Verse of the Day 8/28

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17  Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing,  English Standard Version (ESV)

The Apostle Peter encouraged and challenged his readers, and us to "grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord".  One of the ways that we can grow is through memorizing scriptures.  I am thankful that as a child I went (sometimes unwillingly) to AWANA Clubs.  It was there that I memorized many Bible verses and through the years they have stuck with me and they have been a part of me.  I also enjoyed having my own kids grow up attending AWANA Clubs and memorizing Scripture.  My daughter Laurie actually earned the Timothy Award for memorizing all of the verses in the handbook for each grade in all four years of the middle school program.  I know that sometimes we didn't even understand the verses that we were memorizing but through the years we come to know them better.

If you've never taken the step to memorize Scripture, why not start?  You can start with verses that are short and easy to remember.  However, even these "simple verses" are not easily fully understood and may take a lifetime of getting to know.

Let's start with verse 16 rejoice always.  Wow! Two words, easy to remember but words that we need to be reminded of every day.  My grandchildren call me "Gramps" the there are times when some, especially my wife modify that name a little bit, and if fits, I can easily be called "grumps" when I let things get to me.  I know that in reading this she'll remind me of this verse.  Rejoicing always is not just positive thinking, but it is having confidence in God, that He is in control and that He will see you through that can enable you to rejoice even through times that would otherwise leave you grumpy or worse.

Now let's go to verse 17, "pray without ceasing" or as The Message puts it, "pray all the time".  It is not speaking of becoming a monk and spending our days in solitude praying (unless God is calling you to be a monk), but rather being in communion with God, being in step with Him seeking His guidance, asking questions, listening and looking for His response and having a conversation with God, or thoughts "towards Him".

AWANA stands for 2 Timothy 2:15 Approved workmen are not ashamed.  The whole verse says "study to show thyself approved unto God a workman who needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.  KJV  That was from memory from years ago in the King James Version.  It may not be correct word for word but it is there and will be until I go to be with Jesus.  So should the attitude to want to study, rightly divide to be able to "cut straight" God's Word of Truth.

Maybe you'll choose to memorize in a modern version, if so, here are today's verses from The Message (which includes verse 18). 

^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.

 

Blessings,

Mike

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1 Thessalonians 5:14-22The Message (MSG)

^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.