365 Daily Devotions From Favorite Hymns by Daniel Partner

Author:Daniel Partner [Partner, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion, Christian Life, Devotional
ISBN: 9781628365085
Google: 4qF8AwAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated
Published: 2013-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

July 10

O Father God, we owe thee all!

All that we are and have!

With grateful thanks before thee fall,

‘Tis all that we can give.

HORATIUS BONAR (1808–1889)

O FATHER GOD, WE OWE THEE ALL

THANKSGIVING IN SUFFERING

First Thessalonians tells us, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (5:18). It does not say to give thanks for everything; rather, it tells us to be giving thanks in everything. The context informs us that everything includes our sorrows and sufferings (2:14; 4:13).

We give thanks for all our spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3; 5:20). Thessalonians, however, speaks of the opposition to the gospel, of separation and death among the saints, and invites us to give thanks in the midst of such suffering. God’s grace has brought us such a rich supply of blessings so that in every trial, in every loss, and in every attack upon our service in the Lord, we can be thankful.

The overall theme of 1 Thessalonians is our hope, our expectation. This expectation builds up a reservoir of thankfulness in a believer. Though life will bring us dark hours, in these we can give thanks. Our thanksgiving is not for the darkness, but that God is our deliverer out of the coming wrath—a truly dark hour (1:10). In sufferings, we give thanks not for the present pain, but for the glory and joy in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming (2:14, 19). We can give thanks, not for our affliction and distress, but that our hearts are being established “unblameable in holiness before God … at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (3:13).

While others are downcast by the tiresome events of this evil age, believers have the grace to be comforted, not by tears of sorrow, but by the assurance that Christ will descend from heaven for us (4:13, 16).

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:18

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