The Charter for Christian Living!

Paul has many lists of dos and don'ts for his readers - sins to be avoided and fruit of the Spirit to be desired. Paul advises not only Timothy but also every believer.  But what Paul writes to the churches of Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16- 22 is something like a charter for Christian living – "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil."   I believe if we can order our life this way, we will be saved from many heartaches!

We should always rejoice because our joy is not based on circumstances but on God, who can change those circumstances.  Christians are to pray continually. We cannot bow our heads, close our eyes, and fold our hands without ceasing, but those are customs of prayer, not prayer itself. Prayer is communication with God, and we can live each minute of the day in a constant, flowing conversation with God.  Christians are to give thanks in everything, not for everything, because God allows certain events in our life only to mould us to be more like Him. We have to do this because it is the will of God.  It is not easy to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks, but we can do it because it is God's will!  God has given us the indwelling Spirit to guide us and help us along the way, but we can quench the Spirit by our doubt, indifference, and disobedience.  Evil and deception can show themselves even in a spiritual setting, so Christians need to test all things, especially prophecies.  According to the standard of God's Word, when tested, we have to hold fast to what is good.  We have to abstain from every form of evil!  If a Christian can live in this way, Christ will be honored in that life!

My friend, we are the fifth Gospel, and the people around us have to see Christ in us.  Then we have to ask ourselves some difficult questions and address them! Are we ready to submit to God's authority in our lives, and above all, do we desire to abstain from every form of evil? Let us examine our hearts today so that our lives will be a sweet aroma to the Lord.

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