Bible League: Living His Word And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.— 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NIV The Apostle Paul, in our verse for today, teaches us how we should treat people who have fallen short in some way from the high calling we have in Christ Jesus. What should we do? It depends on what they need. Some must be warned. Those that are idle and disruptive must be warned. What does it mean to be idle and disruptive? In 2 Thessalonians 3:11 Paul tells us what it means: "We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies." Busybodies are those that meddle in the affairs of others, so they must be warned to mind their own business. To be sure, warning them must be done in a humble manner, but it must be done. Some must be encouraged. Those that are disheartened must be encouraged. What does it mean to be disheartened? It means that someone is depressed, discouraged, or fearful in some way. Due to negative experiences of various kinds, the disheartened fail to follow through on the callings they have in Christ Jesus. With sympathy and understanding, then, they must be encouraged to get back on track. They must be encouraged to let go of what happened in the past and move forward into the future that God has for them. Some must be helped. The weak must be helped. What does it mean to be weak? The weak are those that are incapable, either temporarily or permanently, of pulling their own weight in the church. Instead of just abandoning the weak and leaving them behind, Paul tells us that we should help them. Maybe they need to be helped physically, or economically, or spiritually. Whatever it is, they need our help, and we should not refrain from giving it. Paul also recognizes that for the strong and capable in the church, it would be easy to resent these weaker brothers and sisters. So, he exhorts them to be patient with everyone. The strong must be patient with the weak, and the weak must be patient with the strong, just as God is steadfast in His patience with all His children. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Kings 14, 15 1 Kings 14 -- Ahijah's Prophecies against Jeroboam; Rehoboam's Wicked Reign NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Kings 15 -- Kings of Judah: Abijam, Asa, Jehoshaphat; Israel: Nadab, Baasha NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 1:1-28 John 1 -- In the beginning was the Word; The Testimony of John; Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, Philip and Nathanael NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Though the Lord gave you adversity for foodand suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Insight The Lord gave his people the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but he promised to be with them, teach them, and guide them during hard times. God expects a lot from us, and many times following him can be painful; but he always acts out of his love for us. Challenge Next time you go through a difficult time, try to appreciate the experience and grow from it, learning what God wants to teach you. God may be showing you his love by patiently walking with you through adversity. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.Like many others, the impotent man had been waiting for a wonder to be wrought, and a sign to be given. Wearily did he watch the pool, but no angel came, or came not for him; yet, thinking it to be his only chance, he waited still, and knew not that there was One near him whose word could heal him in a moment. Many are in the same plight: they are waiting for some singular emotion, remarkable impression, or celestial vision; they wait in vain and watch for nought. Even supposing that, in a few cases, remarkable signs are seen, yet these are rare, and no man has a right to look for them in his own case; no man especially who feels his impotency to avail himself of the moving of the water even if it came. It is a very sad reflection that tens of thousands are now waiting in the use of means, and ordinances, and vows, and resolutions, and have so waited time out of mind, in vain, utterly in vain. Meanwhile these poor souls forget the present Saviour, who bids them look unto him and be saved. He could heal them at once, but they prefer to wait for an angel and a wonder. To trust him is the sure way to every blessing, and he is worthy of the most implicit confidence; but unbelief makes them prefer the cold porches of Bethesda to the warm bosom of his love. O that the Lord may turn his eye upon the multitudes who are in this case tonight; may he forgive the slights which they put upon his divine power, and call them by that sweet constraining voice, to rise from the bed of despair, and in the energy of faith take up their bed and walk. O Lord, hear our prayer for all such at this calm hour of sunset, and ere the day breaketh may they look and live. Courteous reader, is there anything in this portion for you? Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 69:26 For they have persecuted him whom You Yourself have smitten, And they tell of the pain of those whom You have wounded.Luke 17:1 He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. Matthew 26:67,68 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, • and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?" Matthew 27:41,42 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, • "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. Acts 4:27,28 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, • to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. Isaiah 53:4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. 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