I am glad to be able to post the sermon this week. I've not had a very good week. As I told you previously, I have been sick. I actually had Covid. I recovered from that, but then I came down with a bad lung infection. I'm on a lot of medicine, but I am doing some better. I want to thank everyone for reading the blog and the sermon this week.
In last week's message, we saw that it is the Lord's desire that we be sanctified. That means that we are completely set apart from this world so that we might serve the Lord to the fullest extent possible. We are to work as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to remove the sinful behaviors from our lives. We are to look to Jesus as our guide in all things. We follow Him as Lord, and we do the things that He did and what He commanded us to do.
In our sermon today, we see that Paul speaks about the believers in Thessalonica growing in their love for one another. Paul tells them in verse 9 that they have been taught by God to love one another. This is the new commandment that Jesus gave to His disciples. He told them in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." Jesus taught us to love the Lord with all of our soul, might and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. If we follow Jesus' commandment's of love, we will not have to worry about doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. When we love God and love others, we have fulfilled the Law and the prophets according to the Lord Jesus.
Paul commended the church in Thessalonica because they did have love for one another as well as all of those who were a part of the family of God. Just as we saw in the previous verses, Paul does not want the people to be content where they are. He urges them to grow in love. They are to love more and more.
This is all part of becoming more and more like Jesus as we grow in the grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. Jesus was the man of love. He loved us and gave Himself for us. When we love others in a sacrificial way as Jesus did, we become more like Him. This allows us to have a greater impact in our ministry for the Lord in this world.
I believe that one of the best ways to love others is to remember the words of Jesus. He told us to do unto others as we would have done unto us. If we treat others in this way, we will act out of love and help others. When we seek to serve others instead of ourselves, we are demonstrating the love of Jesus in this world.
Now, Paul goes on to tell the people that they are to lead quiet lives, mind their own business and work with their hands. We should all try to live at peace with everyone. We should seek the ways of peace, but we must also as followers of Jesus seek the ways of justice. This sometimes requires us to confront the powers of oppression in a loving and Christ-like manner.
We are to mind our own business. This to me means that we are not to be involved in an unwanted way in other people's affairs. If we are asked to help others, then of course we should, but we shouldn't try to run everyone's life for them.
Work with your own hands I don't believe implies that Christians have to do some sort of manual labor. I believe that this statement is part of Paul's overall directive to avoid unnecessary controversy and to tend to one's own affairs as far as possible.
Acting in love for one another and living lives that are pleasing to the Lord are important so that we can be an influence on others. When others see that we are living for Jesus, it will cause them to want to know more about the Lord we serve and worship. Let us all strive to love one another and live for Jesus in this world. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please pray that my health will improve. Thank you.
As I am sure you are aware, Queen Elizabeth II died this week. Pray for the people of the UK and for her family at this time.
Pray for an end to coronavirus and other terrible diseases and sicknesses around the world.
Please continue to pray for peace in troubled areas of the world. Pray for Ukraine, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia and Congo. Pray for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Burkina Faso and Turkey. Pray that many will come to know of the love of the Lord Jesus.
Next week, we will continue in our current study. I will post the verses on Monday. If I feel up to it, I will post something midweek. May God bless you all.
No comments:
Post a Comment