What Being a Christian Practically Looks Like
Day 285: 1 Thessalonians 5:4-28
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV
Paul ends his first letter to the Thessalonians with a barrage of short bursts of challenge. The commands in verses 12-18 are decisions we can make every day to live the best life possible. Though things will be challenging in this fallen world, neglecting these will make life even harder.
To name a few:
Make sure those who serve the church (ministers) have their needs met.
Live in peace with each other.
Warn the lazy (God expects us to work hard).
Encourage the timid (God the expects us to be bold).
Take care of the weak.
Be patient with everyone (they all have stories).
Do good to others (responding to evil with evil leads to chaos).
Rejoice always (chairo: to enjoy a state of happiness; see Colossians 1:24)
Pray continually.
Be thankful.
Are you ready to be obedient to Jesus and shine bright in this dark world? Does this list at the same time seem daunting? The solution for us seems to be in verse 23 of our reading: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.”
God never gives us a to-do list that He doesn’t intend on helping us check off. His Holy Spirit, within us, will not leave us swimming in impossibilities.
”Thank you, Jesus, for shedding your blood, enabling us to live like You.”