1 Thessalonians_5

Scripture-‭‭

 

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:12-13‬

 

“Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.”

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

Paul is giving his final advice to the Thessalonians. This advice includes honoring their spiritual leaders by showing them respect and love, living peacefully with one another, being patient with everyone, encouraging one another, staying away from evil, taking care of those in need, to always be joyful and thankful in all circumstances, always strive to do good for one another, and to never stop praying.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Are you a wing or a weight?

 

I heard a podcast where a pastor asked his congregation that same question. Basically are you a person who encourages others, who helps those in need, and helps lifts their spirits to becoming the person God calls them to be? Or are you the person who brings negativity, who is constantly complaining, criticizing, and weighing others' spirits down?

 

As God’s people we are called to be light and salt to this world. The world (especially now), is a very dark and dreary place to be in. So we as God’s people should be shining our lights out there. Go reach out to your church family. Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ, pray for them, and see if they have a need that you can help them with. Go out into your workplace, neighborhood, and community. Be praying for them to come to know Christ. Look for opportunities to be a light or a wing in their lives. Don’t be a weight that weighs people down. Be a wing to lift them up! Be part of the solution, not the problem.

 

“The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.”-‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10:11

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“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬

 

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:29‬

 

Life Application

 

Seek someone out today that you can bring encouragement to! ☺️

 

The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the human body. It has the power to build up, or tear down. How will you choose to use it?

 

As for me, I want to take this time to honor our Pastors at DSC. The Holy Spirit really highlighted the verse I chose to journal on this morning for this specific reason. Thank you Pastor Warren for your gentleness. You are so loving and caring towards the people God put you responsible for. Thank you Pastor Levi for your work with our youth. I’m confident knowing that Justin and you are building a strong foundation in our youth. Helping them build their faith to ready them for the “grown up world”. I look forward to the times my girls can benefit from that group. Finally, I want to thank Pastor Gary. Thank you for your leadership and for being a mentor to my wife and I. I know you have to make difficult decisions for our church family, and that not everyone will be pleased by them. But with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, you make those tough decisions to try to help grow our church not only physically (in numbers), but most importantly spiritually. Thank you for being a Pastor who not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk. So thank you all for all you do to make DSC a church which our family is proud to call home. You all have played vital roles in helping my family and I grow in our walk with God. Love you all!

 

-Moses Gaddi