What Have I to be Thankful For?...the Wayfarer 11/19/17

What Have I to be Thankful For?
11/19/17

Philippians 4:10-13

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

As a national holiday approaches that was set aside for the giving of thanks to God the Creator for all blessings received by the celebrants many go grudgingly to this day of celebration  without giving pause as to the reason for its existence. Many question the giving of thanks choosing to reflect only on perceived problems rather than actual blessings that are given.

If ever a man had reason to slide into the “Poor Pitiful Mes” exhibited by so many of a people choosing to ignore blessing, it could well have been the author of the lines of scripture with which I opened.

Paul chose instead to look to the long view rather than the moment, to look to the eternal rather than the temporary and temporal and found blessing even within the very cause of misery forced upon him despite that moment in time that focuses far too many on the present instead of a future that is interminable and definite.

The epistle from which this scripture is taken is written from prison, by a prisoner who refused to languish in imprisonment, but rather to use that imprisonment to thrive and assist others to thrive on the promise of that future.

From the opening lines of this letter to the Philippians to its closing, thanks is given by the apostle for all that has been given through Christ Jesus, both to him and to all those addressed by it.

His opening conveys the prayer for the blessing of grace and peace of others, and a thankfulness of their being able to share that grace and peace already attained by him, despite what was then his current circumstance.

There was no protestation of the misery endured, no protestation of confinement or restriction, only thanks for the commiseration and assistance already shown by his fellow Christians.

His admonition to them was to remain within the commandment given by Christ Jesus, and to adhere to that commandment in both Spirit and Truth of action when faced with the persecution of those who refused to accept that same blessing offered.

Philippians 1:27-30

King James Version (KJV)

²⁷ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

²⁸ And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

²⁹ For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

³⁰ Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Continuing in the second chapter of this epistle he reminded all of the need to trust Christ above self, above men and their teachings, above all despite the carnal nature of man to look only to himself and for himself and the “comforts” of the moment rather than the assurance of the future that provides eternal comforts and blessings.

Philippians 2:1-4

King James Version (KJV)

2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

² Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

He then continued on to remind us of the example which we are intended to follow: that of Christ himself, Whose affliction and suffering gave cause for our own celebration and thankfulness:

Philippians 2:5-16King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

¹⁶ Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Take careful note of Paul’s admonition as to what is expected of us in following the example of Christ as he wrote in the 14^th and 15^th verses giving the reason for that admonition in the 16^th verse.

He went on in the third chapter to elaborate on the need to rejoice, to give thanks, reminding all that no matter previous circumstance or position of power or importance, there was NOTHING of importance in the moment that outweighed the importance of the future to be faced in eternity.

The fourth chapter begins with the admonition to stand fast, secure in the knowledge of true blessing, true reason for thankfulness with yet another reminder in the 4^th verse that that thankfulness is not to be forgotten in the moment but to be remembered ALWAYS!

Philippians 4:4

King James Version (KJV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

The closing of this chapter, the closing of this epistle is a prayer for the continuance of the blessing asked in its opening, and serves as reminder to all that we have much more than a day off and the feast that accompanies it along with the various “games” whose importance is exaggerated and overblown to be thankful for.

Perhaps it is time to remember the most important blessing ever given mankind or individual, and remember to give thanks where it is due:

Psalm 9:1

King James Version (KJV)

 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

As we ourselves are a part of those marvelous works, how can we not be thankful and give praise for all that has been done, and above all how can we not be both thankful and mindful of the promise delivered by Christ Jesus, without whom that thankfulness could not be anything other than temporary.

Ephesians 2:8-10

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

What am I thankful for? The gift of life itself, is the beginning, the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus, the end all and be all of thankfulness that is the culmination of all blessings.

2 Timothy 1:12 ¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer