Reflections on 1 Thess 5

Good word for the morning for spiritual leaders (church members):

1 Thess. 5:14 And we urge you, brothers,

warn those who are idle,

encourage the timid,

help the weak,

be patient with everyone.

 

15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

 

                16 Be joyful always;

                17 pray continually;

                18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;

 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.

 21 Test everything.

Hold on to the good.

 22 Avoid every kind of evil.

 

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us.

 

In verse 14 there are 3 ways to handle three categories of people in our lives and be patient with them all.

 Verse 15 Kindness

Then 16 through 22 has 8 commands/instructions. Included are the words “always” “continually” and “all circumstances.”  These are lifestyle choices to be chosen minute by minute.  Any given minute we could chose the opposite: be “woe is me,” “self reliant”, or “ungrateful” or “unappreciative.” These are attitude choices that lead to the kind of words we use and behavior we choose.  Lord, may I (we) be joyful, prayful, and thankful today.

Good words to start off a Wednesday morning! May others see a difference in me and you.