Jesus Isn't Decaf (By Naomi Meyers)

His head bent lower over yet another page of parchment. The line of drying papers beside him was quickly growing. He’d been writing for a while, pausing only to reach for a fresh page or dip his pen in the ever-present inkpot before returning to pick up the thought he’d left dangling. His very heart was poured into the letter. The scrawling, spidery lines of handwriting spilling out the words he was too far away to speak. His heart burgeoned equally with elation and concern. Those to whom he wrote were so new in the faith, so young in Christ, so hungry for guidance. Their fervor and desire was exciting, invigorating. Their faith was growing. They were so diligently striving to do the things they knew to do. Paul was so proud of them, yet so concerned for them. 

Experience told him it was only a matter of time before the battle started. The evil one might have left them alone for this brief interlude, but it wouldn’t last. He wasn’t asleep or vacationing. He hadn’t decided to leave this little group of believers alone. No. He was busy plotting his attack. The exact moment when he would scuttle about planting seeds of doubt, stirring up frustrations, dangling tantalizing temptations before their eyes. The evil one would look for ways to wreak havoc, erode relationships, and undermine their unity, knowing that if he could weaken just one link, he’d have them. His goal would be achieved. Dissent and division would reign in that infant church. 

Regardless of the distance separating them, Paul saw it coming. He saw the hand of the evil one twitching as it itched to get started sewing evil. Paul wasn’t having it! The scratching sound of his pen flying over parchment could be heard from several paces away. They had to shut the gates. Bar the door. Seal the shutters. They needed to brace themselves, the evil one was gunning for them. There was only one way to stop the madness. They needed to stick together. Keep their focus. Keep doing what they already knew to do. Love God. Love one another. Live like it.  

Scattered throughout the copious pages of Paul’s letter were several vital reminders of who they were in Christ. Loved, chosen, called by God. Children of light. Sober. Steadfast. Secure. Armed for spiritual warfare. They were not entering this warzone empty-handed. They had armored themselves with the breastplate of faith and love, the helmet of the hope of salvation. They were ready. The darkness couldn’t touch them so long as they stayed alert, remained sober, kept on guard. (I Thessalonians 1:4, 2:12, 5:5-8)

Even as Paul penned the words he hoped they already knew, his heart surely reminded him how easy it was to forget and how hard the evil one would work to distract, delude, destroy them. Like the fiercest storm beating on their fledgling faith, the evil one and all his minions would fight to the death. Like a whirlwind, he would fly in among them and seek to disrupt their peace, destroy their love, decimate their patience for one another. Angst would overflow and he would urge one to repay another with evil. Encourage discord. Press even the most stalwart believer to err from a life that exhibited God’s grace. If given his way, there would be no unity among believers, no strength in their gathering, no power in their midst, no weight to their testimony. Each would seek their own way. The discord would be seen by those in the surrounding community, and their witness would be nullified because their works didn’t match their words.  

It would be impossible to place a value on the importance of that very thing. Their very lives were under the scrutiny of those who had the opportunity to believe, yet had chosen to decline. It was imperative that this church carefully emulate Christ in every aspect of their lives. At home when their neighbors were watching. At the market when acquaintances were watching. At church when everyone was watching. They needed to vociferously preach Jesus with their lives because so many weren’t willing to hear their words. (I Thessalonians 4:12)

To this end, Paul penned the list. His readers likely found it extensive. It was far from exhaustive. It was simply a start. In it, he admonished them to encourage and build one another up. Do whatever it took to maintain peace among themselves. Refuse to harbor laziness or coddle sin. Lift the fainthearted, strengthen the weak, show patience with one another. Not only on days when tolerance is high. Choose to be patient every day. Actively seek good for one another. In the midst of frustrations, irritations, disagreements, treat others better than you have been treated. Remember all the things for which you can rejoice and do it. Always. Let your little church constantly ring with the unified sound of believers rejoicing in the truth that Christ is risen, salvation is yours, and Heaven awaits. Because verbally preaching on street corners and witnessing to neighbors was soundly rebuffed, following this list was how they would follow Jesus’ final command to be witnesses for Him. They would preach the gospel by emulating Christ in front of people who would hear it no other way. (I Thessalonians 5:11, 13-16)

Following the list would require more strength than sat in their reserves. The spirit is often more willing than the flesh. Knowing they would grow weary in doing well, Paul listed this encouragement next. “Pray. Constantly. Don’t stop. Ever.” Prayer was the only thing that would see them through the times when impatience reared its ugly head. Prayer was the only option when their offended humanity nearly allowed their moral compass to drift from due north. Prayer, constant communication with their Heavenly Father, was the one thing that could put joy and rejoicing in hearts that were burdened with fear or anger, revenge, and irritation. Prayer was the absolute only way they could ever preach the gospel without words. Prayer was also the only way they could uphold the final items on Paul’s list. (I Thessalonians 5:17)

He wanted them to praise again. They thought they’d already covered that. Rejoicing seemed a lot like praising. But Paul had added that pesky phrase, “in all circumstances.” It would be a difficult task. Did he know what he was asking? Did he understand their circumstances? Did he know things weren’t always easy and simple and good? Was he aware they faced scrutiny and persecution and hate? Did Paul, from his distant place of ministry in another town, truly comprehend all they were up against as they faced the daily struggle to follow God and live His words out loud? 

Yes, actually, he did. Paul got it. He knew. He understood. He knew all about the persecution of the church. He’d committed acts against Christians in the past. He wasn’t confused. But he also knew that God would never leave them alone and helpless. In every circumstance, they could lift their voices in gratitude to the God who had never, would never leave His children alone no matter their situation. He had firsthand knowledge of that too. He’d seen it in Stephen’s face as the angry mob hurled stones at his head. He’d found it true as he slipped over the wall of Damascus in a basket, when imprisoned, in stocks, whipped and stoned. Not once had God ever left him alone in one of those circumstances. It would take prayer to get them through, to help them find something to be grateful for, but the attitude of thanksgiving would lift their spirits and encourage their hearts when everything around them seemed bleak and hopeless. (I Thessalonians 5:18; II Corinthians 11:24-33; Acts 14:19-20, 16:16-25; Hebrews 13:5-6; Psalm 94:14) 

Paul would finish out his list with orders for them to carefully, prayerfully submit themselves to the spirit of God and only God. He’d tell them to test the things they heard against what they had been taught and what their hearts knew about Him. He told them to cling to what was good and absolutely abhor evil in all its sneaky forms. And every instruction he gave them circled back to one thing. Preach Jesus. Always. Every day. In every action and attitude. In every prayerful word. In every moment of praise. Whether you feel like it or not. Preach the Word. (II Timothy 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:19-22)

Little has changed since Paul penned his list of instructions to the little church of Thessalonica. A list that began with encouraging one another and ended with careful eschewance of evil. Yet a quick glance around the world today tells us we failed to adhere. There’s so much discord and dissent in our ranks. There’s so much acceptance of sin and evil. There are so few lines between the beliefs of the church and the ideals of the world. Instead of standing firm and preaching the gospel through our actions we have fallen prey to ideas and doctrines that fail to perfectly adhere to God’s Word. So terrified are we of offending someone with God’s truths that we disguise them as “personal opinions” and falsely imply they are not required to enter Heaven. What a dangerous position we have placed ourselves in! What a hazardous risk to our own eternity! What an enormous detriment to our society!

Well, I say no more! Like the list Martin Luther nailed to the church door so many years ago, I present to you the list penned by the Apostle Paul, inspired by God Himself, and preserved not only for the ancient, struggling church of yesteryear, but for the desperately gasping modern church of today. The one with all the bells and whistles, the comfortable seats, the talented worship band, the enormous congregation and the utter lack of the presence of Jesus Christ among them. The ones who have aligned themselves so closely with society’s practices that there is no preaching emanating from their lives, simply selfish ambitions and worldly habits. The ones who’ve let the enemy of their souls get a toehold, then a foothold, and finally, a place at their table. You know who you are. You need to straighten up! Get your hearts right. Get back on track and follow the list. Live lives that loudly preach the true, unchanging Word of Jesus Christ. Pray without ceasing to prevent your heart from erring from the way. And praise God that, in spite of your spiritually reduced circumstances, His grace is greater and stronger and He offers you the opportunity to rededicate your estranged self to Him. 

So come. It’s an open invitation. Come pick up your list and follow Him. (Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34-35; I John 2:15-17; Romans 12:2; James 4:4; Matthew 6:24; I John 3:17; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 33:11)