IMITATE WHAT IS GOOD

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Key verse: 18

NIV

Final Instructions

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard(A) among you, who care for you in the Lord(B) and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.(C) 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle(D) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,(E) be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,(F) but always strive to do what is good for each other(G) and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always,(H) 17 pray continually,(I) 18 give thanks in all circumstances;(J) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit.(K) 20 Do not treat prophecies(L) with contempt 21 but test them all;(M) hold on to what is good,(N) 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace,(O) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul(P) and body be kept blameless(Q) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(R) 24 The one who calls(S) you is faithful,(T) and he will do it.(U)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Final Instructions and Benediction

12 We ask you, brothers, (A)to respect those who labor among you and (B)are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. (C)Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish (D)the idle,[a] (E)encourage the fainthearted, (F)help the weak, (G)be patient with them all. 15 See that (H)no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always (I)seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 (J)Rejoice always, 17 (K)pray without ceasing, 18 (L)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 (M)Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise (N)prophecies, 21 but (O)test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may (P)the God of peace himself (Q)sanctify you completely, and may your (R)whole (S)spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at (T)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 (U)He who calls you is faithful; (V)he will surely do it.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Or disorderly, or undisciplined
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The essence of Christian life (12-18) Paul concludes his letter to the Thessalonians with directions for how to live a blameless Christian lifestyle. It includes showing respect, working hard, helping others in a way appropriate to their needs, and patiently bearing with others, never taking revenge. Then what about our inner spiritual life? It can be described very simply as being joyful, prayerful, and thankful. Through prayer, we center our heart and mind on heavenly things. We can know we are doing God's will when we keep a thankful heart no matter what happens. 2. Hope in God's faithfulness (19-24) We should not look down on any good work in our fellowship, but absolutely reject any kind of evil. (19-22). Finally, Paul blesses the church with the blessing of sanctification-that we may be holy through and through, in spirit, soul and body. We struggle with our sinful nature, but we have confidence that it is God's will for us to be sanctified and that he will finish his work.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your good will for me in Christ Jesus to be joyful and thankful, and to become sanctified. Please continue your good work in me to the end.

One Word: Do God's will by giving thanks