1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Being thankful is not (or at least it should not be) something that we need to be reminded to do. As members of God’s family we are to be thankful at all times. It is not our prerogative to choose what we will be thankful for — it is a choice that needs to be as natural to the believer as breathing.
In today’s Scripture, Paul admonishes the church at Thessalonica (as well as all of us) that we are to: “Rejoice always.” Do you frequently look as though you have been baptized in vinegar? That, my dear friend, is not having an attitude of always rejoicing.
Paul’s second admonition is that we are to: “Pray without ceasing.” Here is another embarrassing question: How is your prayer life? Are you continually speaking to the Lord in prayer? It is a discipline that we need to pursue.
The last admonition is in line with today’s topic. Here is what the Lord expects of us: “In everything give thanks.” Chew on that while you are munching on your next sumptuous dinner. What if you had little or nothing to eat? Would you still give thanks? That is exactly the Lord’s will for us in every circumstance. Make sure you adjust your attitude to conform to God’s standard for believers.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil