“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
It is an amazing quality of the word of God that not only is there no “age,” or time effacing limit on it, but that it remains constantly living, and powerful, affecting the souls of countless millions, and effecting eternal change in the lives of those who believe. Another amazing fact concerning this word of God is that God gave it to be grasped by all, in the measure that they need it to live for His glory in fellowship with Him. That which should seem terribly complicated and profoundly incomprehensible, becomes simple when the Spirit of God reveals the meaning to the heart. In addition to this, the words of Christ were always simple phrases, spoken in such a manner that they could be grasped by even children. And yet, in that simplicity, for the unbelieving, or those who would not trust the Spirit of God to unveil their meaning, there was blindness, and an incapacity to understand the truths He taught and communicated to the people. Such was the case of several elements of communion which the Spirit of God gave to the Apostle Paul for the believers in Thessalonica, simple phrases packed with eternal truth, truths essential to one’s daily walk with Christ, in communion with Him.
The first of these truths, found in the fifth chapter of 1 Thessalonians, was: “Rejoice evermore.” Here are two words, which the believer is called upon to not only know and believe, but to live by, and obey. Their purpose is to constantly direct the believer’s attention to the worth, holiness, and beauty of God, revealed in Christ, and communicated to the believer by the Holy Spirit. God’s worth, exceeding the entirety of His creation, is found in the goodness of His person. His holiness describes the uniqueness, separateness, and wonder of the purity of that goodness. There is none on earth that even begins to compare with the glory of God revealed in his perfect goodness, wisdom, justice, and righteousness. His love is at the pinnacle of the revelation of God to man, not only to win the soul to save it, but to provide for man a vision of the highest, and most blessed experience he can possibly have on this earth, multiplied immeasurably in heaven. David learned to “delight himself in the Lord.” Habakkuk, learned to rejoice in the God of his salvation in the face of coming war and famine. Jesus would speak of a “joy set before Him,” a joy that no man could take away from Him. Paul the Apostle, on several occasions, wrote of the essential act and attitude of always rejoicing in the Lord, regardless of circumstances. This he would emphasize by writing to the Colossians: “…set your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth.” (3:2) Essential to communion with Christ is to not only recognize His constant worth, honor, beauty, and holiness, but to rejoice in it, and the privilege of knowing something of Him.
The second truth that must be grasped for living in fellowship with God is that of, “…praying without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17) What is prayer but relating all things to the God to whom he has surrendered all? From the moment of that surrender, the believer no longer is alone in addressing all the issues of life and ministry. When Christ became the life of the believer, and all authority was committed to Him, He became the great Resource, Fountain, Wealth of Wisdom, love and power. The believer became “complete in Him, with a constant access into the holiest of all, there by the blood of Christ, and fellowship by the Spirit, to be enabled to pray increasingly and effectively in faith, in full assurance of faith.
Thirdly, the one who has surrendered all to the Sovereign God of his life and the Author of “all things,” which work together for good, is to give Him thanks in everything. Why? God makes no mistakes.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to obey. In Jesus’ name, Amen.