# 20 2019 Devotion, I Th.5:16-18 Rejoice! Read Ch. 5:12-28. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always 17 pray continually 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.
After dealing with the “Day of the Lord” Paul gives the Thessalonians his final instructions. He gives the church seven areas of how to treat each other. Respect and love those who work among you, today that would be Pastors and church leaders. “Live in peace. Warn those who are idle. Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” After that Paul gives the theological basis; “make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” Take note: “and everyone else”, an important principal in today’s social environment.
Further, Paul gives four areas of spiritual advice; “do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold onto what is good, reject every kind of evil”.
Paul connects these two areas of instruction with the center of his final instruction giving us the theological principals for living as followers of Jesus: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.
Paul ends his letter with greetings to God’s people and he extends to them and to us God’s love and faithfulness for his people.
“23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it”. Christ will do it, we don’t have to do it because we can’t do it, only Jesus saves!
Remember to rejoice, pray for each other every day and praise God!
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