“Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone… Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:12-18 (NIV)
This short passage from Paul to the church in Thessalonica is brimming with practical advice for godly living! Below is a short list detailing Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians’:
- Respect those ministering for the Lord and those who are in authority over you
- Live at peace with each other
- Warn those who are idle
- Encourage the timid and help the weak
- Be patient with everyone (yes, even those who have a driver’s license even though they obviously failed the test)
- Be joyful always
- Pray continually
- Give thanks in all circumstances.
While these are wonderful instructions to follow, if we try to accomplish them in our strength we will fail. It takes humility and discipline on our part to surrender ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit so He can victoriously live out this godly life within us. It is not a onetime surrender, but a daily, sometimes hourly, surrender. But when we do, the result is we will be living out God’s love and being His light in a dark world that desperately needs it.
God bless!
Noree
Photo Credit: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/prayer-1497680
Men and women lined up with five-gallon buckets, while children came carrying empty juice bottles. They brought anything that would hold water. Standing next to the water truck in a rural Honduran village, I was overwhelmed at the poverty and great need around me. We filled bucket after bucket with clean water. Attempting to alleviate an enormous burden in the smallest way, we carried the 40-pound buckets down dirt roads and into their homes. The water sloshed around in the buckets, hitting the dirt beneath us. Deep in my soul I was reminded that this precious resource is fleeting. Soon they will be thirsty and needing clean water again.
As we close out this 4-part wisdom series, let’s review quickly what we have learned so far. Upon recognizing our lack of wisdom, we can go directly to the Source and ask for it. In our asking, we must have faith without doubting because doubt will only leave us feeling like a storm-tossed wave – helpless and out of control. The one who doubts is like a person with two minds, thinking two different things at the same time, very unsteady and unreliable.