Wednesday, September 30, 2009

God of Peace

1 Thessalonians 5:22-23 - Avoid every kind of evil. 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.

1 Thessalonians 5:13-15 - 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.

Conclusions:
  • Hold elders in the highest regard in love, not merely because of personal attachment or respect for their high position, but in appreciation for their work
  • Living in peace applies to Christian relationships in general, but in 1 Thessalonians 5:13, it probably refers especially to right relations between leaders and those under them
  • Those who are idle are loafers
  • It seems that some Thessalonians were so sure that the second coming was close that they had given up their jobs to prepare for it, but Paul says they should work
  • The timid and the weak are to be helped, not rejected, by the strong
  • Retaliation is never a Christian option
  • Christians are called to forgive

Application:

  • Do you have right relations with your leaders?
  • Do you help the timid and the weak?
  • Do you forgive instead of retaliate?

All Scripture verses from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

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