In 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Paul writes, “In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Paul simply says very directly, “In everything give thanks.” No exceptions, no excuses. Nothing is outside those parameters, in everything give thanks. The word enpante in the Greek means in connection with everything that occurs. He is saying no matter what happens to you in life, be thankful. No matter your lot, no matter what circumstance, no matter what struggle or trial, give thanks. No matter what the situation we are to find reason to thank God.
This is just a sample (just a sample, that’s why the numbering is odd) of the results I hit in an online serach of the bible for the word “Thanks”. Modifying the search to thanksgiving and gratitude produced similarly lengthy lists. For today, I’ll just emphasize the breadth and volume of circumstances in which we should give thanks and leave it at that. Hopefully this will satisfy us that we should be thankful. More on why it’s so important later…
26. Should be offered » To God (Psalms 50:14)
27. Should be offered » To Christ (1 Timothy 1:12)
28. Should be offered » Through Christ (Romans 1:8; Colossians 3:17; Hebrews 13:15)
29. Should be offered » In the name of Christ (Ephesians 5:20)
30. Should be offered » On behalf of God’s servants (2 Corinthians 1:11)
31. Should be offered » In private worship (Daniel 6:10)
32. Should be offered » In public worship (Psalms 35:18)
33. Should be offered » In everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
34. Should be offered » Upon the completion of great undertakings (Nehemiah 12:31,40)
35. Should be offered » Before receiving food ( John 6:11; Acts 27:35)
36. Should be offered » Always (Ephesians 1:16;5:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:2)
37. Should be offered » As the remembrance of God’s holiness (Psalms 30:4;97:12)
38. Should be offered » For the goodness and mercy of God (Psalms 106:1;107:1;136:1-3)
39. Should be offered » For the gift of Christ (2 Corinthians 9:15)
40. Should be offered » For Christ’s power and reign (Revelations 11:17)
41. Should be offered » For the reception and effectual working of the word of God in others (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
42. Should be offered » For deliverance from indwelling sin, through Christ (Romans 7:23-25)
43. Should be offered » For victory over death and the grave (1 Corinthians 15:57)
44. Should be offered » For wisdom and might (Daniel 2:23)
45. Should be offered » For the triumph of the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:14)
46. Should be offered » For the conversion of others (Romans 6:17)
47. Should be offered » For faith exhibited by others (Romans 1:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:3)
48. Should be offered » For love exhibited by others (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
49. Should be offered » For the grace bestowed on others (1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3-5; Colossians 1:3-6)
50. Should be offered » For the zeal exhibited by others (2 Corinthians 8:16)
51. Should be offered » For the nearness of God’s presence (Psalms 75:1)
52. Should be offered » For appointment to spiritual service (1 Timothy 1:12)
53. Should be offered » For willingness to offer our property for God’s service (1 Chronicles 29:6-14)
54. Should be offered » For the supply of our bodily needs (Romans 14:6,7; 1 Timothy 4:3,4)
55. Should be offered » For all people (1 Timothy 2:1)
56. Should be offered » For all things (2 Corinthians 9:11; Ephesians 5:20)
57. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Eve (Genesis 4:1,25)
58. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Noah (Genesis 8:20)
59. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20)
60. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Lot (Genesis 19:19)
61. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Sarah (Genesis 21:6,7)
62. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Abraham (Genesis 12:7;13:4)
63. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Abraham’s servant (Eliezar) (Genesis 24:27,35)
64. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Isaac (Genesis 26:22)
65. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Leah (Genesis 29:32-35)
66. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Rachel (Genesis 30:6)
67. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Jacob (Genesis 31:42;35:3,7)
68. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Joseph (Genesis 41:51,52)
69. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19)
70. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Miriam (Exodus 15:20-22)
71. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Jethro (Exodus 18:10)
72. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the people of Israel (Exodus 4:31; Numbers 21:17;31:49-54; 1 Chronicles 29:22)
73. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Deborah (Judges 5)
74. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:27,28)
75. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:12)
76. Jesus set an example of (Matthew 11:25;26:27; John 11:41)
77. The heavenly host engage in (Revelations 4:9;7:11,12;11:16,17)
78. Commanded (Psalms 50:14)
79. Should be accompanied by intercession for others (1 Timothy 2:1; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4)
80. Should always accompany prayer (Nehemiah 11:17; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2)
81. Should always accompany praise (Psalms 92:1; Hebrews 13:15)
82. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of David (2 Samuel 6:21)
83. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:9)
84. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Hiram (2 Chronicles 2:12)
85. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Jehoshaphat’s army (2 Chronicles 20:27,28)
86. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the Levites (Nehemiah 9:4-38)
87. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the Jews (Nehemiah 12:43)
88. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the sailors (Jonah 1:16)
89. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the shepherds (Luke 2:20)
90. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The man who was paralyzed (Luke 5:25)
91. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The demon-possessed man who was exorcized (Luke 8:39)
92. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The woman who was bent over for eighteen years (Luke 13:13)
93. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » One of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed (Luke 17:15,16)
94. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Blind Bartimaeus (Luke 18:43; Mark 10:46-52)
95. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The Roman centurion for his boy ( John 4:53)
96. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The lame man healed by Peter (Acts 3:8)
97. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Before receiving food, by Jesus (Matthew 14:19; Mark 8:6,7)
98. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Paul (Acts 27:35)
99. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » See PRAISE
100. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » See PRAYER BEFORE RECEIVING FOOD
Posted by Jim at 04:30 PM. Filed under: Scripture • Jim's Existential Ramblings •
