… and giving joyful thanks to the Father,
Summary: It is one thing to say we are thankful, and it is another thing altogether to be joyfully thankful. Meditating on the difference helps us to understand what Paul is saying in this passage.
If we look at the Bible through the eyes of the world, we see a dusty old book. When we look at the Bible through the eyes of faith, we see a love letter from our Father.
In that love letter are all the things you might expect. A bit of family history, good advice, and the promise of an inheritance because your Father loves you. Our Father also introduces us to our new friend, his Holy Spirit.
When Adam and Eve first sinned, they were enticed by the promise of eyes that “will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). While the serpent’s words were true, as far as they went, they did not tell the whole story. He promised that we would “know” good and evil. He didn’t promise that we would be able to tell the difference.
The Holy Spirit is our guide in a broken world. He teaches us what is good and what is evil. Sometimes, he teaches us through the Bible. Other times, he teaches us directly, like when our conscience aches because of something we have said or done that wasn’t right.
One of the downsides of learning to know evil from good is realizing how corrupt we have been. We also start to realize that the only good in us comes from God. In the first case, we are filled with pain and remorse. In the second, we find ourselves overflowing with gratitude. It is this sense of gratitude that motivates Paul’s passage for today: “… giving joyful thanks to the Father.”
The balance between remorse and gratitude is critical. Too much remorse leads to despair. Gratitude without remorse leads to a shallow joy that can lead to ignoring the Spirit’s guidance (Matthew 13:4).
The gratitude Paul describes is different.
When believers step into the world of faith in God, we leave behind the world of sin. Unfortunately, until we are released from this body, we are still subject to the pull of corruption. More than pulling on us, the corrupt of the world see Christians as a threat. Persecutions are the result, leaving the Christian a person whose hope is with God but whose body is under attack.
This is where the miraculous power of God comes into play (Colossians 1:11).
It is the miraculous power of God that makes it possible to endure persecution and, at the same time, be grateful, giving “joyful thanks to the Father.”
Application: Do a self-assessment. Are you joyfully thankful or just thankful?
Food for Thought: What is the difference between having a strong opinion about God and a strong faith?
James 2: 19: You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Demons have a strong opinion about God, but no saving faith. Many atheists have a strong opinion about God, but no faith in Him. Faith trusts in God and opinions simply reveal our often flawed thoughts about God. Opinions can be unbiblical, while true faith is guided by biblical principles.
Thank you, Brother!
Well said! If only all our opinions could be biblical, too! Wouldn’t that be great? 🙂
What is the difference between having a strong opinion about God and a strong faith?
Great question!
Merriam-Webster defines an opinion as:
“: a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter
: belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge”
I believe it is safe to say that an opinion ABOUT something is formed in the mind based on external knowledge and experience, but there is a certain, perhaps minor, degree of uncertainty.
One may have knowledge and experience outside of themselves and form a strong opinion ABOUT God. Strong faith comes to a believer as they gain knowledge and experience inside themselves with God. Not only knowing about God, but knowing God. That the Presence of God in our lives and in our hearts removes uncertainty about who He is, and His faithfulness toward us. That doesn’t mean that God has revealed everything about Himself to them, just that there is a relationship, an asking and receiving that goes beyond the evidence of “the senses.” The relationship fosters and bolsters faith.
We can see from the Old Testament that there were many that knew about God, had very strong opinions about Him, but despite some memorizing all of the Mosaic Law, they lacked strong faith in Him. Faith was placed in following the Law.
Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The word of Christ is not simply the “words” recorded in the Bible that He said. The word of Christ is the fulfillment of the promise of hope. That He lived sinlessly, died selflessly, was resurrected gloriously, and lives within us and with us eternally. The first three of those four, are what I know ABOUT Christ, what I believe ABOUT Christ, the fourth is what I have experienced in Christ. It enables me to have faith in Him.
Chris,
I like that you brought the definition of “opinion” into play. According to Webster, an opinion is a form of belief, and faith, of course, is another form of belief.
Interestingly, if we agree with someone about the Bible we say that they have “faith.” If we disagree, we might discount their views as “opinion.”
I like how you tied your conclusion to your personal experience in Christ. What people think about us is unimportant. What Christ thinks about us is everything.
What is the difference between having a strong opinion about God and a strong faith?
Well written Rich!
“Webster’s New World College Dictionary” defines faith as “unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence; unquestioning belief in God, religious tenets.”
Faith is the means by which believers come to God and put our trust in Him for salvation. God provides believers with the faith needed to believe in Him: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast”.
Ephesians 2:8–9, Romans 1:17, 10:16-17, Galatians 2:20
The world is being convicted of sin, righteousness and judgement to come, John 16:8, however receiving, living in this truth in a personal decision. Each must choose, and will be held accountable for this decision which has eternal rewards, or consequences.
Thank you, Ron.
I completely agree! “Each must choose.” The challenge of the Gospel is whether or not we choose to believe. Faith is the action we take as a result of our beliefs.