Message Recap
Today, Pastor Megan Marshman closed our Grateful series with 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This can be a challenging passage to live out as we often feel entitled to a safe and easy life, but we all know life isn't safe and easy. And to live these commands in the reality of life is not always easy.
Pastor Megan took us back to Genesis to show us that we come from dust—from the ground. When we consider this, we can only look up and see that everything we have is a gift. We do not actually get what we deserve; we receive God's grace—His unmerited favor. This should produce an abundance of gratitude, as gratitude is a byproduct of realizing Christ in us and all He has done for us. It is from this posture that Paul urges the Thessalonian church to do the following:
1. Rejoice Always
Always means always and the fact that Paul commands this, means that it is within our reach. We need to pause so we can see what God is doing.
2. Pray Continually
Why pray continually if God already knows everything? Because of double knowledge: the idea that we cannot grow in God in just knowledge of God, we must also grow in the knowledge of ourselves. Pastor Megan said, "We need to know ourselves so we can know God in the places we don't want Him to go." His love is not dependent on our actions, but we can be fully known by Him, when we take the time to fully know ourselves.
3. Give Thanks in All Circumstances
Pastor Megan challenged us to see that the passage does not say to give thanks for all circumstances but rather to give thanks in all circumstances. Our circumstances can be the very things that show us what God is doing. It is our invitation to see what God is up to. The enemy would like to shift our focus away from God, but our circumstances can in fact, be a way to see what God is already doing and has done. Thankful hearts remain aware of God's work in all circumstances.
Pastor Megan closed by reminding us that gratitude is a by-product of a heart positioned on what God has done, is doing, and will do. We need to humble ourselves to see that everything really is a gift. Megan prayed, "Shift our focus from what we must do, to what you are doing." Jesus has already done it all.
