◄ What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Mean? ►

In summing up his first epistle to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul admonishes them (and us) to live a life that is pleasing in the sight of the Lord; a life that glorifies our Father in heaven. He calls us to encourage the fainthearted, to support the weak, to show goodness and grace to all people, and not to return evil with evil.

He exhorts us to engage in ongoing rejoicing and ceaseless prayer, as we take every thought captive to Christ. He also calls us to offer grateful thanks to our Heavenly Father in all things, for Paul knows that this is the will of God in Christ, concerning each of us.

We are all God's children and as we grow in grace and in an understanding of His Word of truth, our hearts should be unfeignedly thankful for His goodness and grace. As we mature in the faith and progress in our spiritual walk, we should reflect on the enormous sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made for us on the Cross.

As believers who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, we are encouraged to develop an attitude of grateful praise and ceaseless thanksgiving to our Father in heaven, for a man's spiritual maturity is reflected in a heart of thanksgiving and praise for all that the Lord has done for us.

God knows that thanksgiving and praise are no bedfellows to unforgiveness or fear. He knows that gratitude and rejoicing is no companion of dissatisfaction or murmuring, and so we are encouraged to give thanks in everything, even those difficult, daily circumstances, knowing that His grace is sufficient for those that are in Christ Jesus.

As His children, we have benefits and glories beyond our understanding. Let us glorify God by giving thanks in everything, for this is the will of God, for all who are in Christ Jesus.

Heavenly Father, may I grow in grace and in an attitude of thanksgiving for all that you have done for me, in Christ Jesus. Lord, I desire that Your will be done in my life. I know that it is Your will that I should give thanks in all things, and so I pray that You would develop and refine this exquisite grace of thanksgiving in me. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.