GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE
1
Thessalonians 5:12- 18 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.
The early
church at Thessalonica was anxiously awaiting the return of Christ. Jesus had
promised to return to take his people with Him to be with God the Father. Look
outs were placed around the town. People talked much about Jesus’ teachings.
They wondered from which direction he would come. Would it be out of the clouds
as he had left them? Or maybe he would show up walking down the road. The people
were preoccupied with his return. They ignored they leaders. They stopped
working. They ignored the needs of themselves and others. Life was placed on
hold.
The world
has changed since those early days of the church. In fact life has really taken
a 360 degree turn. We are preoccupied today, but with different things. People
waste their days with leisure activities. They chase after happiness and
comfort from short-lived pleasures like money, food and sex. The world has lost
focus of Christ. The poor get poorer. The sick get sicker. The large percentage
of the world today remains in poverty while the rich and comfortable few occupy
every minute of their lives with selfish pursuits. The world has not really
changed all that much.
God calls
us back to the responsibilities of peaceful Christian living. We are not to be
idle in play but are to work in order to provide for our family and our church
family. We are to remain focused on Christ. But all this is to be done with the
proper balance and focus. We are to listen to the spiritual leaders God has
placed over us. We are to serve one another in love. We are to encourage the
timid and help the weak. And most importantly, we are to always joyfully pray,
giving thanks in all circumstances to our God.
Prayer:
Help me to look beyond my needs towards the needs of
others. Help me to pray that your will might be fulfilled in their lives and
that together we may live at peace as you desire.