15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Give Thanks For Everything
I really debated over which direction to go with today’s Oil Change. There are two incredible statements in this passage, both worthy of further consideration. The first is found in verse 16: “Make the most of every opportunity …” Wow. I can only imagine how effective God’s people would be if we took that verse to heart. If each of us truly made the most of every experience we had. Rather than give a half-hearted effort to some things, imagine if we gave it our all in everything. What a challenge.
The second verse that hits me hard is verse 20: “Give thanks for everything.” Everything? I’m sure Paul must have made a typo in this passage. I mean, I can understand thanking God for all the good things that he does, but doesn’t everything also mean thanking God for the bad things? Isn’t that a lot to ask? Is it even realistic?
When my daughter passed away, I didn’t thank God for letting her die. It wasn’t like I stopped and said, “Hey God, that was pretty cool!” So, how can Paul suggest that we thank God for everything?
Here’s how. While I didn’t thank God for allowing my daughter to die, I did thank God for being there with me through the pain of her death. I thanked God for being one whom I could trust in. A God who was there, who understood my pain, who could take every situation and allow good to come from it if I simply trusted him.
And so, in that way, I do believe that we can thank God for everything. Regardless of what you’re facing today, thank God. Thank him for being someone you can trust in. Someone who will give you strength when you feel weak. Someone who will take every situation and cause good to come from it. IF we will trust him.
My prayer: Lord, thank you that when I am weak, I find strength in you. When I feel like giving up, I can turn to you and you will carry me. Yes, I can thank you in every situation. Even when I’m going through something I don’t understand nor want to experience, I can still thank you for loving me and being with me. So, thank you. Amen.
Until tomorrow.
