1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." This verse suggests that we give thanks unto God in everything. Is this possible? How can we thank God for allowing disappointment, pain, suffering, difficulty and even worse to enter our lives?

A few thoughts may explain why it is possible. First, a truly grateful heart recognizes that because of our sin and its’ penalty of spiritual death [separation from God forever] that we all deserve hell [Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23]. It is only because of the mercy of God that we continue to this day [Lamentations 3:22-23].

Second, if the only time I thank God for events in my life is when I consider them to be "good" then I am just like the world. A raise in salary or a large inheritance or my favorite sports team winning may cause some to "thank God!", but what about when life gets difficult? Job said, "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" [Job 2:10 b ]. Expecting God to only allow us to enjoy good without any problems is expecting Him to insulate us from all evil, our own and that of others, and its consequences from our lives.

Third, God can see the ultimate purpose and the character development that He has in mind when He allows us to suffer. Jesus Christ, the Lord, suffered terribly at the hands of sinners. Yet he was not bitter, threatening or angry toward God, because he, like Joseph in the Old Testament, could say, "you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good." [Genesis 50:20].

Yes, we can give thanks to God for his purpose in allowing difficulties to come our way. As a wise, loving, heavenly Father, God is to be thanked and praised, for his ultimate thought to us is good. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Let us seek Him.

Brother Lynn White

P. I. Sabbathi

KMS – Keep Mouth Shut

Anger may emerge as real danger

It is also everyone’s normal visitor

You better mature to be a victor

By accomplishing saintly power

Anger does not pay in any way

Therefore silence you must play

Always delay it in your display

Or else you are prone to astray

Anger undoubtedly breeds disorder

It may also mold you as an attacker

Never succumb to this evil monster

Forgiveness is the remedial counter

~P. I. Sabbathi, April 15, 2007~

49 General Commands of Christ

What are 49 Ways to Love God and Others?

By Bill Gothard

The theme of all Scripture is to love God with all of our hearts and to love one another. (See Matthew 22:40 and John 13:34.)

1.       Repent—Matthew 4:17—Humility

2.      Follow Me—Matthew 4:19—Meekness

3.      Rejoice—Matthew 5:12—Joyfulness

4.      Let Your Light Shine—Matthew 5:16—Generosity

5.      Honor God’s Law—Matthew 5:17–18—Love

6.      Be Reconciled—Matthew 5:24–25—Responsibility

7.      Do Not Commit Adultery—Matthew 5:29–30—Self-Control

8.      Keep Your Word—Matthew 5:37—Truthfulness

9.      Go the Second Mile—Matthew 5:38–42—Deference

10.   Love Your Enemies—Matthew 5:44—Creativity

11.    Be Perfect—Matthew 5:48—Sincerity

12.   Practice Secret Disciplines—Matthew 6:1–18—Faith

13.   Lay Up Treasures—Matthew 6:19–21—Thriftiness

14.   Seek God’s Kingdom—Matthew 6:33—Initiative

15.   Judge Not—Matthew 7:1—Discernment

16.   Do Not Cast Pearls—Matthew 7:6—Discretion

17.   Ask, Seek, and Knock—Matthew 7:7–8—Resourcefulness

18.   Do Unto Others—Matthew 7:12—Sensitivity

19.   Choose the Narrow Way—Matthew 7:13–14—Decisiveness

20.  Beware of False Prophets—Matthew 7:15—Alertness

Grace and Faith

By Bill Gothard

Two years ago I wrote a paper on the topic of grace. The questions that it raised confirmed to me that grace cannot be explained apart from faith. The two are linked together in Scripture, and the one activates the other. Both are gifts of God. God’s grace gives us the desire and power to do His will. Related to this is God’s mercy, which withholds the just punishment when we fail to act upon grace. The following points summarize and expand what I have been teaching in the Basic Seminar for more than 40 years.

Grace is the desire and the power that God gives us to do His will.

Grace is free and unmerited.

There is nothing we can do to earn or merit the grace of God. It is the free gift of God to us, apart from any works or effort that we can achieve. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Grace is given to every person.

Everyone in the world is given sufficient grace to respond to the light of conscience and of the Gospel. This point is emphasized in Titus 2:11–12. “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

Grace is interrelated with faith.

It is not possible to define grace without at the same time referring to faith because the two are so intricately entwined, as stated in Ephesians 2:8–9. “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” (See also I Timothy 1:13–14, Romans 5:2). Both grace and faith are gifts of God.

Grace is expressed in action.

Both grace and faith are expressed in God-directed action. Paul emphasized this in II Corinthians 8:1–2, when he explained how the grace of God that was bestowed on the churches in Macedonia resulted in their generosity. Then he challenged the Corinthians, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8).

Grace is given progressively.

We have access to all of God’s grace; however, it is given to us as we have need of it and as we have responded to previous grace. Therefore, Peter urged the believers to “grow in grace” (II Peter 3:18) and prayed that grace would be multiplied unto them (see II Peter 1:2). Paul was assured that God’s grace was sufficient for the trials that he was enduring (see II Corinthians 12:9). As we respond to the grace God gives us, He gives more grace. Therefore, different believers will have different measures of grace.

Grace can be resisted.

Since grace is given to every person, but not every person is acting upon it to carry out the will of God, it is obvious that we can resist the work of God’s grace in us. Scripture warns of this possibility in Hebrews 12:15. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”

Grace is given to the humble.

One of the strongest ways to resist the grace of God is to have pride. Thus, Scripture states, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). Peter also emphasized the importance of humility in order to receive God’s grace. “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (I Peter 5:5).