1 Thessalonians 5:16–24 (NRSV)
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24 on biblegateway.com
Verse 16Rejoice always, Verse 17pray without ceasing, Verse 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Verse 19Do not quench the Spirit. Verse 20Do not despise the words of prophets, Verse 21but test everything; hold fast to what is good; Verse 22abstain from every form of evil.
Verse 23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Devotion
Every time I hear Paul’s words in this reading, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances,” I want to say to him: “Really? That’s the best you could offer to the church in Thessalonica?”
Perhaps, with me, you can think of many seasons of life where it was terribly difficult to rejoice and give thanks. And yet, I can also name days and seasons where laughter broke through grief and surprised me, a moment of clarity broke through disorientation, or a glimmer of light broke through the darkest night. Each time, I was reminded what joy and gratitude feel like and the ways they nourish and sustain me.
Paul was writing to a community where suffering and loss and disorientation were not abstract ideas. Perhaps his encouraging words—and the Season of Advent—don’t dismiss pain, but invite us to acknowledge the hard things and in the same breath dare us to choose joy and gratitude in spite of it.
Prayer
Emmanuel, God with Us, in the darkest of nights and in the most unexpected places and seasons, you show up with faith, hope, peace, and joy. Come quickly, Lord, Amen.