I was driving along in my van innocently listening to the radio when the preacher traveling the airways came to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." He went on to explain that this is a hard thing to do as life is filled with trials and disappointments. He further tied the verse to Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." It is a great message, one I have shared as well. But this time the expressway in my brain took another exit. I found I had arrived in Deuteronomy 6:4-7. From here the twists and turns of my mental highway took me through some remarkably scenic visualizations of the God who is the awesome Lord of the universe yet also the God of the mundane and routine.
Paul writes to an assembly that knows of persecution and even the passing of some of the beloved of the fellowship. The Thessalonians were told of the return of the Lord and the confidence they could have in the resurrection of the dead so they were to be comforted. However, as the Apostle concludes the letter he loads the ending with a number of bullets to challenge them (and us) as to their daily walk with the Lord. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks," phrases that remind us of how intimate and immediate our relationship with God should be. "Always. Without ceasing. In everything."
The "everything" of verse 18 is everything. Not just good things but also the trials, knowing that Yahweh is in control and can be trusted. However, if we only look at that reality we miss a great opportunity for thanksgiving, praise and worship. Our lives are busy, probably too busy, yet our Creator has given us remarkable mental capabilities. Take just a moment right now and think of everything you have done in the past, say four hours. Got it? Now just how long would it take if you wrote down everything that just shot through your brain? I would guess much more time than the moment you just took to get the mental review completed. We have amazing abilities to think of stuff. Now comes the long awaited connection to all of this.
The people of God had been slaves for over 400 years in the land of Egypt. Even though they maintained their own culture, they were under the law of Pharaoh. They had traditions, but not a system of instructions as how best to live. Moses arrives and leads them out of Egypt, by the mighty hand of Yahweh. Now, as they dwell in the wilderness God provides lessons and instruction as to how they should relate to Him and to one another, Torah, God's gift of instruction and direction as how to best live. This is not just for those in the wilderness, it is for the coming generations as well. So the Lord gives them the means as to how to pass on the information. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 "Hear, O Israel, The LORD our God the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. and these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when your walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up." Meaning, teach it all the time. God's Word should be integrated into your life.
Now the Apostle Paul tells us to be thankful in everything, all the time. How can this work out in the practical experience, in the routine and mundane things of life? You rise up and decide to take a shower. Paul says be ready to give thanks. Thanks for water, hot water, and a warm house. How many folks around the world do not have this luxury, or even just clean water? Then there are the 1500 varieties of soap, shampoo, and body wash you had to select from, followed by your clean fluffy towel. So much to be thankful for. Now let yourself be reminded that God washes you clean, free from the tainted life of sin. Washed by the water of the Word. He is the God of the early and later rains. He is the water of Life that provides a spring of living water that bubbles up within you. He quenches the thirst of your soul, He leads you beside still waters. And on down the mental highway of thanksgiving for everything you can go. Showers of blessings, and the blessings of a shower.
Shower completed, dressed, and as you put on those sneakers, shoes or boots, you have a number of pairs to choose from, unlike the cold and barefoot that fill much of this world. Dexterity to tie the laces and the ability to walk knowing others may not know such ability and freedom. Now the words, "Follow Me" come to mind, walk in My ways, Your feet shall not stumble, and He makes your feet like hinds feet traversing the rocky path, or so says Psalm 18:33. And, quietly, without really noticing Sneaker time is a time of thanksgiving; it has become a time of worship, as can be shower time or breakfast time (that daily bread verse or perhaps the Bread of Life). If you let it, your brain can turn most any activity into a time of worship and thanksgiving. And you can do this with your kids, or nephews, or nieces, or grand kids or little ones in the preschool class. Sharing the reality of God in the simple, routine, mundane things of life. When you lie down, when you rise up, when you are in your house or when you walk by the way, you can give God thanks for ....... well, everything.
And the cool thing is that your brain can do all this in the time it takes to tie a shoe or wash a dish or scrape the frost off of your windshield. I have tried it as of late, and it actually is pretty amazing. So we really can give thanks in everything. Not just the big things or the hard things, but in the "everythings". Time to head out and enjoy the day, but first I think I will have a little worship time with my sneakers. Want to join me?
Yes!! Excellent. what a great reminder!!!
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