1 Thessalonians 09 of 10

The Coming of the Lord: Exhortations

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 · NASB95

Key Verse

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

People spend a great deal of energy wondering about God's will for their lives — and Paul answers the question in three short commands. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything. This is not the partial will of God, or the spiritual warm-up before the real answer. This is it. If you want to know what God wants from your Tuesday morning, these three verses have it.

Notice that Paul does not say wait for the right feeling before you rejoice, or pray when you have something important enough to bring, or give thanks when things are going well. He says always. Without ceasing. In everything. The standard is higher than mood or circumstance — which is exactly what makes it possible in every mood and circumstance. These are not three separate disciplines to master one at a time. They belong together: the joy makes you want to pray, the prayer produces gratitude, and the gratitude fuels the joy. Go this week not waiting for the right conditions to rejoice — the King is already in residence.

Questions to Carry Into the Passage

Of the three — rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks — which one is hardest for you to sustain through an ordinary week, and why?
Is there a current circumstance in your life in which you are finding it difficult to give thanks? What would it look like to thank God in it — not for it, but in it?
Where have you been saying no to the Spirit — in your personal life or in the life of your church — that you know you need to change to a yes?

Take time to read the full passage today

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 · NASB95 on Blue Letter Bible