1 Thessalonians 5:23-28
Paul comes full circle at the end of his letter. He started by saying "grace and peace to you" in chapter one and he ends by talking about the God of peace and praying that "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." The key ideas in this section are: peace, sanctify, the whole person (spirit, soul and body), faithful and grace.
Paul reminds the reader that the work of sanctification is the work of God. In all his other letters he talks about the role that the followers of Christ have in their own sanctification. He talks about putting on Christ and taking of the sinful nature and its desires. He talks about living by the Spirit and not by the sinful nature. It is clear that we have a role to play but it is equally clear that I can only fulfill that role through the power of God (the fruit that Paul calls me to exhibit in my life only comes as I learn to live by the Spirit and he produces that fruit in me). So, here, Paul says that God will sanctify us through and through - that he will keep our soul, spirit and body blameless at the coming of Christ.
Paul emphasizes that God is the God of peace by repeating himself a little bit. When we hear peace we often think in terms of lack of conflict. I live at peace when I am not in conflict with others. Canada is at peace when it is not involved in any wars. Peace, in biblical terms, was much more than that. Peace contained the idea of the ideal of the kingdom of God - a person was at peace when they were experiencing life as God intended for it to be experienced, when life most clearly mirrored life in the garden of Eden. The Hebrew word was "Shalom" and it meant the welfare of the whole person. I think Paul ties into this idea when he speaks of the whole person being santified. It's not just my spirit or my soul or my body but my spirit AND my soul AND my body.
The fact that we, as humans, rebelled against God means that we should not experience Shalom or peace. We deserve God's curse, not his blessing. And if anyone should work to restore Shalom it should be us but Paul reminds us that God is the God of peace - he is the one that worked through Christ on the cross to make peace possible and he is the one at work in our spirits, souls and bodies to allow us to experience peace now. This speaks of his grace - his incredible, unmerited favour! Amazing grace! How sweet the sound...
Showing posts with label 1 Thessalonians 5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Thessalonians 5. Show all posts
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
testing prophecy
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
Paul is bringing his letter to a close by firing off imperatives. The positive list is: rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in everything. The negative list is: do not put out the Spirit's fire, do not treat prophecies with contempt.
This continues Paul's teaching on living in a way that pleases God (from chapter 4). Perhaps I can read a little bit into the Thessalonian situation from what Paul says about the return of Christ: it is possible that they are facing some persecution since the teaching on the return of Christ was supposed to encourage them and build them up. If that's the case, then Paul would be imploring them to find joy and reasons for thankfulness in the midst of hardship.
The common thread in the positive imperatives is that they are to do be done always in all circumstances. This indicates that joy is more than happiness but is a fruit of the Spirit. There is a joy that no circumstance can diminish because in all circumstances we can know that God is in good, he is in control and he loves us very much. I learned a little bit about praying continually on my vacation: my cousins kept a Breakaway magazine in the bathroom and there was an article about practicing God's presence. It said that it would take a lot of work, practice and patience but one of the tips was to take the inner monologue that all of us have and learn to make it a conversation with Christ. This has been helpful to me in the last week or so and I am learning to pray continually.
I am convicted by Paul's command to not treat prophecies with contempt. Being raised in a very conservative branch of Christianity and still finding myself in a fairly conservative branch of Christianity, I am suspicious of prophecy and tend to dismiss much of it. However, Paul equates my contempt of prophecy with extinguishing the fire of the Spirit. This doesn't mean that I have to accept all prophecy as from God but I must respect it enough to test it: to discern what is good and hold on to it and determine what is not of God and reject it.
Paul is bringing his letter to a close by firing off imperatives. The positive list is: rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in everything. The negative list is: do not put out the Spirit's fire, do not treat prophecies with contempt.
This continues Paul's teaching on living in a way that pleases God (from chapter 4). Perhaps I can read a little bit into the Thessalonian situation from what Paul says about the return of Christ: it is possible that they are facing some persecution since the teaching on the return of Christ was supposed to encourage them and build them up. If that's the case, then Paul would be imploring them to find joy and reasons for thankfulness in the midst of hardship.
The common thread in the positive imperatives is that they are to do be done always in all circumstances. This indicates that joy is more than happiness but is a fruit of the Spirit. There is a joy that no circumstance can diminish because in all circumstances we can know that God is in good, he is in control and he loves us very much. I learned a little bit about praying continually on my vacation: my cousins kept a Breakaway magazine in the bathroom and there was an article about practicing God's presence. It said that it would take a lot of work, practice and patience but one of the tips was to take the inner monologue that all of us have and learn to make it a conversation with Christ. This has been helpful to me in the last week or so and I am learning to pray continually.
I am convicted by Paul's command to not treat prophecies with contempt. Being raised in a very conservative branch of Christianity and still finding myself in a fairly conservative branch of Christianity, I am suspicious of prophecy and tend to dismiss much of it. However, Paul equates my contempt of prophecy with extinguishing the fire of the Spirit. This doesn't mean that I have to accept all prophecy as from God but I must respect it enough to test it: to discern what is good and hold on to it and determine what is not of God and reject it.
Monday, July 14, 2008
recognizing the hard working
1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
Paul is concerned about three things: 1) that those who work hard in the local church are not being properly recognized and encouraged; 2) that those who are stumbling and weak in their faith are not being properly helped and 3) that people are taking revenge for wrongs done against them (which is looking out for one's own selfish interests rather than looking out for the good of others). Judging from the amount of time that he spends on each, he is most concerned about the proper recognition of the hard working members of the local church.
Paul lays out a description for those whom the church is to acknowledge: they work hard, they care for the members of the church in the Lord and they admonish the members of the church. He also lays out a description of those whom the church is supposed to help (along with a specific imperative on how to help them): warn the idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with all.
From this passage, I see that God values hard work. From the very beginning of creation, humans were to work in as well as enjoy the garden. Work has been part of our mandate for all of history. From the parables of Jesus we see that faithfulness to God is equated with work: the servants are rewarded for being good and faithful as evidenced by how they put the money to work that they were entrusted with. Until that day when the hard workers will receive their "well done" from Christ, the Church must encourage and recognize them here on earth. I don't think this always means public commendation but we must find ways to acknowledge and encourage the hard working. If God values them, so must we.
I also see that God has a special concern for the weak and immature. He doesn't just abandon people because they don't measure up but warns, encourages and helps them. This reminds me that God is patient. He is patient with me and he wants me to be patient with others. This is where I need God's help. There are definitely times when I get impatient. God, help me to see the work that you are doing and to celebrate the steps, however miniscule, that people are taking towards Christ-likeness. Remind me of your patience with me!
Paul is concerned about three things: 1) that those who work hard in the local church are not being properly recognized and encouraged; 2) that those who are stumbling and weak in their faith are not being properly helped and 3) that people are taking revenge for wrongs done against them (which is looking out for one's own selfish interests rather than looking out for the good of others). Judging from the amount of time that he spends on each, he is most concerned about the proper recognition of the hard working members of the local church.
Paul lays out a description for those whom the church is to acknowledge: they work hard, they care for the members of the church in the Lord and they admonish the members of the church. He also lays out a description of those whom the church is supposed to help (along with a specific imperative on how to help them): warn the idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with all.
From this passage, I see that God values hard work. From the very beginning of creation, humans were to work in as well as enjoy the garden. Work has been part of our mandate for all of history. From the parables of Jesus we see that faithfulness to God is equated with work: the servants are rewarded for being good and faithful as evidenced by how they put the money to work that they were entrusted with. Until that day when the hard workers will receive their "well done" from Christ, the Church must encourage and recognize them here on earth. I don't think this always means public commendation but we must find ways to acknowledge and encourage the hard working. If God values them, so must we.
I also see that God has a special concern for the weak and immature. He doesn't just abandon people because they don't measure up but warns, encourages and helps them. This reminds me that God is patient. He is patient with me and he wants me to be patient with others. This is where I need God's help. There are definitely times when I get impatient. God, help me to see the work that you are doing and to celebrate the steps, however miniscule, that people are taking towards Christ-likeness. Remind me of your patience with me!
Friday, June 27, 2008
will I be surprised?
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
This section continues on from the last part of chapter 4: talking about the return of Christ and the end times. Here, Paul exposits (I don't know if that's actually the right word but as long as no one else does, I think it makes me sound smart!) on another statement of Jesus about the end times: the return of Christ will be like a thief who comes in the night - no one is expecting him, otherwise people would have been ready. He also references another statement that Jesus made that the signs of the end will be like labour pains. I don't know how far to take the comparison. At the very least Jesus and Paul are saying that out of the pain, something great will come (a baby for the woman, the return of Christ for the Christian). However, he could also be saying that the pains and trials will increase in frequency and intensity until the end.
Paul indicates that as children of light we who follow Jesus should not be as surprised by the return of Christ as the rest of the world. I don't think he's saying that we will know exactly when Jesus is coming back but that we won't be as surprised because we should not be asleep and unexpectant. We are awake, alert and watching. We live our lives in faith, love and the hope of salvation as if Christ could actually return at any moment. This doesn't mean that we won't be surprised. It's sort of like playing "peek-a-boo" with Zach - he knows I'm going to stick my head around the corner but he's not sure exactly when so he waits with a huge grin on his face and light dancing in his eyes and if I delay my peek he calls for me. When I finally do poke my head around the corner it is a delightful surprise to him. That's how I should be waiting for Jesus - eager anticipation, light dancing in my eyes. Someday I am going to see Jesus - it doesn't matter if I die (am asleep in verse 10) or am still alive (awake in verse 10)! No wonder Paul tells us to encourage each other with these words.
This section continues on from the last part of chapter 4: talking about the return of Christ and the end times. Here, Paul exposits (I don't know if that's actually the right word but as long as no one else does, I think it makes me sound smart!) on another statement of Jesus about the end times: the return of Christ will be like a thief who comes in the night - no one is expecting him, otherwise people would have been ready. He also references another statement that Jesus made that the signs of the end will be like labour pains. I don't know how far to take the comparison. At the very least Jesus and Paul are saying that out of the pain, something great will come (a baby for the woman, the return of Christ for the Christian). However, he could also be saying that the pains and trials will increase in frequency and intensity until the end.
Paul indicates that as children of light we who follow Jesus should not be as surprised by the return of Christ as the rest of the world. I don't think he's saying that we will know exactly when Jesus is coming back but that we won't be as surprised because we should not be asleep and unexpectant. We are awake, alert and watching. We live our lives in faith, love and the hope of salvation as if Christ could actually return at any moment. This doesn't mean that we won't be surprised. It's sort of like playing "peek-a-boo" with Zach - he knows I'm going to stick my head around the corner but he's not sure exactly when so he waits with a huge grin on his face and light dancing in his eyes and if I delay my peek he calls for me. When I finally do poke my head around the corner it is a delightful surprise to him. That's how I should be waiting for Jesus - eager anticipation, light dancing in my eyes. Someday I am going to see Jesus - it doesn't matter if I die (am asleep in verse 10) or am still alive (awake in verse 10)! No wonder Paul tells us to encourage each other with these words.
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