Verse of the Day 11/17

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16    Rejoice always,  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

For  the past couple of  days we've looked at a short passage in James 1 and considered how we are called to listen, to hear what God has to say to us in His word and then  to be "doers".  Doing requires action.

 

Part of my devotional reading yesterday was in 1 Thessalonians 5 in  a passage where Paul is giving  a benediction,  bringing his  letter  to  a close with  a  number of short statements  that were turned into verses  when the Bible  was broken up into verses.  Over the  years I've heard many people say that they'd like to memorize Bible verses but they just weren't good at it.  Well,  within this passage, there  are several verses that give us no excuse,  starting with today's verse.  How hard is it  to  memorize  1 Thessalonians  5:16 "Rejoice always".  Repeat it a few times  and you should have  it  down.  As you memorize it, the  next challenge  is to be able  to do  it, to be that  "doer" of  the Word that  we've been talking  about, that is what walking by faith is.

 

Pastor David Jeremiah  writes, "Part of walking by faith is . . . walking! Our responsibility is to act on what God has promised to provide. We need to act joyfully—giving testimony (both verbally and nonverbally) to our conviction that God is good, God is in control, and God will bring good out of every situation for His glory (Romans 8:28). I'm not talking about a veneer of joy; I'm talking about joy through and through. Even when there are tears, they are not tears of anger or frustration. Even when we experience grief, we can have joy because we know it's our right to rejoice."

 

Rejoicing is celebrating, we are to celebrate life, to appreciate it,  be thankful for it, make the most  of it and share the joys in it with others.  If you are alive today, there  is a reason to  rejoice in it, for every breath.  Every breath is  a gift, every conversation with your  spouse, parent, child or  grandchild is a gift.

 

Lord willing, for  a few days we'll return  to this passage for  some  more  short "memory verses" ones that  should  be  action words  to us, God's  word that  we should be doing.

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22The Message (MSG)

 

The Way He Wants You to Live

12-13 And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

 

13-15 Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

 

16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

 

19-22 Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

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