1 Thessalonians 5:14-23 Paul says " Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all [men]. See that none render evil for evil unto any [man]; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all [men]. Rejoice evermore.Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Here Paul is telling us in verse 14 that as a Christian we should practice humility. Humility in the fact that we, as Children of the Living God, should put others first. We should be so concerned about others that when see someone who is unruly, or living a life in sin, we should tell them. We don't need to walk up and tell them in a way that's being judgmental in my opinion, but we should let humbly them know that hey what you are doing is wrong in the eyes of the Lord and I am here for you f needed. When we put others first in our thoughts and our lives, then and only then can know the meaning of true humility. In this same verse we see that we should comfort the elderly, the sick the needy those who are as Paul called them feeble minded and weak. These are the ones who in today's world that Society has forgotten. These are the people that live under a cardboard box in a field, who live in a nursing home only to be forgotten by family and friends. These are the mentally handicapped, the deaf, the mute that we pass by in the hallways of the hospitals and "assisted living" centers and look away when we pass them. These are the ones that we should, as Christians, lift up and minister to for many will get no ministering to by anyone if we wait for someone else t do it.
This next one is hard for most of us , especially parents lol,. We are to be PATIENT to ALL Men. When someone comes up and strikes up a conversation that you have no interest in, be patient, listen and you never know you might get blessed by the conversation, or you may just be blessing someone else in this world by simply listening. How many Husbands/wives could learn a thing or two in this field from what I understand, lol. Then he says don't render evil for evil, well wow there goes the whole eye for an eye bit doesn't it. Guess we need to rethink how we treat those who have done something to us before we REACT in an un-christian manner.
Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in everything give Thanks. Well let's see he didn't just say when you get a promotion to give thanks he said in EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS. Now I know myself this isn't easy at all, but you know what, I found that when things are bad or miserable, giving thanks to God for what you do have, can make your whole day go better, and do you know why. Because that is the will of God for you and I , to give thanks in all things, NOT JUST THE GOOD TIMES.
Quench not the spirit, in other words let God be God in your life. Listen to the spirit when he tells you to Give, Go, or Do. For when you listen to the spirit and you obey Gods nudge you will see a movement in your life that is unsurpassed by nothing. Despise not prophesy, in other words don't blow off what has been foretold, for when you do that you are in danger of eternal damnation. Prove all things, test them out try them out, don't just take your word for it try it out and make sure its of God, before you jump headfirst off a cliff with no bottom.
But the one that I Love is 'Abstain from the APPEARANCE of evil". In other words don't be a false witness. how would you feel if you were sitting at Chili's with your family and you are having a drink and in walks the pastor of your church and the first thing he sees is you with a beer or mixed drink in your hand. Better yet what if you had been out witnessing on Saturday morning to a group of people telling them to live Holy lives and to abstain from sin and in they walk and your sitting there with a beer in hand? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL. Imagine if the person sitting there drinking was the evangelist who was holding revival at your church in a few days and there he was with drink in hand, what would you think? Well folks let me ask you this would you sit down and have a drink of beer, wine or other alcohol with Jesus sitting at the other end of the table? I would be willing to say that most of you who just read that question said NO. but i say this is response, if you have ever taken a drink then Jesus was sitting there watching,for he sees our daily lives as they are lived.If you are going to do something then ask yourself , would others see Jesus in what I am doing or would they think I was a hypocrite if they saw me doing that? If the only answer you can come up with is Hypocrite, then DON'T DO IT, for even the appearance of evil is enough to send some people running from the church and gives them one more excuse to say "If that's what a christian is, then why should I want to be one?'
But remember this, If you have accepted Christ as lord and saviour of your life through the repenting of your sins and you have followed these instructions then God is pleased and he is smiling down upon you and when that time comes for you to meet him , you shall hear those words spoken in Matthew 25:23 "Well done good and faithful servan......enter thou into the joy of thy Lord".
I know this has been a little longer than most of my blogs , so I will close with this question, What do others see in you Holiness or Hypocrite? God bless and may each day find the blessings of God at work in your life.
In Christ's Love,
Bill
No comments:
Post a Comment