God's Will for You Today

In his first epistle to the church at Thessalonica, Paul makes this statement ... twice: "this is the will of God" (1 Thess 4:3; 5:16-18). That first one seems oddly specific. There he explains that sanctification is God's will and then commands, explicitly, "avoid sexual immorality" (1 Thess 4:3), as if that is what he means by "sanctification." It's not, but it takes some work to see it. The second one is almost confusing.

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess 5:16-18)

You see it there ... the specific phrase, "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." But what is "this" referring to? Is it "give thanks in all circumstances" or is it the whole list: rejoice, pray, give thanks? Based on the fact that it's one sentence, I'd argue that it is the latter -- the whole list. Okay, so, we who are concerned about God's will for our lives, we now have a list of things. Avoid sexual immorality. Check. Rejoice. Check. Pray. Check. Give thanks. Check. Next? Except, of course, it's not that easy, is it? That "avoid sexual immorality" is a "flee from," an "avoid at all costs" term. "Stay far away." Paul told the Ephesians, "Sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints" (Eph 5:3). And we live in a culture steeped in sexual immorality. And how about those other three? They seem straightforward as a list, but look at their modifiers. "Rejoice always." Okay, sure, we can rejoice ... sometimes. When things are good. But ... always? That, brothers and sisters, is God's will for you. "Pray ceaselessly." We pray ... but without ceasing? That, brothers and sisters, is God's will for you. "In everything give thanks." Hey, Thanksgiving is coming. We're all planning to give thanks, right? But in everything? That, brothers and sisters, is God's will for you.

Now, Paul doesn't say to give thanks for everything. He says to give thanks in everything. Still, this list is much more difficult when examined more closely. And, dear brothers and sisters, this list constitutes some of God's will for your life. Today. Tomorrow. Certainly not just Thursday. I think we must all acknowledge that, while we may be pursuing God's will and we may be doing some of His will, we all fall short of the actual intent that "always" and "without ceasing" and "in everything" entail. So we pray like Jesus prayed, "Not my will but Yours be done" and "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." And we seek, by His power, to accomplish His will ... especially when He gives us such explicit instructions.