Meaningful Life

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work.  They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.  Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work.  And live peacefully with each other.  Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy.  Encourage those who are timid.  Take tender care of those who are weak.  Be patient with everyone.  See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.  Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.  Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said.  Hold on to what is good.  Stay away from every kind of evil. [1 Thessalonians 5.12-22]

Wow, what a mouthful of direction Paul gives in just a few short sentences!  If ever any believer in Jesus has trouble knowing the will of God, here is the place to start!

Here is my 14-bullet-point list of what Paul said:

1. Honor your spiritual leaders
2. Live peacefully with each other
3. Warn the lazy
4. Encourage the timid
5. Care for the weak
6. Be patient with everyone
7. Do good to all (taking no revenge)
8. Be joyful always
9. Pray always.
10. Be thankful in all circumstances
11. Submit to the Holy Spirit
12. Listen to and test prophecies
13. Hold to good
14. Avoid evil

I think if I (we) would take a proactive approach to this list, life would be much more meaningful.  Yes, meaningful.

Father, there are, in fact, many things we as believers can do to live like Jesus.  Help us to recognize the work of Your Spirit in us and submit to that work!