βGiving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christβ (Eph. 5:20).
Under the law and its sacrificial system, there were sin offerings. Sin offerings were constant reminders of the sinfulness of the ones bringing the sacrifices, continuous reminders of their ongoing need for forgiveness, atonement, cleansing, and righteousness (Heb. 10:3).
The sacrificial system included not only sin offerings, but also thank offerings. These sacrifices were outward expressions of thanksgiving by the children of Israel in response to Godβs merciful provisions for both their spiritual and physical needs. God wanted them offered, not by obligation, but by free will: βAnd when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own willβ (Lev. 22:29).
As believers under grace, we donβt bring an ongoing sacrifice for sin; instead we praise God and rest in the once-for-all, perfect sacrifice for sin by Christ at the Cross. We also donβt bring thank offerings to the Lord in the manner Israel did under the law but, like Israel, we do offer our thanksgiving to GodΒ out of our own free will, thanking Him for His grace in providing for our spiritual and physical needs.
Thanksgiving crucifies self. It is unselfish and humble. Thanksgiving recognizes God as the Source of everything. Thanksgiving, the holiday, and thanksgiving in everyday life, remind us of our dependence on God and the continual blessings that flow from His hand.
Ephesians 5:20 instructs usΒ whenΒ to give thanks: βalways.β It tells usΒ whatΒ to give thanks for: βall things.β It shows usΒ whoΒ we give thanks to: βGod and the Father.β It teaches usΒ howΒ to give thanks: βin the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.β
The appropriate response to what God has done and given is thanksgiving. If we are thankless, weβre not looking for or seeing God in our lives. We give thanks always because we are continually the beneficiaries of His grace and goodness.
We give thanks to God βfor all things.β βAll thingsβ means both spiritual (Eph. 1:3-14; et al) and physical blessings (1 Tim. 6:17). To thank God for both spiritual and physical blessings consecrates everything and all of life to Him. And above all, we thank God for His greatest gift of all: His Son and the victory over sin and death that we have in Him. source
