16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies. 21Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.
Paul begins this dialogue with “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks. He then says, “Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”
Prayer is the foundation to this whole series of verses. Prayer really is an attitude. Prayer is more than something we do; prayer needs to be the spiritual air that we breathe! We rejoice as we inhale and we give thanks as we exhale! Pretty good advice!
As we test this attitude of prayer and we learn that God can be trusted, we are to hold fast to that which is good or that which works. We are to abstain from everything that is evil. This is ought not be that much of an eye opening revelation. It only makes sense that if we are to hold fast to what is good, we ought certainly do everything we can to abstain from those things, which are not good.
This is really a conscious decision as to how I am going to live my life. Paul is stressing the importance of standing with God. Put God to the test; just determine in your heart that you will build your life on what you learn. Prayer gives us the strength we need to hold fast to what is good and to abstain from what is evil.
Listen to God’s promise to those who will do as He has instructed; “23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
A Pastor's thoughts about the Scripture and it's influence in our lives.
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