Dearly Beloved, BE THANKFUL ALWAYS (Series 5) “…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). This would be the last part in this series. I have to confess that I did not initially have the intention of serializing this theme, but as God would want it, it became serial messages. Glory be to God! The previous parts dealt mainly on thanking and praising God for what He is doing for us and for who He is. However, this last part will be based on thanking fellow human beings, and the reasons for doing so. The key verse for this series, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, says, “…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (NIV). You will discover that giving thanks in all circumstance as Paul admonished the Thessalonians is not exclusively for God. We ought to give thanks to human beings also. We are tend to take people for granted and not appreciate them for who they are and what they are doing in our lives, even when that things which they are doing is seemingly bad to us! In most cases, God uses people to bless other people. When the blessed people are thanking God, they should remember to thank those people that are instruments in the hands of God. At times, God allows evil people to torment us to bring out the good in us. I want to believe that if an unrefined gold can react like human beings, it would not regard the goldsmith as a good person. However, it was the handiworks of the goldsmith that make unpurified gold to become precious jewel. Who knows, the seemingly bad experiences we have are for our good, to make us more purified (see 1 Peter 1:6-7). Indeed, we ought to be thankful always for all the people that come across us, and for all what they do to us either positively or negatively. Another reason why we should thankful always in all circumstances is the fact that it is the will of God for us to do so. The Bible says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name…for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:15-16, NIV). One who is thankful will have more reasons to be thankful. In all circumstances, be thankful always. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). _________________________ Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://www.afolabayo.org/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV). _________________________________________________ FindLaw - Free Case Law, Jobs, Library, Community http://www.FindLaw.com Get your FREE @JUSTICE.COM email! http://mail.Justice.com