1 Thessalonians 2:13, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
The "we" in this verse is referring to Paul, Silas and Timothy (see Acts 16-17).
It is encouraging when Christians meet together and rejoice and give thanks. We hear so much griping, complaining, and murmuring that it is a blessing when God's people get together to rejoice in the Lord and give thanks.
Paul tells the church in Thessalonica that they give thanks to God "without ceasing." He then gives them six characteristics of their unceasing gratitude.
Their Gratitude Followed Diligent and Difficult Service. "...when ye received the word of God.." Paul, Timothy, and Silas worked hard and suffered greatly to reach the Thessalonians with the Gospel.
We tend to be more grateful for a harvest where we did the plowing and sowing ourselves. We tend to be most grateful for that which we put the most effort into. When we put much time and effort into prayer for a specific issue, we're especially grateful when that prayer is answered. When we work hard to be a good witness and win a person to Christ, we are abundantly grateful when then come to faith in Christ. When we work hard to build a Sunday School class, bus route, or a church and we see that class, bus route, or church blossom into a thriving ministry, we rejoice greatly. Though we are not saved by our works, genuine salvation produces works (Ephesians 2:10). Works do not bring salvation, but neither does laziness and apathy bring blessings. Generally, working Christians are grateful Christians.
Their Gratitude Was Founded Upon a Holy and Godly Life. 1 Thessalonians 2:10, "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:" Personal godliness is the backbone of true gratitude. According to Romans 1:21-23 ungodliness and ingratitude go hand-in-hand. We see this in our own society and nation, the more ungodly our nation and society become, the less grateful our nation and society becomes.
Their Gratitude Forced Out All Self Glorying. God used Paul, Silas, and Timothy in miraculous ways in Thessalonica, yet they thanked God for what He had done, rather then gloating in anything they did. Whenever God uses us to win a soul to Christ, thank God for using you! Whenever you teach a good lesson and see God work in hearts, thank God for working through you. If you worked hard on your job and got praise and a raise, thank God for giving you the ability and opportunity to work.
Their Gratitude Was "Full-Fellowship" Gratitude. "...we..." They all had a part in what God had done. We must not only be grateful for God's blessings on ourselves as individuals, we must thank God for His blessings on others as well. God's blessing on an individual church member is a blessing on the church as a body. God's blessing on an individual Christian is a blessing for all Christians. Our jealousy should be for God's glory and praise, not for another's blessings.
Their Gratitude was Fixed and Fervent. "...without ceasing..." They didn't thank God for just a day. Their gratitude was not just a passing fad, but was a persistent gratitude. Our gratitude to God for His goodness and blessings upon us and others should not just be when the sun is shining and things are going our way, but in all things, at all times, in sunshine and shadow. Ephesian 5:20, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"
Hebrews 13:15, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
Their Gratitude Fortified Their Witness. Nehemiah 8:10, "...for the joy of the LORD is your strength." A grateful Christian is a happy Christian. A happy Christian is a strong Christian. A grateful, happy, strong Christian has a strong witness. Grumpy, complaining, grouchy, ungrateful Christians are poor witnesses for the Gospel and win few is any people to the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is encouraging when Christians assemble together to rejoice in the Lord and give thanks for His blessings.
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