More Dos Than Don’ts
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” I Thessalonians 5:11
We all like to get letters from friends, especially words of encouragement and/or good news. Unfortunately, the art of letter writing has just about gone the way of the Edsel due to the popularity of social media, emails, texting, and so forth. It is sad to me that people do not want to take the time to sit down and compose a thoughtful and meaningful letter to friends. A letter on paper many times becomes a keepsake particularly if the one who wrote it has passed away. The Apostle Paul wrote letters, called epistles, to the various churches of which he had a hand in beginning their ministries to the Gentiles. He wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica, Greece, to encourage them to keep on keeping on and to remain faithful. If Paul wrote to an average American church today, he might have the following to say: Build each other up and stop your petty grievances. Refuse to form little social cliques. Esteem your pastor and church leaders highly and serve something for Sunday dinner besides “fried preacher”!
Paul might continue as follows: When you all see other believers acting inappropriately, lovingly remind them as to their commitment to Christ and to thus behave accordingly. Help those who are not as mature in the faith as those of you who have been followers of Christ for some time and help those who are weak and/or less fortunate. Have patience with all people. Sometimes people have to be patient with us. Never seek revenge or a way to “get back” at another for a wrong done against you. Two wrongs definitely do not make a right. Be the adult in the room. Look for the good in every situation and follow that path.
Have joy in your heart at all times knowing that troubles and problems will pass, and that there are better days ahead. Pray all the time. Keep the communication line open between you and the Lord. Develop such a habit of prayer that it’s the first thing you do in any given situation no matter how insignificant the situation appears. God likes to hear from His children just as we like to hear from our children who are grown and on their own. It hurts parents to be ignored, and I know that God, our Father and Creator, doesn’t like to be ignored either.
Be thankful IN all situations, not necessarily thankful FOR all situations. Do not try to squelch the prompting and leading of the Holy Spirit. He only has our best interest at heart. When others prophesy about spiritual matters, test what they say against God’s word. If it agrees with scripture, then trust it, but if it doesn’t, leave it be. Stay away from anything that even suggests evil. Rely on the grace and peace of God to help us live like Christ, and then when He returns, we can stand before Him unashamed.