Rejoice always.
Pray without ceasing.
In everything give thanks.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Test all things.
Hold fast to what is good.
(Selection from I Thessalonians 5)
Can you imagine actually living like this…
Rejoicing over everything, even a flat tire or a sinus headache?
Giving thanks all the time. But what about when a child gets sick, or the dentist charges you $600 for sitting in his chair for ten minutes!
Don’t throw a bucket of water over The Spirit… but won’t people laugh at me if I REALLY worship!?
Test all things. Who has time to do that? It’s easier to just sit and “veg” in front of the TV, who wants to test every image that comes into the house?
Hold fast to the good.! No one wants bad things to happen…but what if “the good” means giving up something, like giving your son your blessing to sign up to be in the Marines, knowing that he’ll be in harm’s way within a few months? Not easy, but good.
These words are not a request.
They are all in command form.
It doesn’t say rejoice when things are good, pray when you’re desperate, give thanks in November, do what you want with the Spirit, test when you feel like it, and hold on to the good when it’s convenient.
It doesn’t work that way.
God’s word isn’t a buffet…take what you want, leave the rest.
We may not LIKE everything that God asks us to do, but we still need to strive to do it.
So live like God desires. Live like God commands:
Rejoice! Give thanks! Swim in the Spirit! Test! HOLD ON!!!
