Daily Devotion (November 22, 2024)
PSALM 100 A Psalm of Thanksgiving.1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you land!2 Serve the LORD with gladness.Come before His presence with singing.3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,And into His courts with praise.Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.5 For the LORD is good;His mercy is everlasting,And His truth endures to all generations.
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving season? What we are thankful for on Thanksgiving Day we should be thankful for all year long. Do we shout for joy to the Lord only when things are going good? Do we shout for joy only when God gives us the desires of our heart? When bad things happen to good people are you still thankful to God? What was the Apostle Paul thankful for?
1 Timothy 1:12–14 (NKJV)12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
Faith and Love of Believers:Romans 1:8: “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”Colossians 1:3-4: “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints.
“Partnership in the Gospel: Philippians 1:3-5: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.
“Spiritual Growth and Maturity: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.
“God’s Grace: 1 Corinthians 1:4: “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus.
“Answered Prayers: 2 Corinthians 1:11: “You also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
“Provision and Support: Philippians 4:10: “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.”
Paul’s thankfulness was deeply rooted in his recognition of God’s work in and through the lives of believers, the growth of the church, and the grace and provision he experienced. His letters are filled with expressions of gratitude, reflecting his deep appreciation for God’s faithfulness and the faithfulness of others.Paul was not only thankful for the good things but also the bad or negative things in life.Paul’s thankfulness was deeply rooted in his recognition of God’s work in and through the lives of believers, the growth of the church, and the grace and provision he experienced. His letters are filled with expressions of gratitude, reflecting his deep appreciation for God’s faithfulness and the faithfulness of others.How does Paul’s example of thankfulness inspire you in your own life?Was the apostle Paul ever thankful for the negative or bad things that happened to himYes, the Apostle Paul demonstrated gratitude even for the negative or challenging experiences he faced, recognizing them as opportunities for growth, strength, and the advancement of the Gospel. Here are some instances where Paul expressed thankfulness or a positive attitude despite hardships:2 Corinthians 12:9-10:Paul speaks about a “thorn in the flesh,” a persistent problem or affliction he faced. He writes:”And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”Philippians 1:12-14:Paul writes to the Philippians from prison, expressing that his imprisonment has served to advance the Gospel:”But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”Philippians 4:11-13:Paul discusses his contentment in all circumstances, whether in need or in plenty:”Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”Romans 5:3-5:Paul explains how suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope:”And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”2 Corinthians 4:16-18:Paul speaks about the temporary nature of afflictions and their eternal benefits:”Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”Paul’s gratitude for negative experiences reflects his profound faith and perspective that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness, and that every challenge serves a greater purpose in God’s plan. His example encourages believers to find reasons for thankfulness even in difficult times. How do Paul’s experiences and attitude toward suffering resonate with your own experiences?