Dear Disciple,
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
When you read these words, do they intimidate you? Paul was sincere when he called his fellow disciples to do these things “always”, “continually”, and “in all circumstances”. Many of us read these words, though, and think that there is no way we can possibly live up to these standards.
“Surely I can’t always rejoice!”
“Is it even possible to pray continually?”
“Aren’t there some circumstances in which I can complain or grumble at least a little bit?”
Remember, Disciple, that your Master will never call you to do anything that you cannot do. If anything is beyond you at your current level of maturity, you can be assured that He intends to teach and train you to be such a person that can do all that He commands.
It is tempting to think that because we haven’t been able to do things up until now, that we’ll never be able to. This thinking ignores a most crucial fact, though: the kingdom of God has come. With the coming of God’s kingdom comes His power, and He has generously poured that power into you by abiding in you through His Spirit. You haven’t just been forgiven of your sins; you’ve been empowered to overcome the weaknesses and limitations of sin. By the grace of God which fuels your faithful efforts to train, you can rejoice more than before (on your way to “always”), pray more consistently (on your way to “continually”), and give thanks in the midst of more circumstances (on your way to “all”). You’re in a process, and progress is the road to full maturity. Be encouraged that you’re on the road; don’t be discouraged if you haven’t yet reached the destination.
Above all, as you train, remember what Paul wrote: “this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This is not a burdensome demand issued by an uncaring dictator. He is certainly not setting us up to fail. Rather, He is offering us a vision of who we can become – who we are becoming – as we follow after the Master. He is promising us something here: we can learn to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. Consider this an invitation. Your boundaries are getting ready to be pushed. Your perceived limitations are being erased. God has in mind for you what will be hard for you to imagine. Don’t worry about that. His imagination brought about an entire universe after all.
Excited to go beyond with you,
Ryan
