Musings on Faith #2 Always Giving Thanks
Last week we talked about the first part of Ephesians, Chapter 5, verses 19b through 20, "Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ". The second part of this passage says "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything". Most people would naturally assume that the word "everything" refers to blessings from God, and in a sense that is true. But where we tend to think of blessings as positives in our lives - family, friends, our homes, food, etc - blessings can sometimes be things that non-believers would view as negatives. Even believers can fall into this trap, and fail to give thanks to God for such "negatives". Ask yourself, however, what kind of Christian would you be if no negatives ever occurred in your life. If everything was positive in your life, if everything went your way, what need would you feel for God? Probably none at all. It is usually through negatives - trials and tribulations - that we are grown into mature Christians. Sometimes we bring these negatives upon ourselves, through our own mistakes and misjudgements, and other times they are from sources beyond our control. But whatever the source or circumstance, it is the trials we are put through as a consequence of losses or	(Continued) troubles in our lives which either cause us to grow in the Lord or, for some, cause us to fall by the wayside.    I was listening to Dr. Charles Stanley, that great Bible teacher, recently, and he said something that bears directly upon what we're discussing now, but which I had never thought of in just the way he expressed it. He said that God does not require us or expect us to give thanks for the loss of a loved one, a home, or a job, but He does wish for us to grow in faith and in our relationship with Him as a consequence, and to thank Him for the tests that we are put through as a result of such losses and sad or turbulent times in our lives.   Such tests, if we believe in and trust God, help us to grow in our relationship with Him and our understanding of His love and steadfastness. I think it is wrong to always assume that God "did this to us", but He does not always prevent the uncertainties of life from intruding into our peace. Therefore, let us give thanks for our tribulations, as they help us to grow in faith, and in our dependence upon Him.  Yours in Christ, Tom Woodard
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