I came a crossed this Scripture and I just can't get it out of my head.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New International Version)
16Be joyful always;
17pray continually;
18give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
The Book of 1st Thessalonians was written by Paul to the church in Thessalonica. It is a letter of encouragement to his brothers and sisters in Christ.
We fit that category! For if Paul were alive today we would be his brothers and sisters. So his letter applies to us as well.
These three verses that I came acrossed today, just stand out to me.
It is these four words: always, continually, all, and will.
ALWAYS - in Greek it is pantote, and means just what we think it means, at all times, always, ever.
CONTINUALLY replaces "ceasing" at blueletterbible.org and has without before it - the Greek is adialeiptōs, and means without intermission, incessantly, without ceasing.
ALL replaces "in everything" at blueletterbible.org - the Greek is pas and means each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything.
WILL - the Greek is thelēma and means what one wishes or has determined shall be done,
of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ, of what God wishes to be done by us,
commands, precepts, will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure.
We are to be joyful ALWAYS! Not just when we are in a good mood, or when it's good for us, but always. Even during those inevitable hard times. Those same hard times that are helping us to become the person God created us to be. Those same hard time that are enabling us to help those around us that are less fortunate. They are testing our faith and resolve to seek the face of the One who died for us. That same faith and resolve is where we find our joy in knowing we rest in the arms of a God who sent His only Son die on the cross for us.
Pray CONTINUALLY! Not just when we are in those hard times, but during the good times also. There are no commercial breaks when speaking with the Great I Am. The trick is learning about what prayer really is. It is far more than words, but a way of life that brings glory to our Father in heaven. It even includes the broken lives that we live, for it is what our hearts seek that matters and they need to be seeking Him.
Giving thanks in ALL circumstances. Remember those trials that were mentioned earlier that you struggle with finding joy in? Yup, giving thanks for the good times, the things that bring joy, the love of a family member or a friend, even the times when you are sick, struggling financially, working through a broken relationship, grieving the death of a loved one. I know from experience most if not all those on this list. We can give thanks because we know:
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.
According to His WILL! Reread the last four words of Romans 8:28. What do they say?
"according to His purpose" We live in a world that encourages individualism and a focus that centers on a sense of self. We are encouraged more and more to find the purpose of OUR will, and if our will does not match that of the One who created us, we are going to struggle to find the happiness we seek. Only in seeking His will and purpose for our life will we be able to be joyful always, and be able to give thanks for all circumstances, and we find all this by praying continually.
Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New International Version)
16Be joyful always;
17pray continually;
18give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
The Book of 1st Thessalonians was written by Paul to the church in Thessalonica. It is a letter of encouragement to his brothers and sisters in Christ.
We fit that category! For if Paul were alive today we would be his brothers and sisters. So his letter applies to us as well.
These three verses that I came acrossed today, just stand out to me.
It is these four words: always, continually, all, and will.
ALWAYS - in Greek it is pantote, and means just what we think it means, at all times, always, ever.
CONTINUALLY replaces "ceasing" at blueletterbible.org and has without before it - the Greek is adialeiptōs, and means without intermission, incessantly, without ceasing.
ALL replaces "in everything" at blueletterbible.org - the Greek is pas and means each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything.
WILL - the Greek is thelēma and means what one wishes or has determined shall be done,
of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ, of what God wishes to be done by us,
commands, precepts, will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure.
We are to be joyful ALWAYS! Not just when we are in a good mood, or when it's good for us, but always. Even during those inevitable hard times. Those same hard times that are helping us to become the person God created us to be. Those same hard time that are enabling us to help those around us that are less fortunate. They are testing our faith and resolve to seek the face of the One who died for us. That same faith and resolve is where we find our joy in knowing we rest in the arms of a God who sent His only Son die on the cross for us.
Pray CONTINUALLY! Not just when we are in those hard times, but during the good times also. There are no commercial breaks when speaking with the Great I Am. The trick is learning about what prayer really is. It is far more than words, but a way of life that brings glory to our Father in heaven. It even includes the broken lives that we live, for it is what our hearts seek that matters and they need to be seeking Him.
Giving thanks in ALL circumstances. Remember those trials that were mentioned earlier that you struggle with finding joy in? Yup, giving thanks for the good times, the things that bring joy, the love of a family member or a friend, even the times when you are sick, struggling financially, working through a broken relationship, grieving the death of a loved one. I know from experience most if not all those on this list. We can give thanks because we know:
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.
According to His WILL! Reread the last four words of Romans 8:28. What do they say?
"according to His purpose" We live in a world that encourages individualism and a focus that centers on a sense of self. We are encouraged more and more to find the purpose of OUR will, and if our will does not match that of the One who created us, we are going to struggle to find the happiness we seek. Only in seeking His will and purpose for our life will we be able to be joyful always, and be able to give thanks for all circumstances, and we find all this by praying continually.
Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
No comments:
Post a Comment