We are on the home stretch! 66 days to go! Hang in there readers and don’t give up no matter where you are in the reading program.
The most well know part of this book is chapter 4:13-18. On the heels of losing Norm Barnes, a member of our church for 62 years, these words of encouragment are so comforting. We do grieve.
But we do not grieve like people without hope grieve. Because Jesus died and rose again, we believe the promise that he will return for us, too. And whether we die before he returns or are alive when he comes, we all will be “caught up” together with him and will forever be with the Lord. This is great comfort in the face of suffering and death.
But I want to call our attention to less often read passage but one that affects the church more often and more significantly even then physical death. Chapter 5:12-22 gives a very clear description of how we are to live together as followers of Christ. Verse 18 even says that living this way is God’s will. We are often asking about God’s will when we are making decision’s but what about for our everyday life and the way we speak and act toward each other? This list is formidable here. Every one of us have much work to do to live according to God’s will in this way!
Respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Most immediately think of pastors, and this does apply to pastors. But it also applies to believers who are more mature in their faith and others in the church who are given responsibility for oversight of ministry and mission. We are to hold them in higher regard and love them for their work.
We are also to warn those who are idle…and this means in life or in the church. We are to encourage the timid and help the weak. Some of us are steamrollers (I won’t mention any names!). Others are the oppposite extreme and always sit or stand back and wait for someone else to speak or act. We need each other. The steamrollers need to exercise self restraint and the sit backers need to take more initiative.
But make sure that no one pays back evil for evil but always try to be kind. Now there is a challenge! Revenge and payback is the human reflex! But in Christ we are to turn the other cheek and not even notice when we are wronged! Philippians says we are to compete in doing good to each other–”outdo” each other in doing good!
Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU!
What would our fellowship be like if every one of us were working on following these guidelines in how we act and speak toward one another? Let’s pray and ask the Lord to help us to do just that!