Pay Attention

DEVOTION
2 THESSALONIANS2
PAY ATTENTION
Thess 3:14-15
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
NIV
Alright then, I guess that is what I am supposed to do. But am I to go around looking for that one that is idle in order to take special note of him? How am I to know who is idle and who is not? How do I tell if someone is not earning his own bread and butter? I think again of the ministries that feed those who do not work, and may even be homeless. How does that fit into this concept? But closer to home I wonder if there are those how fit into this category? I mean after all within the church we all just say hello to each other passing in the foyer or hallway and never really know anything about each other’s life, whether we are or not obeying these instructions regarding not being busy but rather being a busybody. I know I need to that this message to my own heart but I also see here I have a responsibility to my fellow believers if I see them in violation of this instructions which precede this one. Not an easy task, although I do think my book serves as somewhat of a warning on certain issues. I also am not sure how I am supposed to not associate with anyone who does not obey those instructions. Should I just ignore them? Well, first I have to warn them then ignore them. Actually in order or ignore them I first must have been not ignoring them. That is not likely the case. I am not sure I actually involve myself with hardy anyone to start with. I pretty much already ignore most everyone. Sure I say hello, and even shake hands or give a hug, smile and converse about many mundane topics seeming trying to be interested, but that hardly constitutes the opposite of not associating with him. What does it mean to not associate with him? Does simply mean not to socialize with them and if so how do I treat him as a brother while not associating with him? I know I have spoken up rather boldly in some settings, and as a result was not invited back into that little group. Was I being the busybody or the warning brother who was rejected because I did warn, although it was not about this, but rather about something else? I just am not sure how this is all supposed to play out in the post modern church. What I do know is I will have to allow the Spirit to lead. I have to pay attention to the Spirit.