1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Paul and his fellow apostles lived demanding lives.  In addressing the somewhat haughty and judgmental Corinthians who were openly criticizing him and the apostles, Paul sets up a contrast between the Corinthians' supposedly spiritual lives and the lives lived by Christ's APOSTLES.  The apostles were experiencing their everyday lives in hunger, thirst, rough treatment, homelessness, and disrespect while toiling hard for the sake of the gospel.  Paul says, it seems to me that God has put apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena.  We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.  We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!  We are weak, but you are strong!  You are honored, we are dishonored!  To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.  We work hard with our own hands.  When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;  when we are slandered, we answer kindly.  Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.  (1 Corinthians 4:9-13)  Paul in his refutation of the Corinthians' attitude reveals clearly what it takes to be a committed believer.  Christians do not allow the calamities of life to spoil their God-given mission in this world.  In fact in the above scripture, Paul says, be joyful always--give thanks IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God's will FOR YOU.  We can do this only through the grace and mercy of the Lord. 

Paul knew believers are to be strong IN THE LORD, for He has enriched us in every way.  I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  For in him you have been enriched in every way — in all your speaking and in all your knowledge — because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.  Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.  (1 Corinthians 1:4-9)  The apostles knew the meaning of salvation.  They fully understood they had been released from the prison of sin and the judgment of death.  They were no longer enemies of God, destined for eternal punishment.  Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we NOW stand.  (Romans 5:1-2)  They knew they were now free to serve God for his glory and that deprivation and persecution in this life held no power over their eternal destination.  Even though temporary trials might cause them pain or sorrow, they kept their eyes on their Lord, knowing above all else God was their inheritance and his house was their final dwelling place.  Peter wrote: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  (1 Peter 1:3-6)  No wonder Paul could enumerate the difficulties of life that the apostles were experiencing and still say with all confidence: BE JOYFUL ALWAYS.  With Peter and Paul, the apostles understood the priceless nature of their salvation: IN CHRIST we are more than conquerors, and we know who we are because we KNOW WHO HE IS!    

Are we truly as appreciative as the apostles of our inheritance in Christ?  If we let the Holy Spirit bring us to a better understanding of our salvation and God's eternal plans for us, our feet would hardly touch the ground for happiness.  Our complaining about our adverse circumstances would begin to take a backseat to our joy in the Lord.  We would rejoice in our sufferings and disappointments, knowing God holds us in his hands; and all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)  Paul says we stand in God's grace; therefore, we are in the same position as anyone God has ever chosen and set apart unto himself, just as David or any of the Patriarchs of old, just as the apostles Jesus called to follow him.  God is on our side: He is for us.  Does this mean we are not going to have troubles and trials.  No, Jesus said we would have troubles.  James wrote: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.   (James 1:2)  But standing in God's grace means we are viable members of God's family with all his resources available to us.  Regardless of our circumstances, our Father hears us when we pray.  As we yield to him, He makes something good from the bad.  We cannot always see it at the time, but we can trust the master potter with the clay.  God's will for us as faith children is that we commit to him AT ALL TIMES.  We gained access by faith to a life of grace; consequently, we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  (Romans 5:3-5)  We know ultimately we are in the hands of a loving Father who gave everything for us.  As we listen to Paul recount the difficulties of the apostles' lives, we hear his underlying implication that they set the example for the Corinthians and all who bear the name of Christ.  Yes, the apostles experienced trials, persecutions, even violent death; but they did not see themselves as defeated warriors trailing behind at the mercy of a victorious army.  No, they stood tall by faith in a circle of grace as God's chosen ones: weak according to the world, but mighty soldiers in the army of the Lord, chosen to lead many to the cross of the precious Lamb of God.  Who will we lead to the cross today?  Be Joyful Always!