Love and Peace

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS

LOVE AND PEACE

1 Thess 5:12-15

12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

NIV

This is part of the final remarks of Pauls’ and he wants to impart some additional thoughts or instructions. First, he appears to be making reference to some local pastors as it seems he is talking about a plural number because he uses the word ‘those’ when referring to the ones who what hard among them. Paul had to install some of them as pastors or shepherds as spiritual guides, or spiritual leaders. These men were to admonish or as the Greek word implies, to put in mind, or to caution, or warning. This would then imply these men were in fact overseers, helping to guide the people along the right path. Paul is saying they are to be held in the highest regard in love because of their work. Certainly, we have carried that tradition within our church. In fact, many denominations set apart a month as pastor appreciation month and take up special offers simple to show our love for them. Although that is a good thing to do, it seems Paul is saying this a mindset that we should have for them all the time. We think that is the case in most churches, in fact, many churches are formed around the personality of the Senior Pastor. Nevertheless, we need to regard them in love. Paul goes on to admonish us all to live in peace with one another. We wonder why he would have to emphasize that point. Is it possible that some believers do not live in peace with each other? Would that then mean there may be some strife or tension between believers? We find that difficult to believe, yet if Paul, under the influence of the Spirit, makes it a point to instruct us to live in peace, we may not be doing it totally. There are more instructions, more urges, but we think we will deal with next time. For now, we have enough to contend with in showing our love to our pastor and living in peace with each other.