Glory to God! As we enter in to a new week, we can unmistakably believe that the Lord our God had been good to us throughout past week. We can agree unanimously that almost every one of us has personally experienced God’s faithfulness and loving kindness one way or other in unlimited measures as He blessed us (i) with His continuous presence with us; (ii) provision of all that we needed in life; and (iii) His never-failing protection from all kinds of harm and danger. In the light of God’s faithfulness and loving kindness He has been showing us, let us join with the Psalmists who encourage to glorify God through our life [which includes the thoughts that pass through our mind, the words we speak, the deeds we do, and the way we behave], saying: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever (Psalm 107:1); and draw closer to Him to worship Him, as it is mentioned: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care (Psalm 95:6-7a).

The Scripture passage we chose for our SftW meditation this week (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 / mentioned above) instructs us to include certain things in our day-to-day life-practices in order to live a fruitful Christian-life, which states: (i) Rejoice always, (ii) pray continually, and (iii) give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). As a normal human being, it is hard for anyone to keep up with the demands of such instructions. It is hard for us to be joyful and rejoice always as we all face trials and troubles in our life, which keep hitting us back and forth in our personal and communal life. However, with the help of the Holy Spirit [our Guide and Counselor and Comforter and Advocate and Helper] we can be joyful and rejoice in life.

If we observe very carefully those people who pass by us every-time or people in our surroundings those whom we know a while, we can notice that many are under pressure of figuring out what they want to do in life or what God wants them to do in and through their lives. As a faithful follower of Christ, God’s Will for us is to be joyful always, continue to pray to Him [means, through prayer keep in touch with Him or have communion with Him], and be thankful to Him in all circumstances [both good or bad situations] and for all that God has done for us. When God blesses someone with health, wealth, and other provisions, He does not add trouble with it, as it is stated: The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it (Proverbs 10:22). Even though we work hard and earn our everyday livelihood, it is the Lord who gives us strength to earn it, as Moses specifically mentioned: Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18a). It doesn’t matter how extensive is one’s career success rate or how much wealth they earn or posses through it, if they cannot be joyful or find peace in and through what they do, it does not fulfill their wishes and desires or give them any contentment in life. However, when one begins to live their life filled with love, peace and joy; continuing to keep in touch with God through constant prayers; and living life with a grateful heart and being thankful in all circumstances, we begin living a life that is preferably according to God’s will, plan, and purpose.

Apostle Paul primarily encourages the believers to be joyful at all times as he mentioned ‘rejoice always,’ which does not mean that we don’t need to express our other feeling like being sad or sorrowful or downhearted or any feeling as such. Rejoice always means have peace of mind at all time even in the midst of tragedy or loss. Paul said he was content with everything God provided him. He said, he knew how to manage his life in the season of plenty as well as in the time of scarcity, as he stated: I have learned to be content whatever the circumstancesI know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11b-13). Paul did not even express any discontent or dissatisfaction or mention anything as such while he was writing to the Ephesians or Philippians or Colossians or Philemon [as these epistles were written during his imprisonment]. He never stated that he was sad or discouraged in any point of life because of a situation he was going through, rather, he praised God and encouraged his fellow-ministers of the gospel and believers to be joyful and glorify God in every season and situation in life.

Other key spiritual factors Paul highlighted in the passage were to pray continually and be thankful in all circumstances as he was encouraging the believers to fulfill God’s will in and through their life. As the believers in the church at Thessalonica were going through some severe trials and troubles in their lives including the death of some of their own,  Apostle Paul, knowing the fact that God is the source of our life and everything that is going on in our life, exhorted them to rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks for everything that happen in their life. Paul encouraged the believers, especially those who lost their dear and near ones, that the same God who raised Jesus from among the dead will raise those who are dead in the Lord, saying: For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him (1 Thessalonians 4:14 [also read verses 13-18]). Paul who had a vision of the resurrected and glorified Christ (Acts 9:1-19), testified elsewhere assuredly that Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20). Christ who conquered death is the One who gives us a life of contentment through His Spirit – the Holy Spirit (refer to 2 Corinthians 3:17). It is our responsibility to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through our life, so that our life will be spiritually fruitful and praiseworthy before God.

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, as we conclude our SftW meditation this week, let us try our best to be joyful in all situations, and keep on praying for an unceasing communion with our heavenly Father, and give thanks in all circumstances. If we do so, the God of hope and peace will enable us to live a life worthy of our calling and will strengthen us and bless us, as Apostle Paul blessed his readers, saying: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

Therefore, let us surrender and submit our life before God who can make our life a blessing to ourselves and all those around us. May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!