And be thankful.

New Christians in the early Church faced all sorts of trials: disunity, the lure of empty religion, persecution. They lived in difficult times. Under political turmoil. Outside societal norms. The epistles of the Apostle Paul were full of encouragement for these fledgling believers. Yet despite their hardship, Paul didn’t pray by asking for blessings or begging for relief. Instead he championed the idea of Christian contentment, of being thankful in all things. Today, even as we wrestle with our own personal, national, and societal issues, Paul reminds us to be first and foremost “thankful. For we are followers of Christ, recipients of grace, inheritors of the Kingdom. It is good to give thanks to the Lord!

Beyond the Weekend is our video series that helps you take the message with you into your week. Click the BTW button below to watch.