I Thessalonians 5:14-18
"And we urge you brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in
Christ Jesus."
If you turn on the news any day at any time, you will inevitably hear what anger has caused in someones life; the drastic affects of broken hearts and broken lives. There are days it pains me to turn on the television. I feel tremendous grief over the condition of the World around me.
However, I have a choice to make each and every day. Am I going to allow the struggles of the World to drag me down and overwhelm me? Or, am I going to stand up and affect change in my little corner of the World.
I love this passage because it gives us clear instructions on how to create a movement of love and peace all around us. And it all begins in you! I can't ask someone else to change if I myself am unwilling to make the effort. We all have days where anger can overtake us. However, what are we going to do with it? I like to take a negative situation and turn it around for God's Glory. Channel our hurt and anger into making a difference in someone else's life. Take the attention off of the negative all around you and make someone else smile, give them the gift of hope. If you ask me, that's what Jesus would do.
Jesus suffered greatly, yet His only thought was you and your life eternally. If we are going to truly follow after God, we must follow His example. Become a peacemaker. Everyday make effort to live your life according to God's Word and encourage others to do the same. Be a light to the World around you. When I am struggling, I can't help quoting Spock from Star Trek in my mind. OK... Yes...Big Geek and Proud. But I love when Spock says, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one." It's true! I may not feel like being a peacemaker today, but the needs of those around me are far more important than what I may be going through.
And there is something cool that happens when we bless other people. This feeling of pure joy and excitement will flood your being as you follow Jesus' example of service to others. There is really nothing like blessing people and seeing their lives transformed.
So follow the verse and Rejoice, Pray, and Give thanks! There is really nothing like doing the will of God. When you begin to see the lives of people around you change, you will totally forget about your own mess. It just won't matter anymore!
Blessings!
Jesus suffered greatly, yet His only thought was you and your life eternally. If we are going to truly follow after God, we must follow His example. Become a peacemaker. Everyday make effort to live your life according to God's Word and encourage others to do the same. Be a light to the World around you. When I am struggling, I can't help quoting Spock from Star Trek in my mind. OK... Yes...Big Geek and Proud. But I love when Spock says, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one." It's true! I may not feel like being a peacemaker today, but the needs of those around me are far more important than what I may be going through.
And there is something cool that happens when we bless other people. This feeling of pure joy and excitement will flood your being as you follow Jesus' example of service to others. There is really nothing like blessing people and seeing their lives transformed.
So follow the verse and Rejoice, Pray, and Give thanks! There is really nothing like doing the will of God. When you begin to see the lives of people around you change, you will totally forget about your own mess. It just won't matter anymore!
Blessings!
