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Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God\u2019s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Yesterday, Pastor Anthony began his devotion by saying that Paul concludes this letter \u201cby gathering up the letter\u2019s contents\u2014repeating them in a flurry of staccato commands that speak very directly and practically to the life of the church\u201d. The material he covered is easily applied to the church as a Christian community, living out the Christian life in full view of the world.

Its strange then, that today\u2019s text is suddenly shrunk down and applied to the individual Christian. This has caused considerable consternation even for mature Christians who believe that they are falling short of the mark. Its one of those repeat questions a pastor fields, \u201cHow can I do this?\u201d Not one of us can live up to this understanding of our text.

But these instructions are given to the church as a community that worships Jesus. Within that context, we live into these qualities. When the church gathers, whether for corporate worship or in smaller groups, these things need to govern the gathering. This does not mean that we ignore all the trials and tribulations that life brings us. Rather, they enable us to endure hardship as Christians.

One of the tasks of a Christian gathering is to remember. We remember that we are \u201cchosen and dearly loved by God\u201d (1:4). We remember that we are imitators of our Lord (1:6) and it is his will that we are sanctified (4:3). We remember that Jesus is coming back, and we will be with him (4:17). With this remembering, our gatherings our formed by joy, prayer and thanksgiving.

To \u2018rejoice\u2019, does not mean that we are \u2018happy\u2019. Joy is rooted in our identity as God\u2019s redeemed people anticipating a new creation without sin and all its consequences. We must gently remind each other that our suffering here is temporary. Worship is both a celebration of what Christ has done for us and a dress rehearsal for the great wedding banquet, so joy is woven into its fabric.

Praying is not primarily prayer requests. We should not ask, \u2018what shall we pray for?\u2019 but, \u2018what shall we pray about?\u2019 We pray about the kingdom of God, that we will be flourishing citizens of that kingdom within the kingdoms of the world. Prayer keeps us connected to the Holy Spirit, who is the source of all God\u2019s good spiritual gifts. Further, it is an act of submission, submitting our will to the will of God.

These two are pared with thanksgiving. Again, this is rooted not in the circumstances of life, but in our Christian identify. We do not give thanks for things, but in them. The Heidelberg Catechism opens with, \u201cMy only comfort in life and in death is that I am not my own, but belong-body and soul, in life and in death-to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ\u201d. This is the heart of our thanksgiving.

The barrage of advertisement that comes our way has one purpose: to breed discontent in our hearts, to create desire for the things we do not have. In this text, Paul encourages us to invest time and effort in our relationship with God, for which we need the Christian community. We will develop a connection with Him like the umbilical cord of an unborn child to its mother. It is God\u2019s will that we are drawn together into the life of God through Jesus and the Spirit.

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together\u2014spirit, soul, and body\u2014and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he\u2019ll do it! The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you! (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24,28 The Message).