children to say, "Thank you!"
And some of God's children don't find it very easy to
say, "Thank You!" to their heavenly Father.
Not so, a little boy who had suffered great pain.
Suddenly, the pain left him. Now he could sleep. He
called his mother to come quickly. "Are you in
great pain?" she asked. "No," he
answered, "I'm not. But, Mommy, I've been
thinking that when I had such bad pains we bothered
God so often. Don't you think we should tell Him I'm
better and that we're thankful!" Yes,
"always be thankful no matter what happens, for
that is God's will for you who belong to Christ
Jesus."
Mid sunshine,
cloud or stormy days, when hope abounds or care
dismays,
When trials
press and toils increase let not thy faith in God
decrease -
In everything
give thanks!
All things we
know shall work for good, nor would we change them if
we could;
'Tis well if
only He commands; His promises will ever stand -
In everything
give thanks!
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic
Association
All Scripture verses are
quoted from the New King James Version.
Click here to go
to the next message in this Sower Scripture Study on
the book of First Thessalonians.
This series of messages on the
books of the Bible were originally written for
broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The
Sower." They are collected and reprinted here
for your enjoyment and spiritual edification.
