1 Thessalonians 5:14
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those that are lazy. Encourage those that are timid. Take tender care of those that are weak. Be patient with everyone. (NLT)
Talking about stepping on some toes. How can you tell someone they are lazy in the lord? I think this devotion was geared toward the spiritual leaders of the church but it touch my heart when I read it because at times it is difficult to distinguish between idleness and timidity. Two people may be doing nothing, one out of laziness, the other out of shyness or fear of doing something wrong. The key to ministry is sensitive : sensing the condition of each person and offering the appropiate remedy for each situation. (By the way that last statement was taken out of my study section of my bible...lol however it is true.) It remains true that we can't help effectively until we know the problem. You can't apply the medicine until you know where the wound is.
Below are some other points I got out of my study section but we can apply them in our own personal walks when trying to witness to others. The first one has got to be the hardest but done in a loving manner at the right time could turn up good results.
1. Warn those who are unruly-those who won't keep in step but insist on disturbing the peace of the church by their irresponsible behavior. Here the unruly are those who refuse to work. They are the same as those described in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12, walking disorderly, not working, but being busybodies.
You know the ones that come up with the great ideas but refuse to see it out.
2. Comfort the fainthearted-those who need constant exhortation to rise above their difficulties and go on steadfastly for the Lord. Concerning the KJV rendering, Comfort the feeble-minded, Ockenga remarks: "If the word meant feeble-minded we would still comfort them. They seem to gather when the gospel is preached." And isn't this a tribute to the gospel and to the Christian church? At least there is one sphere where they find sympathy, love, and consideration.
Some people need more help than others to overcome or rise above their difficulties.
3. Uphold the weak-that is, help those who are spiritually, morally, or physically weak. Spiritual and moral support of those who are weak in the faith is probably the main idea, though we should not rule out financial help as well.
It is up to us to uphold the weak... pray for them, be there for them when they just need someone to talk to, physically help when needed and last but certainly not least help someone in financial need.
4. Be patient with all-show the grace of longsuffering when others tend to irritate and provoke.
Even though some may irritate us or try to provoke us in some way.....we've got to be PATIENT.
Well this turn out to be harder than I realized when I first starting posting this blog. Will you step on toes or be the one wearing steal toed boots ???? Something to ponder on today.....how will we act or react ?????
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2 comments:
I liked the idea of even just praying for those that are weak. Instead of having a critical spirit or getting weary in our own efforts - we can take them to the Lord. Good stuff.
Great message today - I hold to hold myself accountable by not going overboard at Lowe's this morning. Once you put yourself out there blogging, you think about things before you act on them. Isn't that the way we should be before God everyday?
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