BROADCASTS.com

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 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. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15)

Paul now turns to conclude the letter. \xa0He does so by gathering up the letter\u2019s contents\u2014repeating them in a flurry of staccato commands that speak very directly and practically to the life of the church.

The Thessalonians have been commended for living in order to please God and for loving one another well. \xa0In both cases they were encouraged to do so more and more. \xa0These encouragements came with warnings that the rejection of the apostle\u2019s teaching amounted to rejection of God, but they also came with the reminder and hope that \u201cyour daily life may win the respect of outsiders.\u201d \xa0The world was watching, and by their way of life together, the Thessalonians were preaching.

Now Paul reminds them of these things. \xa0He calls them to acknowledge and hold a high regard for their leaders\u2014those who work, care, and admonish as the apostles have done through their teaching. \xa0Like the work of the apostles, the work of every Christian leader\u2014when carried out faithfully\u2014is an expression of God\u2019s own work, care, and admonishment among the community. \xa0And as God\u2019s own work\u2014even though the admonishment bits might be hard to swallow\u2014it ought always to be understood as a word and work meant to grow us up to maturity in Christ.

Just like leaders are an expression of God\u2019s work within the congregation, so the congregation itself is an expression of God\u2019s work in the world. \xa0As such, it is important how the Thessalonians or any Christians still today conduct themselves. \xa0So come the next line of commands to \u201clive in peace with one another.\u201d

This involves engaging those who are idly disengaged (and therefore disruptive) by encouraging them to get involved in productive pursuits\u2014participating in God\u2019s own work in the world until the day that Jesus comes again. \xa0Our work is participation in God\u2019s work\u2014harkening back to the Genesis commands to steward, work, and care for this world.

There are other threats to our participation in God\u2019s work though\u2014division and conflict, disease and discouragement. \xa0So the call to be patient with one another, to help the weak, to encourage the disheartened, to defuse conflict before it gets out of hand, and to always strive for each other\u2019s good, and indeed for the good of the society around them. \xa0

In these ways, the Thessalonian\u2019s work joins up with God\u2019s own work and preaches God\u2019s kingdom gospel ever louder and ever further to a world longing to hear such good news of healthy leadership, divisions bridged, the weak upheld, and the good of all generously and unselfishly striven for. \xa0

By God\u2019s grace and work among us, may our own lives and church preach just that word.

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together\u2014spirit, soul, and body\u2014and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he\u2019ll do it! The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you! (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24,28 The Message).

\xa0