FridayReflection(2)

  14^th July 2023

Sarah Frazer offers

A Beautiful Reason 'Thanks Be to God'
Is Such a Powerful Verse

Biblically speaking, giving thanks has less to do with our
circumstances and more to do with God Himself.
'Thanks' means to be grateful for, or to give gratitude to,
something or someone.

When we talk about giving thanks to God, do you know
the ultimate reason we can give thanks? It is tempting to think we must
have "things" or perfect circumstances to experience God's blessings.
Do we tend to praise God only when things are good? Paul, tells us the
main reason we celebrate thanksgiving, and it has nothing to do with
how we feel.

For Paul, giving thanks was an action, not a feeling.
Sometimes we think we must feel good to give thanks, and often we are
good at giving thanks when we are feeling positive.
Throughout the Bible, God insists we be thankful in action,
no matter how we feel. Listen to these commands:

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
"I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs, I will praise you."

Although we might have a myriad reasons to give thanks,
ultimately Paul tells us to give thanks for this one reason:
Victory in Christ!
That has nothing to do with our circumstances,
but it does affect our heart's outlook.

The command to give thanks for the victory of Jesus, is found in the book
of 1 Corinthians.
Paul is the author, and he was writing to a church, in the city of Corinth.
This city was filled with false teaching and division.
Paul writes a very convicting letter to them. Paul warns against many
things wrong in their church, but as he ends his 'letter'
he has some amazing encouragement!

In this section, Paul has been talking about the resurrection of Jesus.
Although we celebrate his death because it paid the price for our sins,
Paul reminds us the resurrection is the key to living a full Christian life!

A victorious life is found in the fact that Jesus arose!
Death is defeated and we no longer have to face the penalty of sin
when we believe in Jesus as Saviour.

The last section speaks about the mystery of our own resurrection.
Paul admits he doesn't know exactly how this will work, but we can trust
God that we will be raised again on the last day.

He says, "Then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
'Death is swallowed up in victory.'
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But 'thanks be to God', who gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ."

We might not understand all of this, but we can know the last truth
in Paul's words: "Death is swallowed up in victory".
Our victory is found in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The power of sin to destroy our souls has been beaten.
Jesus has overcome!

This is reason enough to give thanks.
Death does not have the final word.
Death was our greatest enemy, but Jesus defeated it.

Nothing can separate us from God. Think of the worst thing to ever happen
to you.
Now let this truth sink into your soul: you are never separated from God!

Romans 8 asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword?" The answer is NOTHING!

The Greek word Paul uses for "thanks be" in this verse is "charis."
You might recognise this word as it means "grace" as well.
It means "that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm,
and loveliness."

As Christians, we know joy is more than a feeling of happiness.
It is a state of the heart. Paul is telling the Christians that God
deserves the "thanks." Yes, God commands us to give thanks,
but another way to is to just recognise that thanks belongs to God.

It is not just the act of giving thanks, but recognising this "thanks"
or "gratitude" already belongs to God.

Many other passages in scripture help to show us this as well.
These verses remind us our hearts can always give thanks!
"With praise and thanks-giving they sang to the Lord": Ezra 3:11
"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;" Psalm 9:1
"To him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 11:36
"The Son is the image of the invisible God." Colossians 1:15

As you read these verses, think: - what did you do to deserve any of this?
How does Jesus play a role in these things?

God listens to our requests! "Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with 'thanksgiving',
present your requests to God.

Bible references avaiable, on request

Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
Sarah E. Frazer is a wife, mother, and writer who loves to strengthen
and encourage the weary 'mum' to connect with God so that she can replace
feelings of discouragement, disillusionment, and disappointment
with God's daily peace.
Sarah is the author of several Bible study resources found on her website,
sarahefrazer.com/shop