18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Ephesians 5:18–20 (ESV)
A believer in Christ is to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit. The evidence of such filling includes singing praises to God with fellow believers in a corporate worship setting. The filling of the Spirit also includes personal worship. Making melody to the Lord in one’s mind, emotions and will should not only frame our weekly corporate worship but also our daily worship.
A third evidence the Apostle Paul gives as evidence of the Holy Spirit’s filling is the discipline and attitude of thanksgiving. Giving thanks (εὐχαριστέω; eucharisteo) means to actively and consistently express gratitude to God. Believers in Christ should be grateful to God not only for who He is, but also what He has done.
Paul states that this attitude and discipline of giving thanks should be done always (πάντοτε; pantote) or at all times. Believers not only should give thanks to God all the time, but also in everything (πᾶς; pas). This means in every situation and circumstance. This parallels I Thessalonians 5:18 which says, “give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Believers are to always give thanks for everything to God the Father. This can and may be done solely because of the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Christians’ Lord and Savior.
Nineteenth century theologian Dr. Charles Hodge writes, “Christ gives us access to the Father; we come to God through Him (Christ); He (Christ) gives the right to come, and it is on Him (Christ) we depend for acceptance when we come.”
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 