Giving Thanks to God for You
Giving thanks to God for His church is a great privilege. The Apostle Paul front-loaded His gratitude for the church of the Thessalonians (1 Thess 1:1–10). In the first ten verses of his first epistle to this congregation we see a lengthy expression of eucharisto.
During his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul planted the local fellowship of believers in the mother city of Macedonia (metropolis). In Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council determined that Greek converts to Christ shared equal status with the Jews who had been receiving the Holy Spirit ever since Pentecost (Acts 2).
The predominantly Greek assembly would have rejoiced at hearing Paul’s language from Old Testament Israel being applied to them. This was the church of Yahweh and of Christ Jesus. From the synagogue and into the home of Jason, this church was laudable in many respects. Paul was not thanking the Christians, however. His gratitude was to God for the manifestation of His divine work in and through those the Father had chosen (1:4) and called to be His people (1:5).
It is the true believer who gives thanks to God for the doctrine of election. Paul did not elaborate on this teaching with the Thessalonian church as He did with the Romans (Rom 9) and Ephesians (Eph 1). He had obviously taught them this sound doctrine well enough to include a reference to their election very early on in this first epistle.
Next, there is the calling of God to His elect people through the Holy Spirit’s powerful employment of the Word of life (1:5). Paul gave himself to this labor of Gospel preaching, even as he was appointed to be the apostle sent to the Gentiles. Witnessing the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in conversion, Paul knew the joy of the Lord each time the Spirit added to Christ’s church.
A believer’s election and calling became evident through the Spirit’s work of sanctification (1 Thess 4:3). It is God the Spirit who is at work in the believer, having taken up permanent residence in the soul (Rom 8:9, 11). Christ lives and works within each Christian by His Spirit (Gal 2:20). The work of faith, labor of love, and steadfast hope are all produced by the Holy Spirit (Phil 2:13).
Witnessing God’s work in the work of the child of God is cause for thanksgiving to God. It is so encompassing that Paul later wrote “in everything give thanks” (5:18). Whatever good works are produced by the saint are ultimately attributed to the indwelling Spirit of Christ (Phil 1:6; 1 Pet 1:2). This is the reason we do not boast in ourselves but in Christ Jesus our Lord (1 Cor 1:31).
God works the sanctification of the saint (1 Pet 1:2). The Spirit illumines the one set apart for God’s purpose so that he or she becomes a witness (Acts 1:8). The true believer says, “It was not I…but Christ in me that has done this good work.” It is a good work on top of a good work to ascribe credit and praise to God, which includes thanksgiving…in everything.
The Psalms are rich with words of thanksgiving to God. Psalm 139 is praising God for His eternal purpose and plan for him as an individual (Ps 139:13–17). Psalm 117 encourages the nations to praise Yahweh for His love and faithfulness (Ps 117:1–2). Psalm 7:17 simply gives thanks to Yahweh because of His righteousness. Psalm 95 is vigorous in calling God’s people to sing and shout to the Rock of our salvation, giving thanks with music and song (Ps 95:1–2).
Paul also thanked God for His coming salvation of the Thessalonian believers. Like all Christians who have been propitiated by Christ’s atoning sacrifice, the wrath of Christ to come upon the world at His second coming is not a concern because it is Christ Himself who delivers us from the wrath to come (1:10). Give thanks!
Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians, who were suffering persecution because of the heavy hand of the politarchs. Roma cult worship was the law and one must declare, “Caesar is Lord.” The state pressure for all citizens to adhere to the state religion was intense. To suffer loss of freedom, possessions, or even one’s life — in order to obey Christ the Lord — required grace upon grace. God had given grace to them and this prompted Paul to give thanks for this, too.
Christian, consider the freedoms you have in Christ, the freedoms you have in society, and the abundant grace of God that have made these a reality for you. What is your meditation all day, every day and in all things? My hope and prayer is that you give thanks to Yahweh, your God and Father for giving you so great a salvation, by sending forth His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving is prescribed for God’s people in the Bible. This should be a way of life and daily practice in personal and family worship. If it is, then give thanks to God for giving you His Spirit, who leads you and all the saints into worship with praise and thanksgiving.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
June 19, 2023
