Paul the
apostle encouraged the Ephesian church members to be “speaking
to” themselves “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”
which they were “making melody in” their “hearts
to the Lord”. In chapter five and verse twenty of his letter,
Paul continued his thought as he told the Ephesians to “give
thanks always for all things unto God” where we read:
Giving
thanks always for all things unto God
and the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
The
verse begins, “Giving thanks always for all things unto
God...” Paul began with the
words, “Giving thanks”
which means “being grateful and thankful” “always”
or “at all times and ever” “for all things”
or “for each, every, any, the whole and everyone” “unto
God” who is “the Godhead
bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the
Son and the Holy Spirit”. The Ephesians were to be “grateful”
to “God” for
everything they encountered in their lives.
The
verse continues, “...and the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ;” Paul
added, “and the Father”
which refers to “the generator or male ancestor, and God who is
called the Father” “in the name”
or “whatever refers to the thought or feeling of which is aroused
in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “of
our Lord” who is “the
anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “Jesus”
whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God,
Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “Christ”
who is “the Messiah and Son of God”. The “thanks”
which the Ephesian church members were to “give”
was to be directed toward God Almighty, our Heavenly Father in
“Jesus'” name.
When
we consider carefully these words of Paul, we understand his
exhortation to “give” God thanks “for everything”.
This may seem incredibly difficult because not everything we
experience is pleasurable. Our attitude and actions must reflect our
personal relationship with God the Father in His son Jesus' name, and
we can be assured we go through nothing that has not been filtered
through His hands. Since “giving thanks for all things” can
only be accomplished by a supernatural power, may the Lord Jesus
though His Holy Spirit help us to be “grateful” no matter what
the Lord allows in our lives.
Next time Paul shares
about “submitting” “to one another”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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