GIVING OF THANKS
Here is a far
better use of the tongue, “But rather
giving of thanks.” (Eph 5: 4) Here
are some things scripture says his people are thankful for.
·
We thank God our Father for saving us in
Christ, “Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood,
even the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1: 12-14)
·
We
thank God for his faithfulness toward his elect. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward
you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an
expected end.” (Jer 29: 11)
·
We thank God for preserving us. “Ye that
love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth
them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and
gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give
thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” (Ps 97: 10-12)
·
We thank God that he is good and merciful to
us, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he
is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (1 Chr 16: 34) God has never
done anything toward his elect except that which is good and merciful.
·
We thank God for brethren. Paul said, I “cease not to give thanks for you, making
mention of you in my prayers.” (Eph 1: 16)
“But we are bound to give thanks
alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth.” (2 Thess 2: 13)
·
We thank God for the preaching of the gospel.
“Now thanks be unto God, which always
causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his
knowledge by us in every place. (2 Cor 2: 14)
·
We give thanks for all men whom God has
placed in authority to rule over us. “I
exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in
authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”
(1 Tim 2: 1-3)
·
We thank God that our Savior reigns over all,
“And the four and twenty elders, which
sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art
to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.”
(Rev 11: 16-17)
·
We thank God for giving us the victory over
death, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56: The
sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God
which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 15:
55-57)
·
We thank God for all things. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God
and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph 5: 20) We have
not begun to exhaust the list. We thank God in every circumstance of life
whether it be adversity or whether be comfortable
There is so much
better use of our tongue than obscene, useless, and hurtful talk. Our Master says, “Speak the truth of Christ in love.”
And when we are not doing that “thank
God always.”