INCREDULOUS INSTRUCTIONS
(5-minute read)
Are you one of those people who study the manufacturers' instructions on cleaning products, read instructions for appliance use or garment care, and follow the step-by-step guide for furniture assembly? Most of us tend to chuck instructional guides aside until something breaks down or malfunctions. As a result, we often run the risk of product misuse, product damage and even personal injury that is preventable because of our flagrant neglect of the instructions that are provided for our good.
But who is qualified to write instructions for humans to live well? For Christians, we have biblical instructions for living a vibrant life of faith because the Bible is the inspired Word of God for our good. In fact, since early biblical days, followers were told, “these instructions are not empty words - they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.” (Deut 32:47 NLT). Later on, Jesus also taught His disciples, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”(Matthew 7:24 NIV).
To put God’s Word into practice is not the same as selectively picking verses from the Bible as use-cases - if you face this situation, apply this Word, and this will happen. Rather, it requires our deeper reflection, personal application and letting the Word of God sink into our thinking, behaviour, and choices. Indeed, for all Christians, God’s Word is not an option that is good-to-have, but it is essential for building a solid rock foundation for our relationship with God.
One of the most prolific writers in the Bible is the apostle Paul who penned many mind-blowing instructions for Christians. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB) is a good example for our study here: “16Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”.
It’s often hard to find anything optimistic in Paul's instructions. At the same time, they are time-tested through his tumultuous life of faith; proving that they are not hollow maxims or a set of utopian code of conduct for Christians.
But what was Paul really saying in verses 16 to 18?
REJOICE ALWAYS
Verse 16 contains a verb (rejoice) and a modifier (always). It turns rejoice always into an unconditional spiritual act that is not determined by external circumstances or natural human desires.
“Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.” This was penned by the prophet Habakkuk in Habakkuk 3:17-18. Talk about dire straits and dreariness! There is nothing positive in these scenarios.
When literally translated from the Greek, the word rejoice means more than what the English dictionary is able to define. It’s more than a feeling of delight and an expression of joy. It literally means to be favorably disposed to God’s grace. It is about holding onto God through an unshakeable bond that can stand up to anything. This deepens our understanding of “His grace is sufficient for me, for when I am weak, His strength is made perfect” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is a bond between man and God that is fully immersed in trust.
To rejoice is easy when things are going well, but it becomes a choice when we are feeling stuck, feeling sick, feeling hurt, feeling intimidated, or feeling overwhelmed by situations beyond our control. To Paul, no matter what he was going through physically and mentally, to rejoice was an imperative. A typical refrain from Paul while he was still imprisoned sounded like this: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). It’s exactly when there are no external circumstances pumping up our moods that rejoicing in the Lord becomes a spiritual act that no longer depends on human emotions or desires.
James (another disciple of Jesus) also taught believers to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3). Is it about positive thinking? No, because to rejoice always is not possible without the next verse.
PRAY CONTINUALLY
To be sure, to pray continually is not about uttering well-rehearsed prayers at meal times or bed times but to be so connected with God throughout the day that we are constantly aware of His presence with us and confident that we can just tell Him anything any moment of the day. This is possible only if we keep an unbroken connection with God, staying amenable to His thoughts and sharing with Him what’s on our mind.
In the same spirit, Paul taught the believers in Ephesus, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (in Ephesians 6:18).
GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
To carry a posture of giving thanks in all circumstances is to have full dependence on God; fully trusting Him and knowing that nothing happens without His knowledge and His permission. We need to know this truth, that God is not clueless about what is happening in our lives.
The emphasis here is that “this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
It is important for believers to know that to rejoice always, to pray continually and to give thanks in all circumstances will invariably bring us closer to the heart and will of God who counsels, comforts, corrects, intervenes, and provides for us. As Paul put it so aptly, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4::6-7).
In the last analysis, we make a grave mistake if we think that Christian living is all about cautiously avoiding sin. Rather, we should be courageously and actively doing God’s will (Dietrich Bonheoffer).
This is a summary and reflection based on a virtual BIR Session held on 26 November 2022.
