Doing God’s Will. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Dear Ambassadors of Christ,
Paul continues his concluding remarks with a triad of instructions anchored in the statement, “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” What this means is that this is what God wants those who are in Christ Jesus to be doing.
Rejoice Relentlessly (v. 16). Joy is not quite like happiness. We are happy when things go well for us and unhappy when they do not. The joy on the other hand is based on the knowledge that things are under control. There may be danger all around but the confidence that God will protect me will cause me to rejoice, anyway. I may be grieving the loss of a loved one, yet rejoicing that we will meet again in the resurrection. Joy is the confidence that God is in charge.
Pray Persistently (v. 17). This does not mean that one ought to pray without a break. It means rather that one ought to pray constantly, repeatedly, without giving up. It also means that we ought to maintain a prayerful disposition, always. Such a disposition is an attitude of total dependence on God in all situations, even in things that look easy and for which divine help is not needed. We can be deceived by appearances and even the simple can turn out to be complicated. Turning even the simplest things over to God is the best insurance.
Appreciate Always (v. 18). Being thankful in every situation is a reflection of three important things. First, that it could have been worse. God protects us from a lot of evil that we are oblivious to. In his wisdom and for his good purposes, he permits some bad things to happen to us. But had he permitted every evil, the story would have been very different. Second, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). No matter how bad the situation, the outcome will be good. Lastly, “God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
So we can say that it is God’s will for those who are in Christ Jesus to trust him unreservedly, in the knowledge that nothing will happen that he has not permitted, it will turn out for our good and it will be limited to what we can endure.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.