1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-22 - REJOICE,PRAY,GIVE THANKS

 S - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NIV

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.   Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

O/A- A person becomes a true Christian when he realizes that he is a sinner and he needs Christ as his saviour.  Upon this realization the life changes and the Holy Spirit takes over to guide in each and every instance. We learn to rejoice at all times in spite of circumstances because we know that Christ is in control.  The 'wonderful counselor' teaches us to hold on to what is good and reject evil. This help us to achieve the aim of Christian life that is  to transform into His image.

P - Heavenly Father, Thank You for teaching me that I need to rejoice at all times. Many a times I have fallen short and complained of my circumstances.  You have wonderfully guided me till now and will do so in the future.  Help me to submit myself to you and your guidance and submit all my worries to you in prayer.  Enable me to heed to the Holy Spirit and never quench Him.
In Jesus precious name
Amen.

1 Thes 5:12-15 LOVE AND CARE FOR EACH OTHER

S – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 NIV

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.

 O/A - Today's verses help us to deal with people around us in the Christian way
Acknowledge the ones who teach, care and admonish us, to live in peace with each other, to warn the idle,to encourage the weak. Christ has taught us only to love and thats what we need to do. The people who we are in our lives and who we come across are not by chance but has been placed by God. Each encounter should enable us to reflect the Christ in us.
                 
P - Precious Heavenly father, I pray for all the people in my sphere of influence. Help me to deal with each of them as your word teaches. Enable me to be guided by the Holy Spirit in all such dealings. Moreover enable me to share your love with them and bring them to your kingdom.
In Jesus mighty name
Amen.

1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-3 Faith, Love and Hope

 S - 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silas^[a] and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace and peace to you. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith² We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. ³ We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

O – Work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, endurance inspired by hope in Christ

A – As my desire to evangelize grows and the fear of my weaknesses rise, through this verse the Holy Spirit strengthens me by saying that what ever I do is because of my faith in Christ. This is the first step -  Complete faith in Christ. My labor should be prompted from love for the people who I talk to, not as a responsibility to spread the good news but out of love for them – unconditional love. My persuasion or endurance should be inspired by the hope I have in Christ and not based on the world or even on my own weaknesses.

P – Precious Lord, I submit myself to you. I realize that I have a lot of weaknesses which hinder me from spreading your good news. But you taught me here that the faith I have in you, the godly love you have instilled in me and the unwavering hope that I have in you is enough to cover my weaknesses. Strengthen and equip me Lord for your kingdom. Thank you for the platform that you are already providing me. Help me to be guided by the Holy Spirit at all times.

In Jesus mighty name I pray ,

AMEN