Thank 165
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we might live a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy+2&version=EHV>
I did a word search in my Bible app for “thank”. The result returned was 165, this includes all instances of thanks, thanksgiving, thankful, thankfulness, and thank you. That number seemed low; it’s not like Joy 247 that I was expecting. I wonder if that means we should be one and a half times more joyful than thankful? St Paul wrote to Timothy:
I give thanks to the one who empowered me, namely, Christ Jesus our Lord, that he treated me as trustworthy, appointing me into his ministry. He did this even though formerly I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. But I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief. The grace of our Lord overflowed on me along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” of whom I am the worst. But I was shown mercy for this reason: that in me, the worst sinner, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his unlimited patience as an example for those who are going to believe in him, resulting in eternal life. Now to the King eternal, to the immortal, invisible, only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%201&version=EHV>
However, his joy is from a slightly different source:
I thank God, whom I serve with a clean conscience as my ancestors did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. When I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%201%3A3%2D5&version=EHV>
This is the same pattern as Jesus.
The Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the meal, he also took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+11&version=EHV>
Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal. In view of the joy set before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God’s throne. Carefully consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinful people, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012&version=EHV>
Give thanks and be filled with joy!
Trust the Promises,
Steve Skiver