¹² 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. 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 and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

 ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil.

 ²³ 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. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

 ²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us. ²⁶ Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

 ²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5 : 12-28

Galatians 1 verse 10 asks if I am “trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” and then says that “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” 

I have done this………it’s easy! But, I have to lie to you and to myself in order to keep those balls juggling……

Ephesians 4 verse 25 says “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully…….” 

In this struggle to seek only God’s approval and to speak truthfully I have become weary……….and, a little battered………if only I just spoofed and lied then it would be ok right?

Proverbs 29 verse 25 says “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”

So, I’m wrestling with this right now! I’m wrestling with the realisation that seeking God’s approval, not pleasing people, speaking truthfully………not fearing man and instead trusting in the Lord…………is difficult and painful…….but, being a ‘servant of Christ‘ is far greater.