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Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks by Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous
     Near the end of his first letter to the church of Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul issued an exhortation that at once seems inviting and impossible. He writes, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This exhortation seems inviting because it calls us into an ideal and fruitful way of life, and it is a fitting response to all that God accomplished for us and granted to us in Christ. However, it also seems impossible because the standard is so high and our tendencies are so contrary to it. Yet, perceived impossibilities aside, this way of life is the will of God in Christ Jesus for his people, so let’s talk about each of them in turn: rejoice, pray, and give thanks.
     To rejoice is to inwardly appreciate God for his person, words, and works, and to outwardly praise him for the same. And since his eternal purposes and plans come to crescendo and fulfillment in Jesus Christ, we can say that to rejoice is to personally and corporately exalt God for the gospel. When our rejoicing is rooted in the gospel, it does not ebb and flow with the tides of our circumstances, rather, it persists and intensifies even in times of difficulty and persecution. But having said that, the question remains, how can we rejoice always? The primary answer is that we will learn to rejoice in God as God completes his work in us. So, while we may never attain God’s standard here on the earth, we will keep moving in this direction by grace until the day we see Jesus face to face and rejoice in him with the angels for all eternity!
     Likewise, to pray is to talk with God, and to intercede is to talk with God about others. We tend to take this privilege for granted, but we will never understand the lengths to which God went to make access into his presence possible for us and to make our prayers and intercessions pleasing to himself. Now, one of the profound secrets of living a life of prayer and intercession is that as we grow in it, we slowly transform into the image of Jesus who always lives to intercede for his people (Hebrews 7:25). That is, Jesus saves and sanctifies his people through his intercessions for us, and he transforms us into his image by teaching us his way of life. Again, we will learn to pray without ceasing as Jesus continues to pray for us, so that while we may never attain to God’s standard this side of heaven, we will grow toward it by grace.
     Finally, to give thanks is to express gratitude to God for his person, words, and works. And as we learn to rejoice always in the gospel and commune with God through prayer, it is only fitting that we also learn to thank and bless the name of him who has forgiven our sins, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has begun the long but certain process of transforming us into his image. Indeed, since there is so much for which to be thankful to God, we should learn to give him thanks “in all things.” But again, our ability to rejoice, pray, and give thanks is more about his work in us than ours toward him. May the Lord teach us his ways! 

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