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 Matthew 12:15 Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.What a mass of hideous sickness must have thrust itself under the eye of Jesus! Yet we read not that he was disgusted, but patiently waited on every case. What a singular variety of evils must have met at his feet! What sickening ulcers and putrefying sores! Yet he was ready for every new shape of the monster evil, and was victor over it in every form. Let the arrow fly from what quarter it might, he quenched its fiery power. The heat of fever, or the cold of dropsy; the lethargy of palsy, or the rage of madness; the filth of leprosy, or the darkness of ophthalmia--all knew the power of his word, and fled at his command. In every corner of the field he was triumphant over evil, and received the homage of delivered captives. He came, he saw, he conquered everywhere. It is even so this morning. Whatever my own case may be, the beloved Physician can heal me; and whatever may be the state of others whom I may remember at this moment in prayer, I may have hope in Jesus that he will be able to heal them of their sins. My child, my friend, my dearest one, I can have hope for each, for all, when I remember the healing power of my Lord; and on my own account, however severe my struggle with sins and infirmities, I may yet be of good cheer. He who on earth walked the hospitals, still dispenses his grace, and works wonders among the sons of men: let me go to him at once in right earnest. Let me praise him, this morning, as I remember how he wrought his spiritual cures, which bring him most renown. It was by taking upon himself our sicknesses. "By his stripes we are healed." The Church on earth is full of souls healed by our beloved Physician; and the inhabitants of heaven itself confess that "He healed them all." Come, then, my soul, publish abroad the virtue of his grace, and let it be "to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off." Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 24:6 "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.Psalm 46:1-3 For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. • Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; • Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. Isaiah 26:20,21 Come, my people, enter into your rooms And close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while Until indignation runs its course. • For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain. Psalm 57:1 For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by. Colossians 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Psalm 112:7 He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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