EPHESIANS 5:20

“always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father;”

Here in the U.S., we are coming into the season of the year when we give thanks for our blessings. We even have a holiday called Thanksgiving Day when families and friends gather together for a huge feast. We don’t just stuff the turkey. We stuff ourselves, lol. You may go around your table and give thanks for each one sitting there. You may ask each person to share one thing for which they are grateful. We are thankful for a lot of things.

Paul is really continuing the thought from the previous few verses. Many scholars think the thought here is not about “things” but rather people. That seems to flow from the context. The Liturgy of the Episcopal church says, “We, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men.” 1 Timothy 2:1 expresses a similar thought. “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people,”

APPLICATION

So, instead of asking what are you thankful for, ask who are you thankful for. That’s easy for me. I am thankful for my family – for my wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, in-laws, uncles, aunts and cousins. I am thankful for men who have poured into me and friends who hold me accountable and encourage me in my walk.

Here’s a great verse for you on thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” If you have ever struggled knowing God’s will for your life, here’s the answer. Just give thanks. That pleases Him. In fact, He wills it.

I love how Paul tells the Philippians how thankful he is for them. In Philippians 1:3-4 he says, “3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,” Paul not only gives thanks for them, but he also prays for them. We all need to practice that daily. Will you join me? Think of some people right now for whom you are thankful and gives thanks and lift them in prayer.

Father, today I am thankful for my wife. Will you fill her day with joy?