The One Who Calls You Is Faithful

And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

Have you ever been under intense stress and pressure? Have there been times in your life when you were so overburdened by tasks and responsibilities that there was simply no breathing space to prepare you for your service to God?

The apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to give their all for God. They were to exhort, warn, comfort, rejoice, pray, and express their gratitude to God – among other things. We too should always do our best in our Christian life and service. But when pressure comes and we just don’t have the time we feel we need, we should do the best we can and then prayerfully trust God’s faithfulness.

Be faithful – and leave the results to God.

Our Daily Bread – September 6, 2008