During this Thanksgiving Day celebration here in the United States, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for as God's people, and the apostle Paul has a thanksgiving focus within his letter to the Philippians:
Philippians 1:3-6
New King James Version
Thankfulness and Prayer
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
I am very grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life and, like Paul, it brings me joy to pray for those who need healing and strength. I also have a lot of awesome Christian brethren like @Magenta and @Pilgrimshope who share our love for the "fellowship in the gospel" that we enjoy, and it brings deep enrichment into our lives. We can be confident that God will complete the "good work" the Holy Spirit is doing within us as we long for "the day of Jesus Christ."
There are many ways we can express thanks to God like expressing joy for the life we have in Him. Rejoicing is a way to release that joy to please our Lord and bring hope, joy, and peace to others as well.
Philippians 2:14-18
New King James Version
14 Do all things without [a]complaining and disputing,[b] 15 that you may become blameless and [c]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
Paul reminds us from Jesus that we should "shine as lights in the world" and rejoice in each other and the Lord:
Philippians 4:4-7
New King James Version
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your [a]gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Joy in its expression of rejoicing "with thanksgiving" in "prayer and supplication" yields that "peace of God, which surpasses all understanding." Thank you so much dear sisters and brothers in Christ for your fellowship, prayers, and rejoicing we share in our Lord. And, thanks be to God for the new life He has given us in Christ to share the gospel of His Kingdom with those who receive our light as Thanksgiving offerings and sacrifices to our Father in heaven!
Philippians 1:3-6
New King James Version
Thankfulness and Prayer
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
I am very grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life and, like Paul, it brings me joy to pray for those who need healing and strength. I also have a lot of awesome Christian brethren like @Magenta and @Pilgrimshope who share our love for the "fellowship in the gospel" that we enjoy, and it brings deep enrichment into our lives. We can be confident that God will complete the "good work" the Holy Spirit is doing within us as we long for "the day of Jesus Christ."
There are many ways we can express thanks to God like expressing joy for the life we have in Him. Rejoicing is a way to release that joy to please our Lord and bring hope, joy, and peace to others as well.
Philippians 2:14-18
New King James Version
14 Do all things without [a]complaining and disputing,[b] 15 that you may become blameless and [c]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
Paul reminds us from Jesus that we should "shine as lights in the world" and rejoice in each other and the Lord:
Philippians 4:4-7
New King James Version
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your [a]gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Joy in its expression of rejoicing "with thanksgiving" in "prayer and supplication" yields that "peace of God, which surpasses all understanding." Thank you so much dear sisters and brothers in Christ for your fellowship, prayers, and rejoicing we share in our Lord. And, thanks be to God for the new life He has given us in Christ to share the gospel of His Kingdom with those who receive our light as Thanksgiving offerings and sacrifices to our Father in heaven!
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