thecrump

Today I finished up my walk through 1 Thessalonians. I have to say I really was blessed by this book. Paul's encouragements and admonitions are wonderful and the Lord has used the text to reveal some stuff in my life that I need to give over to the Lord. So, as I close this book and head on to part 2 of Thessalonians I leave you with the final instructions by Paul. He throws these out in rapid fire succession so I will bullet them for easy viewing:

- respect those who work hard among you (12)
- live in peace with one another (13)
- warn those who are idle (14)
- encourage the timid (14)
- help the weak (14)
- be patient with everyone (14)
- make sure no one pays back wrong for wrong (15)
- be kind to everyone (15)
- be joyful always (16)
- pray continually (17)
- give thanks in all circumstances (18)
- do not quinch the Spirit's fire (19)
- do not treat teaching with contempt (20)
- test everything (21)
- hold onto the good (21)
- avoid every kind of evil (22)

And Paul then concludes the list with a prayer:

"May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." (23-24)

When I first read verse 23 I was a bit overwhelmed because I know there is no way that this man (meaing myself) can keep blamesless till the coming of Christ. But in the context of the verse it makes sense,the prayer of Paul was that God would "sanctify you through and through" leading to the blamelessness of us Christians. While I would say that is still a nearly impossible job, Paul counters with "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." It is God working in me through the Holy Spirit that is sanctifying me until the day I am made perfect.

Awesome.