“What is God’s will for my life?” It’s a question I am asked regularly. Did you know the Bible answers that question? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “No matter what happens (in all circumstances), always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” What is God’s will for your life? Be thankful. Be grateful. No matter what your outward circumstances are. This is God’s will for Christians. I know, it doesn’t sound that glamorous or exciting; almost like a recommendation that you use dental floss when you brush your teeth… but read further.
A few years ago as God was beginning to teach me the importance of gratitude, he said something to me. The Holy Spirit whispered to my heart, “In a culture of abundance, the thing that is most conspicuously lacking is gratitude.” As I thought about that statement I began to look through Scripture for verification. Whenever we think that we have “heard” God speak to us, we must always test it against the scripture. If the “word from God” doesn’t align with Scripture, it isn’t Him. As I searched His written Word, I found the Thessalonians passage mentioned above and discovered in the process the answer to the question people have asked me about God’s will for their lives.
But I learned something else. Romans 1:18-25 says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”
Did you see it? The wrath, yes you read that correctly, the wrath of God is tied to two things. Verse 21 says that those who know God but don’t glorify Him and give him thanks come under his wrath. What is that wrath? Contrary to popular misunderstanding, God’s wrath is not vindictive thurderbolts and earthly cataclysm. No, God’s wrath is that He hands us over to ourselves. He abandons stubborn sinners to our willful self-centeredness. We become spiritually blind and foolish in our thinking (v 22), we become idolaters (which means we worship things that aren’t the true and living God – v 23), our sinful desires take over our lives (24), sexual sin becomes prominent (v 24), we degrade our bodies (v 24), we believe lies about God (25), we stop worshipping (25), and we become “this-world focused” (25). When it all boils down, ingratitude toward God leads to sin, unbelief, idolatry and false worship in this life. And Revelation 21:8 says, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” When scripture says it is God’s will that we live grateful lives toward him it is because to do otherwise inevitably leads to hell.
As I have spent time marveling at the cross of Jesus Christ, I have discovered gratitude! What other response can we have when we truly see that before the Law and Justice of God our actions and our lives rightfully deserve hell. And yet, when we come to the cross seeking His forgiveness, the love and mercy of God gives us pardon, forgiveness, and sonship. When that happens, gratitude is the natural overflow of mercy received. But I have learned that it is easy to forget to be grateful; especially in the midst of abundance or in the midst of sorrow. And so I have made it a goal of mine to be a doer of God’s word, not merely a hearer of His word, and thank him throughout each day. I thank him for the “little” things and the “large”. For the joys and the sorrows. And what I have discovered as I practice gratitude in all circumstances, is that I am more content than ever before. Imagine that! Gratitude leads to contentment! May I encourage you to practice gratitude, for this is God’s will for your life in Christ.
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