When Life Gives You Lemons
One Christian's words to a church suffering for Christ | Random Thoughts | 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 | Jesus Christ | Christianity
A Brief Post Today
Hello, dear readers. Well, my computer is in the shop, and husband and I also had a week of dealing with some challenging “life stuff”. It’s Saturday afternoon, and I’ve borrowed his laptop to type this, and it will be a brief post. We’re well, and the techs should know by Monday afternoon the status of my computer. (I backed up all my data).
So, it’s been a somewhat “crazy” week for us. And, several other Christ followers I know have shared with me that they’ve been dealing with many hard life events.
And then, there’s national and world news.
What We Can Do in the Midst of It All
How do we all handle “hard life stuff”? If you’ve been reading NOC for awhile, you’ll know that the Lord is always directing you and me to stand firm and to keep our eyes on Him, and on our future hope that He’s made available to us through His death and resurrection.
Obviously, we all have an expiration date for our time here on beautiful planet Earth. Jesus said His Father’s mansion has many rooms. His Father is our Abba, our Daddy. In the midst of it all we can keep our focus on heaven.
One philosopher had some negative words to say about that worldview:
I have a different perspective, and I’d love to read your thoughts in the Comments.
Be Heavenly Minded to be Earthly Good
If we’re following Jesus, we’ll have heaven on our mind similar to the first and second century believers. We’ll know that the most important thing we can do on Earth is to love people into God’s kingdom, lead them to salvation from sin and death (and out of the evil one’s grasp), and thus fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission.
A spiritual sister on Substack, and I don’t remember who, encouraged God’s family in her post by reminding us of three simple verses:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
These are the apostle Paul’s words to a faithful church suffering under intense persecution by the Roman Empire. And yet, they continued to spread God’s love in their community, and Paul encouraged them to continue.
I wonder: Have these verses become too familiar to us?
Your Turn
I have a simple request. Please take some time and meditate on verses 16-18. Then, in Conversation & Community below, please share what God has taught you regarding:
Rejoicing always (wow, can be tough at times, right?)
Praying continually (can we keep this up with our busy schedules?)
Giving the Lord thanks in all circumstances (another tough one)
Since October 2022, when NOC began, readers have contributed thoughtful and wise comments. You all have enriched my life a great deal, and I appreciate you very much.
I can’t wait to read your comments on 1 Thess. 5:16-18.
Okay, I need to get off this borrowed laptop and give it back to darling husband, Lol!
Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!
If you’re a not-yet follower of Jesus Christ, please come along on this journey with us. You are welcome here.
And, I invite you to read my series on the book “What Does God Want?”.
Conversation & Community
It’s your turn!
As always, feel free to send me an email:
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The verse says to me: Be positive and have faith.
As for the "Philosopher" I say, some people are so earthly minded, that they are no heavenly good!
"Some people are so heavenly minded that they are "no earthly good" Oliver Wendell Holmes.
But to the contrary, "Heavenly minded is earthly good."
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 ESV
"Heavenly minded, earthly good"
"And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers cast out demons." Matthew 10:7-8 ESV
"Heavenly-minded, earthly good."
'So, get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.' 1 Peter 2:1 NLT
"Heavenly-minded, earthly good."
"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." Ephesians 4:31 ESV
"Heavenly-minded, earthly good."
"For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:8-10 ESV
"Heavenly-minded, earthly good."
"See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." 1 Thessalonians 5:15 ESV
"Heavenly minded, earthly good"
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
"Always rejoice" in bad times and good because in Christ Jesus there is always hope for a better future, the hope of a perfect Heaven which is beyond "better" than this unperfect earth which has been corrupted with evil, sadness, sickness, suffering, pain, broken heartedness, hopelessness, but to the better contrast Heaven where there's everlasting joy, perfect peace, infinite Love, the eternal glory of GOD's presence, and being in His absolute secure care forever.
"Pray continually" without ceasing because prayer maintains a greater earthly good for everyone. Prayer is communing with GOD and caring for others.
In everything, "giving thanks" means being grateful to GOD because He is the source of all good things. Only He is good and the only one continually worthy of our worship and praise forever.
"Heavenly-minded, earthly good."
"I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1 ESV
GOD bless you all!
HEBREW WORSHIP from Israel - PE ECHAD - ONE VOICE [Live]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBPl2214-jE