All In

1 Thessalonions 5:12-22
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,
21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.

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Here, Paul clearly shows that there is a certain structure in the church. This letter is to be read to the entire church (v.27), and the instruction in verses 12-13 are for the congregation to respect and esteem the people who are over them in the church. It says to have this attitude even when they admonish you. That's not very popular here in Hawaii. We don't like people to admonish us here. But here, Paul says that this is part of the job description for elders and pastors and leaders.

Then, in the next verse, I find it so interesting that the members of the congregation are called to admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, and help the weak (v.14). Those are things we typically hand over to church staff people or pastors, but Paul clearly says here that this is for everyone to do, not just leaders. It means that all Christians are to get idle people un-idle. All Christians are to encourage those who are downcast, pray for them and counsel them. All Christians are to help those who are weak in their faith. And here's the best part, verse 15 says to be patient with them ALL. We are called to be patient with those who are idle, fainthearted, and weak.

The following verses tell us to always do good, rejoice, pray, give thanks, don't quench the Spirit. Then it says to be open to prophecies, not to reject the fact that the Holy Spirit will do some holy, spiritual, miraculous things; but then Paul says not to be completely gullible and accepting, but to test all things and avoid evil.

I read all these verses and find the Christian life to be full of great spiritual interaction, and interpersonal balance. Often, one or two of these verses from this particular section of Scripture are used to emphasize the hardcore, crazy spiritual stuff in Christian living. But these passages all interlock with one another, emphasizing a life of great generosity, humility, servanthood, wrapped up in a singular devotion to one Lord - Christ.

To this day, I sometimes find myself questioning others in ministry and complaining about an assortment of trivial things; especially this morning. But Lord, you are reminding me, admonishing me even, to follow in the footsteps of my master and live a life worthy of your great love for me. This isn't just a calling for me, as someone who works in the church as a minister; it's for all your people.