Being Openhearted

Scott Harman January 22, 2024 4 2

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1 Thessalonians 5: 12-22 (NIVUK)

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

Rejoice.

Pray.

Give Thanks.

For that is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

When I was a young man I remember having a lot of conversations about God’s will. Particularly, me and others my age, were wondering what did God want us to do? Did he want us to keep going to school? Did he want us to get a job? If so, which job? Did he want us to go on a mission trip? God’s will in relationships was a big one at that age, “Dear God, is it your will that I should date and marry this person?”

Looking back on that period of my life I realise that I was really asking if I could look into the Wizard’s crystal ball. Could I be saved from the uncertainty of life? If I could just know what God wants me to do, then I could avoid all kinds of difficulties.

God hasn’t really promised to rescue us from ALL difficulties. That isn’t God’s will. In fact the author of the letter to Thessalonians suffered a great deal for his belief in Jesus.

On the other hand, God’s will is for us to rejoice always, pray continually, and to give thanks in all circumstances. What if instead of needing to look into the crystal ball to get clarity and control, we could find joy whatever we were facing? We were talking to God whatever we were facing? And we could find reasons to be thankful whatever we were facing?

For that is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus!

Prayer:

Dear God, we rejoice today! We are facing all manner of circumstances; some hard, some easily solved. And you are right there. Just as we prayed yesterday there is nothing hindering us from coming to you as your beloved children. We are here in exactly the circumstances we are in, standing in your mercy. There isn’t one more thing we need to do before we experience your joy.

Today we commit to pray throughout the day. We welcome you to every part of the day. From our rising in the morning, through our daily tasks, through every interaction, to our settling in at night, we’ll be talking.

Thanks for the life you give us. Thanks for the opportunity to be your child today. Thanks for the people around us. Thanks for your will in my life!