15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.“…for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Wait a minute! God’s will for me is a list of rules and regulations that I can’t keep? Does that mean I can’t be snarky? How am I able to do good for each other and everyone else without offending someone? Am I really supposed to rejoice always? How can I always be praying? Do I really have to be thankful all the time?
Hey, wait, I think you missed the point. “…in Christ Jesus” is the point. When we live before the face of God, when we live with the remembrance of what Christ Jesus has done for us, when we consider the Spirit’s sustaining love, then we will know God’s will for us. And guess what? It will look like being charitable in the face of being wronged. We will want to do good for others, even if we do it imperfectly. We will be filled with rejoicing, because God loves us and is near to us. Since he is with us, our life will be a prayer to him, and we will be filled with thankfulness no matter what comes.
So I don’t need to strive to do all those things?
Only as they are tips for living before God and bringing his love to our minds. The most important thing is being in Christ Jesus. The rest will follow. Now, we don’t get to say because I am not living like I am in Christ, so I don’t need to rejoice or pray and I am allowed to be unkind. We can’t use our failings to justify more failing (and it is surprising how often I use this logic), but rather we use our failing to remind us of Christ’s love for sinners “of whom I am the worst.”
So go ahead, rejoice, pray, give thanks, because you are in Christ Jesus!
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