Rejoice always … Rejoice always… REJOICE ALWAYS!!! Some days when I get to this verse in my Scripture memory box I get stuck on this first part.
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Rejoice Always
It doesn’t say “rejoice if everything is going your way,” “Rejoice as long as you’re healthy,” or “Rejoice if everyone in your family is getting along.” It says, REJOICE ALWAYS. (I almost said rejoice period but it does go on after that.)
Not only are we to rejoice always but we’re also to pray without ceasing and give thanks in everything!
Even though the words are different “always,” “without ceasing,” and “in everything” all carry the same idea. We aren’t supposed to let our circumstances affect how we respond to God. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately with the tragic events that my friends in south Texas have been going through. But even during those times, we are to rejoice!
We have a few great examples from history: Daniel praying during a time when the government was unfriendly to Jews, Paul writing much of the New Testament from his jail cell, and Corrie ten Boom from a concentration camp during World War II.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
I love to read Matthew Henry’s commentary. Not only for the insight he gives but also for the way it’s phrased. Here’s what he said about I Thessalonians 5:16,
“Here we have divers short exhortations, that will not burden our memories, but will be of great use to direct the motions of our hearts and lives; for the duties are of great importance, and we may observe how they are connected together, and have a dependence upon one another.”
He goes on to explain that we shouldn’t expect to rejoice evermore (always) unless we rejoice in God. “In God our joy is complete”!
It is our fault if we do not have a continual feast.
I’ve always felt that joy and gratitude went together. The more I read the Bible that it’s not only joy and gratitude but also prayer and humility that all go together. We usually only want the joy without talking about the other subjects.
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Scripture Reading
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB)
Project/Homework
- Write 5 things you’re thankful for in your journal and share them with someone.
- Listen to Joni’s podcast.
- Read The Hiding Place (or listen to it on Audible like I do!)
- Color our 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 coloring page
Don’t forget to come over and share your journals, recipes, and other Thanksgiving projects with us in our 30 Days of Thanksgiving Facebook group!
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim
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