Keep Smiling

Do you know what the shortest verse in the Bible is? No, the other one. I Thessalonians 5:16 where Paul commands the Thessalonians to "rejoice always." Actually, this verse is the first two words of a sentence. The rest of it says, "...pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." These are easy words to read over and I have had these verses memorized for years, but practically applying them in my everyday life? Well, as the bumper sticker says, "Be patient with me. God isn't finished with me yet!"

Applying the principle of rejoicing and giving thanks for all things should have a huge impact on those who live and work around us. Think of it. Management at work bungles another call and creates yet another unintelligible policy for everyone to follow. Do I: a) Complain with everyone else, or b) Keep a smile on my face and be thankful that I'm employed. Which of the former will cause you to stand out the most? Grumbling and complaining knocks the wind right out of our testimony. Whining and griping should not characterize believers. What about the recent election results? Whoops, I already blew that one!

Consider this with me. Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten and chained up in prison for casting a demon out of a young girl who was being used for profit by wicked men (Acts 16:16-34). Smarting from a savage beating and locked away in a filthy prison after doing good, if anyone had a right to be angry or depressed, it was Paul and Silas. However, as you may already know, these men were "praying and singing hymns to God." The result in the end was the salvation of a jailer and his entire household, and a few very astonished fellow prisoners, I'm sure. When Paul commands the Thessalonians to rejoice always, pray, and give thanks in all things, he speaks from experience and practiced what he preached.

Given what Paul went through to bring the gospel to the gentiles and the attitude he had while doing it, I can certainly rejoice, pray, and be thankful in all things while I bring dial tone to my subscribers. After all, no one has beaten me yet.