“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