Continuing our study
of 1st Thessalonians…
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 5:12-22
But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
Thought for the Day: Wow! That is quite a list of roles and responsibilities for the Thessalonians. It feels as if Paul was getting to the end of his letter and he was attempting to quickly layout all the other things he didn’t get around to mentioning. I remember my mother leaving town, and though I had an older sibling to watch over me, it would be the first time I’d stay at home without her. I was taking on a new level of responsibility. As my mother walked toward the door, it was as if she had a rush of last minute concerns, emergency procedures, tasks and duties. The list trailed off as she went out the door.
Yet as you go through Paul’s list, you note a lot of common sense ideas. There are good suggestions for any group of people attempting to live together in harmony. When it was all said and done, it sure appears as if Paul wanted nothing more than for this faithful group of people to remain strong. When a community of believers is just forming, they can ride the initial enthusiasm for quite some time. The joy that exists among new disciples can often overshadow petty disagreements, at least for a while. But I wonder if Paul had some previous experiences with those slightly older communities of faith who, though still followers of Jesus, seemed to lose sight of their mission and purpose. It happens all the time when a new church community begins to institutionalize. Suddenly, those who were patient and willing to live at peace with one another, are threatening the very existence of the community with bickering and selfishness.
Though the list might be a bit intimidating, I would encourage you to take just one of the suggested responsibilities (I would exclude the ‘admonish the idlers’) and practice it for the rest of the day. For example, I going to spend the rest of the day reflecting on the idea of NOT quenching (stifling) the spirit. Instead, how might I fan the flames of the Spirit in my own life and in the lives of others?
Prayer: Encourage me, Beautiful and Caring God, so that each day I might see another opportunity to strengthen my faith and increase my love of those around me. Amen.
