1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Paul really packed a lot of powerful instructions into the closing remarks of his letters. Every sentence, not just every verse, in 12-24 is worthy of considerable thought and application. These three verses are justly famous, and have been set to music several times. However, it’s important that we not let familiarity breed contempt, because they really are the key to a happy, satisfying life as a Christian. I include “as a Christian” in that statement because some people try to apply the Bible as philosophy, and that never works. At its root, the Bible says God created me, I’m a sinner, but God made a way through the cross of Christ for me to repent and be saved by faith. Leaving out repentance and faith makes the rest of it impossible to follow. That said, rejoicing is a command. Any time a Christian is failing to rejoice, it means that they have let their eyes slip from Christ to their circumstances. That’s not to say we’re to be bubbly all the time, but rather that there is a deep-seated joy that is available to every Christian and no one else. A Japanese song by Chu Kosaka says, “Oh the joy of knowing that my name is recorded up in heaven there for me.” We need to remember that this world is not the final answer! That’s why the second command, to pray continually, is also important. We encounter lots of circumstances that are beyond our ability to handle. The answer is simple: pray. The greatest privilege for any Christian is a direct, personal relationship with their Creator, and relationships are built through communication. This command isn’t about set prayers at set times, it’s about looking at someone and saying in your heart, “Lord, they look upset. Bless them. Touch them with Your love, even through me.” When we are fully aware of the God who never leaves us, we’ll be talking to Him all the time! And that naturally feeds into the third command, to give thanks in every­thing. Sometimes the thanks is on the order of, “Thank You that this isn’t the end of the story,” or, “Thank You that You can use even this for blessing.” However we manage it, maintaining a thankful attitude is a real key to peace, happiness, and joy. Paul caps all of this off by the most powerful affirmation possible: it is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. God desires the very best for us, and this is how to get it.

Even as I try to communicate this truth to others, I’ve got to be consistent in applying it myself. I’ve got room to grow! Anxieties of all sorts are always ready to crowd in and rob us of what is God’s will for us. I must be faithful at my own assigned tasks, trusting that God will bring His plans to fruition if I will simply trust and obey. I have a lot staring me in the face even right now, but God is more than able to handle every bit of it, so I must choose the joy of trusting, thankful obedience.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do need it from time to time! Thank You for yesterday and all it held. Thank You for the message that You spoke through me, and thank You particularly for how the church worked together to help out in a household move. We do grow in all the right ways when we express Your love like that. I pray that the family’s new neighbors will be drawn to You by the love they saw expressed in our actions. May we all continue to grow in all the ways You desire, for our blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!