GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS

The first half of this letter stresses the wealth of the believer. Then, from chapter 4 verse 1 to chapter 6 verse 9, we have the walk of the believer. Finally, from chapter 6 verse 10 to the end we have the warfare of the believer. In the chapter before us today are three exhortations as to ‘walk’: ‘walk in love’, v. 2; ‘walk as children of light’, v. 8; ‘walk circumspectly’ (accurately, carefully), v. 15.

Walking in the light will mean I am at one with my God and at one with my fellow believer, for I am not walking in the dark. Walking circumspectly will mean I am taking care exactly where my feet go and into whose company they take me. If I practice this, then I am deemed as wise - surely a virtue to embrace. Furthermore, such a walk allows an understanding of the will of the Lord, something for which hopefully we all crave. Surely this should be our sole aim in life - to know and do His will.

The consequence of such a life is that, instead of being intoxicated by the things of the world, I shall be daily filled with the Spirit of God. This should be the norm for my life and is God’s desire for me, but it can only and ever be the result of walking as He wants me to walk.

Another consequence of such a walk is an inward communion with God which results in spiritual melody and harmony (attainable even by the tone deaf!) becoming my daily portion. This enables me to rise above even the most adverse circumstances of life. You may think it unbelievable, but Paul says - ‘giving thanks always for all things unto God’. Even in Philippi’s cell he sang praises and prayed. Even when surrounded by the beasts of Ephesus he was able to give thanks. Paul wasn’t a fair-weather believer. Through communion with his God, he was able to accept (if not always appreciate) the ‘all things’ and so was able to give thanks. Enoch walked habitually with God, and we should aspire to the same, and so doing we shall be able to enter God’s presence always, with a note of thanks. As believers, we are not called to walk alone; we are yoked with Christ. He goes through every experience with us, and this realization will enable me to pray as Paul prayed.