Monday, May 11th, 2009

Monday, May 11th, 2009

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

As I mentioned yesterday, in these verses there are three incredible commands, that seem to be impossible to fulfill, and yet one extremely compelling reason of why I should strive to fulfill them.

Today is the third day of meditating on these three commands. as well as the compelling reason to fulfill them. Today is the third day of meditation, and the third command.

The command is to give thanks in all circumstances. This command is radical, and it is not a light one. How in the world can I give thanks in all circumstances? What is it that would compel me to do so? What kind of irrational reasoning would lead a person to be able to give thanks for war, death, suffering, pain, anxiety, depression, and the list goes on?

This is not irrational reasoning, for the bedrock of giving thanks for whatever comes my way comes from the anchor of my soul, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul tells us in Romans 8:28, all things work together for my good. All things work together for drawing me closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.

God is the sovereign Lord and King of the universe. He arranges all things in this universe for the goal of glorifying and honoring His name. He has made me as a creature, with the sole purpose of honoring and serving Him. So, with that in mind, He has made all things for me for my good and for my salvation.

This God of mine is not a God who wrings His hands in fear, wondering what might happen to me. This God of mine is the one who has planned for every hair on my head to either stay in place or to fall off. This God has ordained the minutia of life, every cell, every molecule, every tiny creature. He has ordained all creatures, and their actions. Not a day goes by on this earth when my God is not active in His creation. Not a day goes by when everything that happens is not for my good.

Oh, the Lord is good, He knows me, He loves me, and He takes care of me as His son. Thus, a great and benevolent God. A loving and caring father would never arrange things for my harm. Thus, all these things that happen in this world should make me rejoice in the fact that God is arranging them for my good and for His glory.

And why did He do this, because this is His will in Christ Jesus for me! Whoa! This is incredible and amazing, He sent Jesus Christ to die for my sin, and be my perfect righteousness, so that He could love and take care of me. Amazing love!

Oh God, my Father, I cannot even begin to scrape the depth of the love that You have for me in Jesus Christ. Please help me to know the height, the depth, the breadth, the length of this love towards me. What an amazing God you are! How you ordain all things, you make them for Your glory and my good! Help me to give thanks in all my circumstances today! Help me to rejoice always! Help me to pray without ceasing! Please, oh God, come upon me with your Spirit today, quicken my soul, and help me to live in the freedom that is given in Jesus Christ. In Christ's holy and magnificent name I pray, amen.