Saint Paul, having heard of the persecution of the Christians at Thessalonica, wrote this letter to console them. He assures them of his love, even though he is unable to come to them, and urges them to practice chastity, charity, and industry, reminding them of the second coming of Christ.
Here is what struck me after reading this part of the Bible:
There was repetition in the phrase “to make even greater progress” which to me means it is very important! ‘Continuous Improvement’ was first present in Biblical Times in terms of improving oneself not a product or service!
“Moreover, brethren, even as you have learned from us how you ought to walk to please God—as indeed you are walking—we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus to make even greater progress.”
“But we exhort you, brethren, to make even greater progress. Strive to live peacefully, minding your own affairs, working with your own hands, as we charged you, so that you may walk becomingly towards outsiders, and may need nothing.”
Let’s all make greater progress from the inside out!
Then the part about obedience, patience, and charity struck me hard too!
“Now we beseech you, brethren, to appreciate those who labor among you, and who are over you in the Lord and admonish you. Esteem them with a more abundant love on account of their work. Be at peace with them. And we exhort you, brethren, reprove the irregular, comfort the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient towards all men. See that no one renders evil for evil to any man; but always strive after good towards one another and towards all men.”
This is the New Testament “turn the other cheek” rebuking the Old Testament “an eye for an eye.” Love, compassion, and mercy, both inwardly and outwardly is the way to live life according to God’s Design!
Not sure what or who “and who are over you in the Lord” refers to? I don’t believe that anyone is between me and my personal relationship with Jesus, The Holy Spirit, and God. Yes there are those that intercede, inspire and bring me closer to my Divine Foursome but none in an organizational sort of way.
Here are some powerful words if you want to know what the Will of God is for you in your life:
“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus regarding you all. Do not extinguish the (Holy) Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. But test all things; hold fast that which is good. Keep yourselves from every kind of evil.”
And once again we do not know the hour of our death. Assume nothing. Expect nothing. Start right now, this very moment, saying that you turn from Satan and Sin, accept Jesus into your heart to be your heart, and will walk in a new direction, in a new relationship with the love, compassion, and mercy of Jesus; the power of The Holy Spirit; surrendering your will to God in every breath, every heartbeat, and every thought!
Could the Second Coming of Christ, although intended to reference coming to the world, really be about our death and us coming to Christ instead of Him coming the world?
“But of the times and seasons, brethren, you have no need that we write you, for you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord is to Come as a thief in the night. For when they shall say. “Peace and security,” even then sudden destruction will come upon them, as birth pangs upon her who is with child, and they will not escape.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
Don’t forget the grace, remember the grace that we have been gifted, be the grace! Amen! Alleluia!
PS: The First Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Philippians is so pure a source of spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom that it is presented verbatim in its entirety below in the Bible Notes section. Rejoice!
Day 186: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Make even Greater Progress… Continuous Improvement in Christ!
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians, Chapters 4-5 (END).
Bible Notes:
Saint Paul, having heard of the persecution of the Christians at Thessalonica, wrote this letter to console them. He assures them of his love, even though he is unable to come to them, and urges them to practice chastity, charity, and industry, reminding them of the second coming of Christ.
First Thessalonians Chapter 4: Exhortation to Chasity; Exhortation to Charity; At the Second Coming the Dead will Rise.
Exhortation to Chasity:
Moreover, brethren, even as you have learned from us how you ought to walk to please God—as indeed you are walking—we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus to make even greater progress. For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you abstain from immorality; that every one of you learn how to possess his vessel in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and overreach his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before and have testified. For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. Therefore, he who rejects these things rejects not man but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to us.
Exhortation to Charity:
But concerning brotherly charity there is no need for us to write to you, for you yourselves have learned from God to love one another. For indeed you practise it towards all the brethren all over Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, to make even greater progress. Strive to live peacefully, minding your own affairs, working with your own hands, as we charged you, so that you may walk becomingly towards outsiders, and may need nothing.
At the Second Coming the Dead will Rise:
But we would not, brethren, have you ignorant concerning those that are asleep, lest you should grieve, even as others who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so with him God will bring those also who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we who live, who survive until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself with cry of command, with voice of archangel, and with trumpet of God will descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ will rise up first. Then we who live, who survive, shall be caught up together with them in clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.
First Thessalonians Chapter 5: The Time is Unknown; Be Always Prepared; Obedience, Patience, and Charity; General Admonition; Final Blessing and Greeting.
The Time is Unknown:
But of the times and seasons, brethren, you have no need that we write you, for you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord is to Come as a thief in the night. For when they shall say. “Peace and security,” even then sudden destruction will come upon them, as birth pangs upon her who is with child, and they will not escape.
Be Always Prepared:
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief; for you are all children of the light and children of the day. We are not of night, nor of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as do the rest, but let us be wakeful and sober. For they who sleep, sleep at night, and they who are drunk, are drunk at night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober. Let us put on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God has not destined us unto wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who dies for us in order that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore, comfort one another and edify one another, even as indeed you do.
Obedience, Patience, and Charity:
Now we beseech you, brethren, to appreciate those who labor among you, and who are over you in the Lord and admonish you. Esteem them with a more abundant love on account of their work. Be at peace with them. And we exhort you, brethren, reprove the irregular, comfort the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient towards all men. See that no one renders evil for evil to any man; but always strive after good towards one another and towards all men.
General Admonition:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus regarding you all. Do not extinguish the (Holy) Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. But test all things; hold fast that which is good. Keep yourselves from every kind of evil.
Final Blessing and Greeting:
And may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who called you is faithful and will do this.
Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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