GIVING THANKS ALWAYS 

            "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20). This devotional is being written on Thanksgiving Day. This verse reminds us that we are not to be thankful only on this great day, but we are blessed every day and should be thankful always. Our thanks are to be offered to God, the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ regardless of the circumstances or situations we may be going through.

            Some should be thankful they are not going through difficult times on this day because so many others are burdened with issues that have come into their lives. What has happened to others could surely have affected our lives as well. We are no better than them and we should be thankful that things are going well with us.

            Some are living with burdened hearts today because of something that has come into their lives. It may be a severe illness of themselves or a loved one, the loss of a loved one, or some other tragedy that has touched their lives. Regardless of what they are going through, however, they still have many reasons to be thankful. They should be thankful the Lord is with them always. "For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5), and He said "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:18). The Lord promised the Holy Spirit would always be with you and there is a reason He is called the Comforter. "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever" (John 14:18). They should also be thankful that the Lord and Holy Spirit are not only with them, but they have gifted other Christians to help them bear their burdens. That is one of the wonderful reasons why a believer should be a member of one of the Lord's churches. "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26). It is the will of God that you make yourself available to those who are hurting. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). You will give them another reason to be thankful - thankful for you.   

            All the saved should be thankful for what they already have. Be thankful that you have peace with God because He has forgiven you of your sins since you have been justified through your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Chris" (Romans 5:1). It is because of God's mercy that He will not give you what you really deserve, and because of His grace He will provide you with what you don't deserve. Because of His mercy and grace you should be thankful in knowing that your name is written in the Lamb's book of life! Jesus said you should "rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). You can also be thankful that regardless of what may be going on in your life or in the world around you, the Scripture has given us the promise that Jesus is coming again and it could even be today! "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

            All the saved should also be thankful for what they one day will have. Jesus has given you the wonderful promise found in John 14:2, 3, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also". The Apostle John was given a vision of what will one day be yours and described it in Revelation 21:4, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

            Always give thanks to God for what you have received in Jesus Christ, our Lord!