“Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 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 prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
“Brothers, pray for us.
“Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss...
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11-26,28
Paul never minces nor wastes words. He packs his writing full of cogent truths and instruction. To cogitate on a sentence or two of his inspired letters is to be convinced, convicted, or compelled. Indeed, God’s inspired word is living and powerful for all of life, steeling into our senses and prodding us to action. (Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16)
God intends that His instructions have their potent way both in and through us. Encourage and build one another up. His end is our sanctification. Respect and esteem your leaders. Be at peace and patient. Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak. God’s words encompass all His children and concern their spiritual development and welfare. Be vigilant to guard against evil and seek and hold fast to good. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks. There is no room for laziness, apathy, or grumpiness in the Christian life. Do not resist or despise or ignore Him, test everything. In all these commands, we are assured that God’s Spirit is at work and He is faithful to perform His bidding in and through us as we obey.
How carefully do we discern and heed God’s words? Are we in the practice of quenching His Spirit with excuses, disinterest, or deliberation? What commands have we chosen to ignore? What areas of spirit, soul, or body is He intent on sanctifying that we have resisted? When will we confess, repent, and yield, trusting His grace and enabling?
How thoughtfully do we consider our written and spoken words? How can we better pack a punch of gospel truth in secular conversations and opportunities to witness? With our children or others we teach, is instruction vague and benign, or direct and substantial? Do we waste words on insignificant trivialities, or when we speak, do others pay attention because our words build up and nourish? For every audience the Lord provides, may He help us prayerfully think through and communicate for maximum eternal effect. (Proverbs 25:11)
Father, fill me with truth and love so my words convey Your grit, grace, and glory.
As the rain and snow 