The scripture for today, May 18, is 1st Thessalonians 5:18 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This is one of the most difficult verses in the Bible to follow. How can we rejoice with the loss of a loved one, of health, of a job, of a home, of a position? The Christians at Thessalonica, in Greece, had been suffering a lot of persecution for being Christians.
Satan will do all he can to cause bad to happen in your life in order to get you to blame God and forsake him. But the real blame belongs on Satan. It may sometimes seem like the harder you try to follow God, the worse things get in our life. In that case, apparently Satan is afraid of your strength in the Lord and is trying to weaken you and get you back on his side.
And sometimes God stands back and tells Satan, “Do your best. This person will grow stronger, not weaker.” Along with the Christians in Thessalonica, you can “become a model….your faith in God can become known everywhere” (1st Thessalonians 1:7-8).
So rejoice that Satan is so afraid of you. And at the same time, keep your eyes on Jesus who never gave in when Satan caused bad to happen to him. Rejoice that you are counted worthy.
“Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.’ “
“Rejoice evermore.”
“Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.”
“For Christ’s love compels us….”
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
“The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him.”
“To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.”
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong and firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.”