1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (NKJV) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but alway pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
What does God require of me? I must be fair, forgiving others quickly, and I must alway walk humbly with Him. Only in humility can I surrender my thoughts to His truth and only with the help of Holy Spirit within me can I understand those truths. Micah 6:8
Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
There is nothing impractical about the life of a Christian. In living it we are showing our love for God above all and our neighbors as ourselves. In it we fulfill all the commands of Jesus. Our lives reflect His love for His creation. Joy in the Lord is our ever present help and strength.
Galatians 5:16-21 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
On our own we cannot fulfill the will of God in our lives BUT in the Spirit all things are possible. In Him we will let His light shine in our lives. He will teach us the love of God, not only for us, but for all of His creation. He wants us to be beacons of His light offered to all of humanity in the gift of salvation in Jesus. Idols are anything that we place above God. Heresies are any deviation from the truth…Jesus alone is the truth of salvation. If we truly love our neighbors we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh and Holy Spirit will enable us to accomplish what we cannot do on our own.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
In walking in Holy Spirit His fruit will mature in our lives. We will know believers by their willingness to pursue Godly character letting Him work out our faith in our lives to accomplish what we, on our own, cannot.
Romans 7:5-6 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Before Christ we were dead in our sin but in Christ, in the power of Holy Spirit, we are delivered from the law. Now we serve in Him to empower us to live Godly lives.
2 Corinthians 3:5-9 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Glory of the New Covenant 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
We are no longer bound by the letter of the law to the 10 commandments, which has no power in itself, but we are empowered by Holy Spirit to live Godly lives in Him. Our faith accomplishes His will in our lives. Carla
The Thessalonians may have been tempted to retaliate against those who persecuted them. Paul advises them against this (Matthew 5:39–40; Romans 12:19). Believers must extend to others (believers and unbelievers) the same goodness the Lord has shown them. Faithlife Study Bible
The Thessalonians had to face the fact that some of them were not living as Christians should, but were unruly. They needed to be warned about their behavior. Some were fainthearted and needed comfort. The congregation should also uphold the weak and be patient toward all, recognizing that all Christians have faults. To be most effective in promoting positive change in people’s lives, believers should respond to individuals according to each one’s particular needs.
For a Christian to try to get revenge is a denial of basic Christian love (Romans 12:17; 1 Peter 3:9), and it goes against Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 5:38–42; 18:21–35). The NKJV Study Bible
Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up
With the mighty work of Jesus' healing in our own hearts, we can be spiritually free from the effects of resentment, disagreement, miscommunication and unforgiveness. As Christ works in us to make us more patient, loving and merciful like Himself, we become peacemakers and live in unity with those around us (1 John 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:13-15; Romans 12:18).
We become witnesses of Christ's healing in the way we handle our relationships, even with difficult individuals God has placed in our paths. We ourselves serve as the heap of witness as we honor God, and the way we handle those challenging relationships becomes a memorial of His work in our lives. First5
Christ within us is should be a beacon of hope for everyone we encounter!
We are empowered to repair and heal the world where it touches us, the small world—the people—close by, the daily, those ordinary resting places for our heart.
I want to internalize Rumi’s invitation, “Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.”
And let us remember, this is not a project or duty, but an affirmation of the healing power of the light that shines inside, and spills to the small world around us.
When I concentrate on the light being quenched, I am easily dispirited.
And when I see any swell of smallness or meanness or cruelty, I forget that I get to say how the story ends. So. When life is on tilt, where do our marching orders come from?
Let us start here: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
Fear says, "I'll make you safe."
But love says, "You are safe." Sabbath Moments
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