(RE: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28)
Good evening.
Our text for today is the last
part of 1 Thessalonians where Paul, to sum up, leaves last words of instruction
and a benediction. In this passage,
there are three types of “What to do?” applications that Paul wanted us to
do.
First, according to verses 12 to
13, is to honor our spiritual mentors – pastors, ministers, cell group leaders,
elders, etc. – who bother to pray and nurture us for our spiritual
well-being. In verse 12 also states
that admonishing us when we do wrong is part of these spiritual mentors’ job
description. So we should not take it
against them when they rebuke us of our wrong-doing because they only do this
to take care of our spiritual health. Rather than harboring ill feelings in our
hearts against them, we should “hold them in highest regard. We should be eternally thankful for these
God-sent spiritual mentors who effort to take care of our spiritual well-being
and bless them always.
Second, according to verses 14 to
15, is to create a loving and healthy relationship environment with our
brothers and sisters in Christ. We
should give warnings to each other when we became lazy and disruptive which can
affect negatively our work and health as a church. We should lift the spirits or cheer up those
who are weak, discouraged or brokenhearted.
We should defend and take care of the weak among us. We should be patient with each other,
especially those who are our spiritual baby brothers or sisters in Christ. We should do everything in our power to see
to it that no harm shall fall on each other but rather only bring the best for
him or her. In summary, we should
encourage and protect each other with dedication, passion, and enthusiasm. According to pop culture, in Mafia famiglias,
they have strong sense of loyalty and “you mess with him, you mess with me”
mentality for each other, and as Christians, we should have a stronger bond
than Mafia famiglias or any form of brotherhood in this world, because we are made
one in Christ!
Third, according to verses 16 to
22, is how to live out our own lives. We
should always rejoice, pray continually, and be thankful in all
circumstances. We should aim to maintain
our bodies a favorable place for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. Hold on to what is good and throw away those
who are evil. This is the life we should
live as individuals.
These might seem very hard
instructions to carry out. Indeed, they
are hard. Alone, we can’t do them at
all. But I am very much encouraged by
verse 18b: “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God’s will will always happen. Therefore, if it’s God’s will for us to do
these things, then we can certainly do them!
By God’s help we can carry out these instructions for us!
Indeed, alongside these
instructions is Paul’s reminder that it is God who fully sanctifies us. Verse 23 says: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.
May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen. God started it in our lives, he will
certainly finish it to the end. We can’t
ever in the slightest carry our His instructions and live holy lives by our
own. All credit belongs to God. It is God who will enable us to carry out His
instructions and to live holy lives.
Only God can really make us a holy Bride – to be presented perfect and
blameless and worthy before the Bridegroom, to enjoy His presence forever.
And I love to be reminded that this is for
sure! Victory is guaranteed. As verse 24 says, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”
To God be the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment