Without ceasing

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

In everything [that is, always in all situations] give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

These words to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ sound spiritual.

Have you ever tried doing these 3 commands of grace for 1 day?

Even though the sentences are short, to do them isn't easy.

Usually, we encounter something, someone, or thoughts of the past, present, or future that interfere with our peaceful spirituality.

Our "sea of tranquility" in the Savior,

"I leave you peace; My peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid" John 14:27

is invaded by forces outside of us and within us so that we stop rejoicing, stop praying, and stop giving thanks.

"Father, I couldn't do these words for even one day. So, I guess I'm not a doer of Your word but a hearer only." Matthew 7:26-27; James 1:22

Let's NOT be so quick to condemn ourselves.

Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up. But those who are evil trip and fall when trouble comes. Proverbs 24:16

Peter thought that seven times was a good enough amount to forgive someone. Matthew 18:21

Jesus said that it was seventy times seven, which is 490 times, or some Bibles have seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:22

In either case, scholars tell us that it could mean an unlimited number of times.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer under God’s judgment. Because of what Christ Jesus has done, you are free. You are now controlled by the law of the Holy Spirit who gives you life. The law of the Spirit frees you from the law of sin that brings death. Romans 8:1-2

Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, Who is at the right hand of God, Who also intercedes for us. Romans 8:34

One of the nice things about instructions in the Bible is that even if we forget them, fail to live up to them, or try to manipulate them, they still are there, ready for us to understand them well and then follow. Psalm 119:89, 105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Peter denied and therefore failed Jesus three times in a row. Matthew 26:69-70, 71-74

This was after Peter and the other disciples boasted that they wouldn't deny Him. Matthew 26:35

After Peter's third denial, what happened?

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Luke 22:61

After failure, we may not want the Lord Jesus Christ to look at us.

If we're sensitive to His Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:30 want to be holy as He is holy, 1 Peter 1:16 and obey Him, John 14:15; Hebrews 5:9 we may sink deeper into shame.

Or we may choose to believe His word:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Let's get His forgiveness without ceasing and start again to follow Him without ceasing.

He [Jesus] said to him [Peter] the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"

And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."

Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep." John 21:17

Later in that conversation, Jesus said to Peter what He says to us all, Mark 13:37

"Follow Me." John 21:19

Your thoughts?

R. Jason