Give Thanks in Every Season: Living with Gratitude in Christ

Give Thanks

By Brenette Wilder

“1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ─ NASB”

Even without a single television commercial or a holiday decoration, there’s no way we can miss the scenic richness that a Fall day and a Winter wonderland bring. It’s unstoppable. The brilliant color of leaves starts the grand announcement that Fall is here. In agreement, the tree sheds their leaves in preparation for Winter. And shortly afterwards, it doesn’t take long for everything to go dormant in order to welcome Old Man Winter. Oh, what a wonderful sight to behold.

However, despite all the beauty of nature around us, without the warmth of friends and the joy of sharing life together, we miss the fullness of what God intended. For beauty finds its deepest meaning when it draws us into fellowship with Him and with one another. His creation was made not only for His delight but also for ours, meant to be enjoyed in harmony.

Yet it is when we anchor these blessings in the hope of Christ that they find their true purpose. In Christ, we are equipped to live in accordance with His desires, reflecting His love and preparing our hearts for the day when all creation will be restored in perfect harmony when He returns.

We see a reminder of this type of living in the latter verses of 1 Thessalonians 5. And, in the full chapter, we get an overview of how Paul shifted the Believers conversation from being fearful of the timing of Christ return (1 Thess 5:1-2) to living a life looking forward to it in harmony together (1 Thess 5:12-28). These Christians, much like some of us, had concerns that they were not ready for Christ return. So, they wanted to know, when was He coming?

Paul told them, “I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other — We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman — 1 Thess 5:1-2 MSG.”

Paul didn’t want them focusing on the time of return that no one knew. Instead, he wanted them to be found living a life in alignment with Christ's character by getting along with others and enjoying the beautiful world around them. He told them to “warn those who are lazy, comfort those who are frightened, take tender care of those who are weak, and be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else — 1 Thess 5:14-15 TLB.”

This is still true for us today. In and out of season, we must live a consistent life. We must take our ordinary living and place it before God as a daily offering by doing our best. This way when the season shifts, we will do more than enjoy the view; we will be found embracing the change of our seasons without reservation of Christ return.

So, let us give thanks! “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole — 1 Peter 1:3-5 MSG.”

Praise God!

Continue Fishing with

-Net.

Brenette Wilder Author of Netted Together