First Love Continued…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee ☕

Today we are getting started by looking back.

Let’s take another look at Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;

for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The Greek word used for rejoice is chairo.

It means:

- To be full of cheer, calmly happy, or well-off.

The modern definition of rejoice is:

Rejoice (Verb):

- To give joy to: Gladden.

- To feel joy or great delight.

I wanted to start here today because before we try to live out this Scripture, we need to think about what we understand rejoicing to mean.  When I think of rejoicing always, I imagine myself dancing down the street— throwing my hands in the air, jumping up and down, maybe even doing a wiggle worm walk—all smiles.  I even entertained the idea that maybe we should do such a thing biblically.  But then I looked at the language used in the text— and I had to admit, that’s more like celebration than rejoicing.

Celebration (Verb):

- To perform (a sacrament or solemn ceremony) publicly and with appropriate rites.

- To honor (an occasion, such as a holiday) especially by solemn ceremonies or by refraining from ordinary business.

 - To mark (something, such as an anniversary) by festivities or other deviation from routine.

-  To hold up or play up for public notice.

Our text, however, tells us to be calmly happy—not just to celebrate.

That’s a subtle but important difference.

Isn’t this like first love?

Do we remember the first love we had with Jesus?

If that’s hard to recall, what about the first love we had with our spouse. That feeling comes with a happy calm— a kind of constant warmth and certainty.  There are certain works and behaviors—both physical and mental— that are involved in first love.

Think about it!  In first love, weren’t we looking for every opportunity to spend time with our spouse?  Wouldn’t we go out of our way to do small acts of love—like stopping by the store to pick up a gift?  Didn’t we dream of doing more for them, of giving bigger gifts, of showing even more love?

First love consumes our thoughts.  Even when we’re busy, we are still thinking about them.  It is a healthy consuming love—a love that motivates us to action.

Which brings us to praying without ceasing.  Think back to the early days of first love with a spouse.  Didn’t we want to talk to them all the time?  Every conversation was exciting—like an adventure into a hidden jungle world we were still discovering.  We didn’t just talk about important things—we talked about everything.  Not because we had to, but because we wanted to.  We weren’t looking for Einstein-level intellectual stimulation— we just wanted to share ourselves with them and to have them share themselves with us.

To pray without ceasing is to communicate with God without ceasing.  It doesn’t necessarily mean using words constantly.  We can communicate with God through our actions.  We can communicate with God through our intentions.  We can communicate with God through our choices.  But that said, I have personally found that it is much easier to pray without ceasing when I keep a constant conversation with Jesus going throughout the day.

For what that’s worth.

The next line tells us to give thanks in everything.

Why?

Because everything was either created by God or allowed by God.

If you look for Jesus in everything, you will find Jesus in everything—one way or another.

Galatians 5:1-6

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,

and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.  And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised

that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.  You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”

So let’s get out our pens and start chronicling.  What are we going to do today to bring us back to first love with Jesus?  But before we do—do we even want to go back to first love?  If not, that’s probably something to pray about.  Our lists will probably be different.  Our lists will probably be personal.  But making this list will be something interesting to do with the Holy Spirit— something that will encourage us to pray without ceasing.  And I have a sneaking suspicion that rejoicing always will come along with this exercise.

And just remember…

If you do end up dancing down the street…

We have freedom of religious expression.