LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 85

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Joyful Lutherans Give Thanks Always
ISAIAH 12; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:18

LCMS Fourth Vice-President Rev. Dr. John C. Wohlrabe Jr.
67th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod • July 24, 2019 • Matins
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
Christian friends: St. Paul, under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, instructs us: “Give thanks in all
circumstances.” What about leaving family and friends
to participate in a synodical convention? What about
being subjected to the heat and humidity of Central
Florida in the middle of summer? What about spending
a week sitting through hour upon hour of brain- and
bum-numbing elections, resolutions and reports?
What about having to see my salty mug plastered
before you on two big screens? Maybe that’s carrying it
too far! But seriously, what about the loss of a loved
one? What about a diagnosis of cancer? What about
dealing with the mental illness of a loved one? Are we
to be thankful in those circumstances as well?
No circumstance in life is an excuse for not being
thankful. All we are and all we have are good gifts from
God. Isn’t that what we confess in the Apostles’ Creed?
There are those First Article gifts, including body and
soul, our members, reason and senses, clothing, shoes,
food and drink, house, home, spouse and children. And
there are the Second Article gifts through Christ, who
redeemed us lost and condemned persons, purchased
and won us from all sins, from death, and from the
power of the devil by his holy, precious blood and his
innocent suffering and death, just as he is risen from
the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. And there are
the Third Article gifts by which we are called by the
Gospel, enlightened with the Spirit’s gifts, and kept in
the one true faith, our sins being forgiven daily through
the Christian church, and we have the promise of the
resurrection unto eternal life. For all this, we give
hearty thanks to our Triune God.

more than any other Biblical writer, 37 times in his
epistles compared to 17 in the rest of the New
Testament. And under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
Paul adds a whole new dimension. We are to show
gratitude in every circumstance, both favorable and
unfavorable.
With that in mind, let’s be honest. We don’t give thanks
as we should. We fail regularly to recognize God’s good
gifts. Maybe we are thankful when trials and suffering
are over, but not during those trials and suffering. We
fail to acknowledge that such can be from God for His
good purpose. We fail to trust God during all
circumstances, which can leave us less than grateful.
Before God and our fellow Christians, we confess:
“Lord, I admit that I give thanks rarely and then only
half-heartedly. I fall short of your will for me. Please
forgive me!” And our Triune God indeed forgives us,
which then brings true thanksgiving to us.
God makes true thanksgiving possible. What is
translated as “in all circumstances” in our text, ἐν
παντὶ, all things, corresponds to the πάντα, all things,
of Romans 8:28. God works all things for the good of
those who love Him and are called according to His

But the Apostle Paul says to give thanks in all
circumstances. He uses the imperative of εὐχαριστέω
which is from the Greek word χάρις, favor or grace, and
εὖ, meaning rightly or well. When the term was used in
ancient classical Greek, it was always gratitude for a
favor shown. The king does something nice for you, and
you are grateful. Paul uses forms of this term, eucharist,
Convention Sermons

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 85