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No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.
IN THE FACE of adverse occurrences, there is something about the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) that catches the attention of keen observers—the Thanksgiving worship services that they continue to hold before the end of every year, be it a year of prosperity or of adversity. Some find this commendable, while others see this ironic, if not unacceptable, for they view it as an added burden to those who have been victims of untoward incidents.
So they wonder: why do members of the Church Of Christ hold Thanksgiving worship service despite the hardships and troubles that they encounter? Let us allow the Holy Scriptures to give us the answer.
Why do Church Of Christ members always hold Thanksgiving worship service no matter what the situation is? Apostle Paul’s answer is this:
“No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (I Thess. 5:18 New Living Translation)
The ones who “belong to Christ Jesus” to whom Paul was addressing his message are part of Christ’s body, the Church that the Savior Himself calls “my church” and that Paul referred to as the Church of Christ (Col. 1:18; Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation). This is the reason Church Of Christ members fulfill the commandment to always be thankful. Did you notice Apostle Paul’s emphasis? He did not only say, “always be thankful” but he also said, “no matter what happens.”
Thus, the thankfulness to God seen in Church Of Christ members should not surprise anyone. They will always do this, whether they are in prosperity or in hardship. Even though there are people who malign them, still, Church Of Christ members uphold the biblical teaching that thanking God is good (Ps. 92:1), for by doing so, He is glorified (I Chr. 16:8–9, 29).
Aside from the fact that thanking God always is a commandment written in the Bible—and it brings glory to Him—what more reasons are there for His servants to continue fulfilling it? In I Chronicles 16:41, this is recorded:
“David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, ‘for his faithful love endures forever’.” (nlt)
Yes, the days that passed might have been a rough ride, as others put it. But still, the words of the Bible cannot be denied—God’s faithful love for His chosen people endures forever. How does God make His chosen ones feel this? King David said these words to ancient Israel, God’s chosen nation then:
“What if the Lord had not been on our side? Answer, O Israel! ‘If the Lord had not been on our side when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us alive in their furious anger against us; then the flood would have carried us away, the water would have covered us, the raging torrent would have drowned us.’ Let us thank the Lord, who has not let our enemies destroy us. We have escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap; the trap is broken, and we are free! Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Ps. 124:1–8 Good News Bible)
This is true in the lives of Church Of Christ members who have experienced severe persecutions from the enemies of their faith. It is God Who defends them and stands on their side. It is also God Who saves and protects His people in times of devastating calamities. Like many of their fellowmen, they too might have lost a lot—things that they value in life, properties that they work hard for, or worse, loved ones and friends close to their hearts.
As humans who have emotions, they also feel sorrow and pain. But these are not considered by God’s true servants as excuses to stop thanking Him. Instead, they view these as reasons to all the more be thankful to God, because despite all that they have gone through, they are still alive and they are still among His chosen. And they have a lifetime of opportunities ahead of them. They acknowledge that if God had not been on their side, they would have already been gone.
Church Of Christ members should all the more be thankful for a greater blessing—the spiritual blessings they receive, as stated by Apostle Paul:
“Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world.” (Eph. 1:3 gnb)
Isn’t the divine election to have union with Christ through His body—the Church—a great spiritual blessing itself? That is why God placed a Church Administration, currently led by the Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, who tirelessly teaches God’s words to the members of the Church so that they can remain steadfast in their membership. Through this divine election, they have received a priceless privilege—another reason to be thankful to God:
“Let us be thankful, then, because we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that will please him, with reverence and awe.” (Heb. 12:28 gnb)
The “kingdom that cannot be shaken” mentioned by the apostles is none other than the Holy City, the new heaven and new earth where there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain (Rev. 21:1–4). Indeed, God’s love endures forever! It is but right for the true Christians to forever be thankful to Him as well.
However, mere acknowledgment and words of thanks to God for all His blessings—material and spiritual—are not all that He expects from His chosen ones. Apostle Paul teaches us the firm resolve expected from those who offer thanksgiving to God:
“Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.” (Col. 2:7 gnb)
Hence, members of the Church remain obedient to all of God’s commandments taught to them. They conduct their lives in accordance to His will. They never turn away from their services to Him. Instead, they grow stronger in their faith. They are determined to remain in their active membership all the days of their lives.
Servants of God who remain thankful to Him no matter what, do not turn their backs on Him, and obey His teachings can look forward to His help. In times of adversity and persecution, they can expect that God sees them, listens to their cries, and is always ready to act in their favor:
“But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering and are always ready to help. The helpless commit themselves to you; you have always helped the needy. …You will listen, O Lord, to the prayers of the lowly; you will give them courage. You will hear the cries of the oppressed and the orphans; you will judge in their favor, so that mortal men may cause terror no more.” (Ps. 10:14, 17–18 gnb)
This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.
