In an earlier post, Taking the Oldest Path, I left 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 hanging. (I haven't forgotten.) Here I want to explore each segment in greater detail.
"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “ HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” (Romans 10:15)
This truth is not easily understood. Most people would think that feet are not beautiful, but let's put it in perspective. At the time these words were penned there was no email, no Facebook, no phones, and all news was passed by person, or at least by a letter (carried by... a person). During wars (in David's time) a city might send out its young men to fight and wait for days to find out the results. The watch would wait for a messenger to come with news of the battle. A bounce in the step of the messenger could be seen from the walls of the city. Joy was evident in the very feet of the men carrying good news, whereas those with bad news also would have had a distinctive walk.
Joy changes the way others perceive you. Joy changes the way you walk. One carrying good news has a right to joy. And what better news is there than the Gospel of Life in Christ? We are to rejoice always, for we have been given eternal life; we have the Good News!
Prayer is key to having an intimate life in Christ. How can you be intimate with someone without being in communication with them? This may seem cliche, but it really isn't; it is such an important truth that I'll say it again: prayer is key to having an intimate life with Christ. I know this, yet I do not always pray, as we are told we should. However, when I get into a habit of praying, I find my steps are lighter, the joy is easier to come by.
We cannot be thankful enough. God's grace and mercy are so undeserved by us that our thankfulness is the least we could do. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Our culture makes thankfulness out to be something you only do once (maybe twice) each year. However, the Word of God transcends our culture. We are to give thanks in everything. That includes when we lose our job, our spouse, our grandfather, our health, our friends, or our favorite shirt. We are to give thanks for we are blessed. God has given us eternal life, which we cannot lose. And let's be honest, it is the least we can do. Thankfulness is an avenue which leads to a joyful life. Without gratitude to God's blessings, we are mere selfish consumers of the gifts God gives us.
God's will-- a question without any apparent answer. But we ask this question with specific results in mind. We ask for His will in our dating life or in our work life, but not in our Life. God's will for us in Christ Jesus, the Life (John 14:6), is to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. This is much more important than what school we go to or whether we have a bagel or a muffin each morning. Let us not trivialize God's will, let us follow what He has commanded.
"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you." (Philippians 3:1)
(By the way sorry about the long hiatus.)
Blessings, Justus
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, John 14:6, Philippians 3:1, Romans 10:15, Romans 5:8
About Me
- Justus
- Hi, my name is Justus, I'm a Christian.I attended Patrick Henry College for three semesters, and I transfered to College of the Ozarks in the fall of 2013 where I graduated as an English major in 2016. I love the Lord Jesus Christ the savior of my soul. He has made me new. He leads me in the Old Path; He is the Way. I am not perfect; my Lord is sanctifying me though.
Showing posts with label 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Taking the Oldest Path
In Genesis 3:8 it says that Adam and Eve "heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day". God walked in the Garden of Eden with His creation. They were in such close fellowship with Him that they walked the same paths.
I already told you that I often go on walks to think about problems, but that's not the only reason I go on walks. I go on walks to pray and talk with God, and to enjoy the general revelation of His beauty in nature. God once walked with man in the Garden, and man ruined that relationship. However, through Jesus we have a renewed relationship. Jesus says "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). This Way is the only way to God. He is the Oldest Path and stretches from everlasting to everlasting. (That's old!)
I have been learning that taking this path is not simply a quick walk to heaven, but a long stroll with a Friend. Jesus says that we are His friends if we do what He commands in John 15:14. He commands us, through Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (There's more to this that I'll explore in a later post...remind me if I don't.)
Christ wants to be in that intimate relationship with us which we lost in the garden. He asks us to walk with Him. Walking in the Bible is often used to describe how a person lives their life. In First and Second Kings and Chronicles the Kings of Israel and Judah are described by which of their ancesters ways they "walked" in. Throughout the Old Testament there are references to walking in the way of the Lord, especially in Deuteronomy and Psalms 119.
Micah 4:2 (I know right, Micah?) says " Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." Micah talks about walking in the Lord's paths and the Word of the LORD coming from Jeruselem. The Old Testament closely links walking in God's way with walking in His Word. The New Testament gives us a new opportunity, to walk with His Word, with Jesus Christ.
Aside: Jesus and the Bible are often given similar titles, e.g. the Word of God, Light, etc., but they are distinct. However, these titles are important to understanding how we are to live (or to walk). You cannot walk without light to guide you (without stumbling). Passages like Jeremiah 18:15 and John 8:12; 11:9-10; 12:35-36, all tell of needing a light to guide us. In these passages and others such as Psalm 119:105 show us that the Word of God and the Logos are our lights while walking along the Path, which is set up in the Word on the Logos.
Since we are to walk with Christ and the Word, we should be sure to have them with us when we walk (live our daily lives). So next time I go on a walk (or do anything really) I hope to have these two right with me. (And when I say hope I mean in the Christian, you-can-bet-your-life-on-it, kind of hope.)
We walk in Christ through Christ, by Christ and with Christ. Let's get to know Christ.
-Blessings,
Justus
Genesis 3:8, John 14:6, John 15:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Micah 4:2, Jeremiah 18:15, John 8:12, John 11:9-10, John 12: 35-36, Psalm 119:105
I already told you that I often go on walks to think about problems, but that's not the only reason I go on walks. I go on walks to pray and talk with God, and to enjoy the general revelation of His beauty in nature. God once walked with man in the Garden, and man ruined that relationship. However, through Jesus we have a renewed relationship. Jesus says "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). This Way is the only way to God. He is the Oldest Path and stretches from everlasting to everlasting. (That's old!)
I have been learning that taking this path is not simply a quick walk to heaven, but a long stroll with a Friend. Jesus says that we are His friends if we do what He commands in John 15:14. He commands us, through Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (There's more to this that I'll explore in a later post...remind me if I don't.)
Christ wants to be in that intimate relationship with us which we lost in the garden. He asks us to walk with Him. Walking in the Bible is often used to describe how a person lives their life. In First and Second Kings and Chronicles the Kings of Israel and Judah are described by which of their ancesters ways they "walked" in. Throughout the Old Testament there are references to walking in the way of the Lord, especially in Deuteronomy and Psalms 119.
Micah 4:2 (I know right, Micah?) says " Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." Micah talks about walking in the Lord's paths and the Word of the LORD coming from Jeruselem. The Old Testament closely links walking in God's way with walking in His Word. The New Testament gives us a new opportunity, to walk with His Word, with Jesus Christ.
Aside: Jesus and the Bible are often given similar titles, e.g. the Word of God, Light, etc., but they are distinct. However, these titles are important to understanding how we are to live (or to walk). You cannot walk without light to guide you (without stumbling). Passages like Jeremiah 18:15 and John 8:12; 11:9-10; 12:35-36, all tell of needing a light to guide us. In these passages and others such as Psalm 119:105 show us that the Word of God and the Logos are our lights while walking along the Path, which is set up in the Word on the Logos.
Since we are to walk with Christ and the Word, we should be sure to have them with us when we walk (live our daily lives). So next time I go on a walk (or do anything really) I hope to have these two right with me. (And when I say hope I mean in the Christian, you-can-bet-your-life-on-it, kind of hope.)
We walk in Christ through Christ, by Christ and with Christ. Let's get to know Christ.
-Blessings,
Justus
Genesis 3:8, John 14:6, John 15:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Micah 4:2, Jeremiah 18:15, John 8:12, John 11:9-10, John 12: 35-36, Psalm 119:105
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