Living to Please God
"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.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.
Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:11-22
Paul’s Final Advice
If we keep on reading and studying the Book of Acts, we will get a very good idea of how Paul and his missionary team help plant the churches in Europe. In chapter 16, it is recorded what had happened when Paul and his group went to Philippi. In chapter 17, it added that time he preached the gospel in Thessalonica, then Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus and so on.
Trouble at Every Corner
At the city of Thessalonica, like in all the other places they visited, they encountered a unique set of challenges and obstacles, as well as common ones. But as in every stop, they were able to plant seeds of faith in the hearts of those who were ready to receive it; even if they have to find them while imprisoned and chained.
Having received news -- some bad, some good, back from Thessalonica, many months after they left, Paul sent Timothy back there so he can get his first hand report. When Timothy rejoined Paul and his group and reported what he had seen and heard, Paul then wrote a letter to the believers in that city, which is now known as 1st Thessalonians.
In it were instructions he wanted to impart to them, along with words of encouragement and thanks.
His final instructions are written above and are fairly easy to understand. Today, it is still good advice to all new believers in Christ. Let us keep on reading and studying these pastoral letters, all the more as we move closer and closer to the promised return of Jesus.
"According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage each other with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
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.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.
Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:11-22
 |
| Copy of a portion of Paul's letters |
Paul’s Final Advice
If we keep on reading and studying the Book of Acts, we will get a very good idea of how Paul and his missionary team help plant the churches in Europe. In chapter 16, it is recorded what had happened when Paul and his group went to Philippi. In chapter 17, it added that time he preached the gospel in Thessalonica, then Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus and so on.
Trouble at Every Corner
At the city of Thessalonica, like in all the other places they visited, they encountered a unique set of challenges and obstacles, as well as common ones. But as in every stop, they were able to plant seeds of faith in the hearts of those who were ready to receive it; even if they have to find them while imprisoned and chained.
Having received news -- some bad, some good, back from Thessalonica, many months after they left, Paul sent Timothy back there so he can get his first hand report. When Timothy rejoined Paul and his group and reported what he had seen and heard, Paul then wrote a letter to the believers in that city, which is now known as 1st Thessalonians.
In it were instructions he wanted to impart to them, along with words of encouragement and thanks.
His final instructions are written above and are fairly easy to understand. Today, it is still good advice to all new believers in Christ. Let us keep on reading and studying these pastoral letters, all the more as we move closer and closer to the promised return of Jesus.
"According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage each other with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
Comments
Post a Comment