“Be Ye Thankful” These three potent words are found in Colossians 3:15. They speak to us of—- The Individual T h e s e w o r d s c a m e from the Apostle Paul, who stormed the capitals of proud empires in the name of Jesus, who compassed the earth with the truths of redemption, who left a trail of glory across the Gentile world. When this intense individual greatly believed, he was greatly saved. Greatly saved, he greatly served. He was in peril of his life in Damascus, coldly suspected by his fellow- believers in Jerusalem, persecuted in Antioch, stoned in Lystra, assaulted in Iconium, beaten with many stripes and imprisoned in Philippi, attacked by a lewd and en vious crowd in Thessalonica, pursued by callous enmity in Berea, despised in Athens, blasphemed in Corinth, ex posed to the fierce wrath of the Ephesians, bound with chains and sent as a prisoner to Rome. Yet at all times, in prayer with thanksgiving, being “ careful for nothing . . . but with thanksgiving” making his requests known unto God — abounding in gratitude. Perpetual, not spasmodic, was his thanksgiving. Though he was “ in perils of wa ters, in perils of robbers, in perils of his own country men, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness, painfulness, hunger, thirst, cold, nakedness,” he was always abounding in thanksgiving. Though he was in prison without his free dom, in winter without an overcoat, in court and before magistrates without a friend, in poverty without help, a wanderer without a home, he was ever singing his hymn In A ll Things . of thanksgiving. What an inspiring individual he! But now consider— The Imperative “ Be ye thankful!” That is imperative. Mohammed claimed that he was transported to heaven once where he saw a gigantic angel. This angel had 70,000 heads; each head had 70,000 faces; each face had 70,000 mouths; each mouth had 70,000 tongues; each tongue spoke 70,000 languages—and all were employed in singing praises un to God. I think the prophet of Islam did not intend this story to be taken literally, but that he meant thereby to symbolize the spirit of praise which possessed innumer able inhabitants of heaven. It brings to mind Wesley’s hymn: But the imperative appeal is for us to be thankful as Christians in all things. Thankfulness—a duty and a de light—is given much attention in the Bible. How sad it is that so many lives are unscriptural at this point. Thankfulness—a consummating grace, the crown of grac es, is a completion of character. Without gratitude we miss life’s central melody, and we become grave diggers of spiritual optimism. To have spiritual joy without mur muring, we must give obedience to this command and be instant and constant in giving thanks to God. To be disobedient to this imperative is to be unscriptural, and THE KING'S BUSINESS O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise — The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace.
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