Details, Details

In everything give thanks. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18


Details make a difference. Ask the man from Germany who planned to visit his fiancée for Christmas but ended up in snowy Sidney, Montana, instead of Sunny Sydney, Australia.

Prepositions in our language seem like insignificant details, but they can make a big difference. The words “in” and “for” are an example.

The apostle Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:18). That doesn’t mean we have to be thankful for everything. We need not be thankful for the bad choices someone makes, but we can be thankful in the circumstances because the Lord can use the resulting difficulties for good.

The letter to Philemon illustrates this idea. Paul was imprisoned with Onesimus, a runaway slave. He certainly didn’t have to give thanks for his bad situation. Yet his letter is full of gratitude because he knew that God was using it for good. Onesimus had become something more than a slave; he was now a beloved brother in the Lord (v.16).

Knowing that God can use all things for good is more than enough reason to give thanks in everything. Giving thanks in difficult circumstances is a small detail that makes a big difference. – Julie Ackerman Link


Father, thank You that in every trial, challenge, and difficulty,
You are behind the scenes working things out for our good.
Help us to see Your hand in everything. Amen.

God has not promised to keep us from life’s storms, but He will keep us through them.

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Philemon 1:4-16

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beg you for my child, whom I have become a father of in my chains, Onesimus, who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I desired to keep with me, that on you behalf he might serve me in my chains for the gospel. But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

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This seems like another verse... "Be loyal in small thing, and so for big stuff"... be concern on little matter, and it will bring a big different...

We may not thank a lot of stuff which we think that is worth... but actually for those tiny stuff we should... no big matter without these small small thing...

For Lord is handling everything... why not do our own part and so waiting for a bigger responsible? He knows our weakness, our limit... the situation may seems hard, but sure it can be overcome if it is God's will for us...