Rejoice Always, Pray Continually

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.

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.

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

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

The act of grieving can produce satisfaction, which comes when the giver sees the recipients gratitude. Some even believe humans can be wired to be generous.

Maybe that’s why Paul, when encouraging the church in Thessalonica to build up their faith community, urged them to “help the weak.”

When we give, we get insight into how God feels. We understand why He’s so delighted to give us His love, and we share in His joy and the satisfaction of blessing others.

He giver is the greatest recipient.

Our Daily Bread – August 6, 2018