November 2004
“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” (Colossians 1:3; 1:12; 2:7; 3:15-17; 4:12).
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25).
BEING THANKFUL WHILE IN A PRISON
I am sure you would agree that one would be hard press to find thankful people in a prison. People in prison may feel angry, discouraged, dissatisfied, depressed, worried, lonely, and confused, but seldom thankful. Can the saints of God be thankful while in a prison?
Paul’s letter to the Colossians is one of the four so-called prison epistles (the others being Ephesians, Philippians, Philemon) because they were written while he was in prison. In the passages above, Paul was admonishing the saints to be thankful even while he was looking through prison bars. Paul was in a physical prison. He was confined to a particular place. I want to suggest that a prison is anything that has you in bondage. A prison can be physical, mental or spiritual. Some of God’s people are in the prison of temptation, worry, trouble, discouragement, depression, jealousy and resentment. As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day this year, can these saints be thankful while in a prison?
I am convinced that thankfulness for the believer should not be circumstance originated. Thankfulness comes with maturing in our relationship with God. Paul concludes, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Phil. 4:11). There are about five principles that I want to lift up that I believe will help us, as we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, to be thankful while in a prison.
First, we must be sure of our heavenly citizenship. When we know that our “calling and election is sure” we will have a heavenly perspective rather than an earthly perspective (II Pet 1:10, Col. 1:12). Earthly thinking people see life situations, whether bad or good, as permanent realities. But, when we know who we are and whose we are, we will also know that the vicissitudes of this life are temporary. Second, we must know that in Christ we have a firm foundation (Psalm 46; Col 2:7). We are rooted and grounded in Him. Therefore, when the winds of life blow, we may bend, but we will not break. Third, we must understand that the suffering of this life leads us to glory. We can be thankful because we know that the prisons (sufferings, problems, troubles and health issues) of this life is our road to glory (I Pet. 4:11-19; 5:6-11; Rom. 8:18). Because this truth we can sing songs of gratitude (Col. 3:16). Fourth, we must know that our ministry or work that God has called us to do is a reason to be thankful (Col. 3:17; I Co. 10:31). Fifth, we must stay connected to our Lord through prayer (Col. 4:12; Phil 4:6). It is in prayer that we nurture an intimate relationship with Christ. The more we know about Him, through reading His word and by fervent prayer, the greater will be our trust in Him.
I challenge you this Thanksgiving Day, not to let your prison hinder your praise. In spite of our prisons we can thank God for saving our souls, His love, forgiveness of our sins, His mercy, His patience, His longsuffering, His peace, His joy, His death on the cross, His crucifixion and resurrection. Therefore, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms (Ps. 95:2). This Thanksgiving Day let us, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name” (Ps. 100:4).