WEDNESDAY: THANKS FOR THE WARNING

Aug 24, 2022
2 min read

Lord, if anyone has warned me, please help me remember it today and receive it with grace. May You bless me as I read Your Word.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for 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 and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Three groups of people I should hold in high regard:

Those who work hard. I applaud the work of their hands. They are indeed giving their all unto the Lord, and for them I am grateful.

Those who care for me in the Lord. I acknowledge them because I feel the depth of their caring, since I know it comes from the Lord through them. They come to me with patience when I am disheartened and weak.

Those who admonish me. They may seem like the hardest to love, but actually when they warn me of my actions, it is because they care for me. If they don’t warn me, then it shows they don’t care. It may be hard to receive sometimes because it stings a bit, but the stinging really comes from my hurt pride. They warn me not to become idle and disruptive yet patiently point me to God’s truth.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: All these instructions are for my benefit, so I will live at peace with other people. If I strive to do what is good for others by acknowledging their deeds, I will be encouraged as well. If I desire only to return wrong for wrong, then I will not attain the peace God promised.

This passage is urging brothers and sisters—believers—to live in peace. Christians should not war against each other. There is only one common enemy, Satan; all Christians should be united in looking to Christ, as He casts Satan and sin out of our lives.

Lord, please convict me of my idle, disruptive, or revengeful behavior against my brothers and sisters in Christ. I desire to be a good example and encourage and help them with patience. I also desire to have the same patience with those who do not believe, so they see the peace of Christ in my heart and desire to have that same peace in their hearts. Thank You, Lord, for the peace You bring me day after day!