Skip to main content

Daioly Devotion: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18    "Rejoice evermore.  (17)  Pray without ceasing.  (18)  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Although they could be taken individually, I am combining these three verses. I believe there is a direct connection between rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks.  All these come from a heart that is filled with the understanding of God's grace and mercy upon our lives.  The world can give things that make us happy - for a while.  Think back on Christmas wish lists from our childhood.  I can remember things that I received as a boy that, for the moment, made my life complete. Or so I thought. I can remember the thrill of opening packages, the excitement and laughter of that moment. And in a sense, I can still find joy in those memories. It makes me smile as I think back on family times. Then as parents, we can think back on those same type situations and remember the happiness that was on the faces of  our children.  In a sense, we relive those moments through our children.

But those "things" all came to an end. As a boy, the six-shooter wouldn't shoot anymore. As our children were made happy by the Nintendo games, the world said, "If Nintendo makes you happy, just watch what Super Nintendo will do."  And now there is XBox and Playstation that almost make it look lifelike.  I am coming to a point with my thoughts and that is this: As I look back on those times, I now realize things can make us happy for the moment, but relationships are the true source of joy. I can't remember everything that I ever received for Christmas, but I remember the love that went into those things being under the tree.  Looking back, I now know that there were late nights on Christmas Eve spent wrapping presents. So as I look back. I have joy in my heart because of the love of parents who wanted to give us happiness.

What does that have to do with our Scripture for today? God is so good. Isn't He?  He is so gracious and loving and kind. He bestows upon us blessing upon blessing every single day.  It is too easy to become focused on the blessing instead of the Blessor.  When we can look beyond the blessing to see the hand of God that lovingly gives us those things, we become grateful. We become grateful, not because we received what we wanted; rather, we become grateful because our Heavenly Father loves us enough to provide those things. We become grateful because of the relationship and knowing that relationship is true, we can increase our time of communicating (prayer) with our Heavenly Father.  Increasing that communication with Him brings joy to our hearts and our minds because the grace of God is abundant above and beyond our every need.  Rejoice. Pray. Be grateful.

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top!  It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.  Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...

Daily Devotion: Psalm 100:4-5 - Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:4-5     "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  (5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." Many songs have been written about these verses and with these words included. What do they mean? Today, we celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. I've listened to many people speak about their family traditions and most of them include family, food, and football. These are wonderful and fun things that enrich the day, but is it the true meaning that was intended when the day was established?  The Psalmist instructed us to include a special action with our words of thankfulness.  We are to "enter into HIS gates." The heartfelt words of thanksgiving allow us to enter the gates of the Lord, but there is a much deeper place into which we can go. Not only are we to enter into HIS gates, but He invites us to come much closer to H...

Sermon (Video): The Lamb of God - Luke 2:8-18