There is More than Joy, Prayer and Thanksgiving
(S) Scripture
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (NIV)
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.
(O) Observation
Most Christians are real familiar with the verses that follow these. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
16 Be joyful always;
17 pray continually;
18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
These verses (16-18) deal with me and it is interesting that we neglect or skip over verses 14-15 that deal with how we are to treat others. Just how wrong headed is it for us to neglect how we are to act toward others and focus only on God's blessing in our lives. Can we really rejoice, pray and give thanks while at the same time ignoring the needs of the people around us?
(A) Application
These five verses describe how God wants me to live my life. Today I will focus on how I can live out verses 14-15 while I continue to rejoice, pray and give thanks in all things. It is interesting that these verses close with "this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Today I want to be aware of when I can warn, encourage, help, be patient with, and show love to others today. I want to live life the way you intended it to be lived.
(P) Prayer
Lord, make me sensitive to and aware of your leading in my life today. Give me opportunity to live out these verses. Amen
1 comment:
I'm struck by the relationship between vs. 14 and 15 and the last three verses. It seems that the "call" in the latter section is both the result of AND the means to what Paul describes in the first section. As we carry out the command in the first part, the natural consequence includes the behaviors of the second part. In addition, as we live out the second part, we are more inclined to do the first part. It's a great example of the way in which the outward is both motivated by the inward and the inward in turn impacts the outward. As for me, I will pray and rejoice and give thanks and in doing so, I will be more sensitive in my relationships with others. Then as my sensitivity grows, I will in turn be joyful, give thanks and pray. Paul was a great one when it came to such subtle lines of reasoning. Merry Christmas. Looking forward to Christmas Eve. "Bud"
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