Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances… test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil…. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
When I was young, I thought this verse was over the top. How could anyone do all these things relentlessly in the world in which we live? Be joyful “always”? Never stop praying? Give thanks no matter what? These things not only seemed absurd, they seemed impossible.
But, reading more of the Scripture, I began to realize that this wasn’t some masochistic religious call to live life beyond what is humanly possible. This was a call to live Christ-filled lives in full view of God’s mercy, in full view of God’s eternal relentless love for us in Jesus. God always provides what he demands.
Relentless. The God of the Bible is relentless with his overcoming love, with forgiveness, with grace, with beauty. It grieves him that we choose the things of sin, rebellion, and death. He calls us to repentance, making new life possible even for us because of the relentless love of the cross and resurrection of Jesus for all.
So, “Rejoice… give thanks in all circumstances”? That’s God reminding us that he is relentlessly involved in our lives no matter what. By faith in Jesus, in all circumstances, in all things, God is already there for you! Nothing in this world can separate you from his love. Nothing! He’s relentless about that.
Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz
Former Director of the Cross-cultural Ministry Center at Concordia University Irvine
Executive Director, Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty