“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you“
for this is the will of God
The Holy Spirit highlights giving thanks in everything by saying that it is the will of God. By recognizing God’s will, we give thanks for both prosperity and adversity. By knowing that God has a sovereign plan for adversity, we can put right our anxiety about the trouble that comes our way. This is one area where we can know God’s will without a doubt.
“So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat” (1 King 15:15).
in Christ Jesus
God always links His will for us in association with Christ. Jesus is the reason we accept suffering as God’s will for us. We have an occasion to represent Him in adversity.
for you
God designs all circumstances for the benefit of the believer. God thinks about your limitations. He knows the proper proportions of adversity that are right for you. We should not concern ourselves with the portion given to someone else. God works in each person’s life differently.
He custom designs the structure of their circumstances by divine design. God knows the straw that will break the camel’s back. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, but He wants a tested product. Engineers of today’s automobiles test drive prototypes so that they know what these cars can tolerate. God wants to bring out the best in us.
Principle:
God has a purpose for everything that happens to the believer.
Application:
God’s providential plan for our lives includes all contingencies. God foresees every circumstance that comes into our lives. Not only does He foresee everything that happens to us, but He providentially plans or allows each situation that comes into our lives.
There is no substitute for understanding the will of God for our suffering. Nothing can come into our lives unless the Lord allows it. God must put His initials on everything that comes into our state of affairs. We may give thanks through tears.
Our obligation is to believe God’s Word about these matters. The Bible teaches God’s providential care of His creatures throughout the Scriptures.
It has always been a quesiton in my mind concerining this verse. “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Is the ‘giving of thanks’ only for giving thanks IN the circumstances or is it giving thanks because what we are in IS the Will Of God for our lives? It seems to me that Paul is saying BOTH…give thanks IN every circumstance and give thanks FOR the circumstance no matter what it is because it is the Will of God that you be in this curcumstance beacuse nothing can happen to us except it first pass through the Will of God. That is why we can rest in what Paul said in Rom. 8:28
Rodney, read my doctrine of concursus and reply again. Thanks for your thoughtful contribution.