GOD’S WILL FOR US IN CHRIST JESUS

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Key verse: 16-18

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

These verses contain Paul’s final instructions to the people of Thessalonica, to whom he had written this letter. They contain his instructions for what the people of that province should do as they wait for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. But they are also excellent instructions for us! For we too, as Christians, are patiently waiting for the second coming of the Lord. And we know that he will. It is only a matter of time.

So, what should we do as we patiently wait for our Lord? We can acknowledge (be thankful for) those who work hard in the Lord, our shepherds and Bible teachers, who encourage us and who also admonish us (when we stray from God’s word). We should all live peacefully with each other and not fall into incessant quarreling. We can encourage and help those who are disheartened or weak. We can always strive to do good—not just amongst ourselves, but for anyone we meet.

We rejoice always. We pray continually. And we give thanks, no matter if we are in plenty or in want. Paul learned that secret. And so should we, for that is the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, we know the Lord Jesus Christ will return in your time. Help us to wait patiently. In the meantime, help us to rejoice, pray, and give thanks continually.

One Word: Rejoice, pray, and give thanks