As Christians walk through this world filled with sin, there are many trials that can overcome a person if they are not careful. God’s Word has commanded us to give thanks in all things and to be content.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20)
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2)
Those are just a few of the MANY verses that instruct believers to be thankful. Now let’s look at some on being content.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:31-33)
Why should we be thankful?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8 )
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28)
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
We have a dire warning about not being thankful to God:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21)
And why should we be thankful and content? Because we are to be obedient and keep His commands. (2 John 1:6, Luke 11:28, John 15:14, John 14:15, 1 John 5:3, 1 John 2:3, 2 Corinthians 10:5)
It is a wonderful witness to the world that our God can overcome the worry, stress, strife, and trials of the world in His people and to give them a peace not that the world gives. Our minds are set on things above (Colossians 3:2) and therefore we have the hope of eternal life with Christ if we endure until the end.
So if you find yourself grumbling and complaining, you are in sin as we are commanded not to.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings (Philippians 2:14) Murmurings means grumbling, complaining.
What happened to the Israelites when they complained?
Go read Numbers 11….
And let us remember that although we are in the New Covenant of grace, what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5?
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)
If we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, who paid for us with His blood, we should follow His commands and be thankful and content in all things.
God be praised!
www.dontperish.com
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20)
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2)
Those are just a few of the MANY verses that instruct believers to be thankful. Now let’s look at some on being content.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:31-33)
Why should we be thankful?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8 )
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28)
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
We have a dire warning about not being thankful to God:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21)
And why should we be thankful and content? Because we are to be obedient and keep His commands. (2 John 1:6, Luke 11:28, John 15:14, John 14:15, 1 John 5:3, 1 John 2:3, 2 Corinthians 10:5)
It is a wonderful witness to the world that our God can overcome the worry, stress, strife, and trials of the world in His people and to give them a peace not that the world gives. Our minds are set on things above (Colossians 3:2) and therefore we have the hope of eternal life with Christ if we endure until the end.
So if you find yourself grumbling and complaining, you are in sin as we are commanded not to.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings (Philippians 2:14) Murmurings means grumbling, complaining.
What happened to the Israelites when they complained?
Go read Numbers 11….
And let us remember that although we are in the New Covenant of grace, what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5?
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)
If we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, who paid for us with His blood, we should follow His commands and be thankful and content in all things.
God be praised!
www.dontperish.com