I Thessalonians 5:12-28  Paul's final words in this 1st letter to the Thessalonians are about how they should conduct themselves.  Challenging words ....

v12-13  Appreciate, esteem, and love those in leadership positions in the church.  Easy to do when these men are wise, faithful, and fair.  Not so easy to do when they are.. human, imperfect, and seem to show favoritism to others... Regardless, we are to "Live in peace with one another".

v 14 - Four things:
1. "..admonish the unruly" - to caution or gently reprove..calling attention to those who are undisciplined or insubordinate.

2. "encourage the fainthearted" I love the word "encourage" in the greek "parakaleo" call near, or invite, pray for , comfort; ( parakletos - the Comforter, the Holy Spirit has this same root..) fainthearted - is actually "little-spirited" or feebleminded, puny in spirit or mind.  When we lack faith or hope or love, we need our brothers and sisters in Christ to come along side of us, draw near to us and comfort us, to pray for us, and to encourage us.

3. "help the weak"  "antechomai" - to hold fast to or support those who are strengthless, feeble, impotent, sick..

4. "be patient with all men"- be long spirited, forbearing, long-suffering - toward all.

v 15 - "See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that with is good for one another and for all men."  Paul expands on this a little in Romans 11 where he exhorts us to  "bless those who persecute you";  "never pay back evil for evil to anyone," but "respect what is right in the sight of all men"; and to not take our own revenge, leaving that for God while we feed our hungry enemy and give them something to drink if they are thirsty. v 21 sums it up for us "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  For when we seek the good of those who have done evil to us, we overcome !

v16-22  -
"Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 
Do not quench the Spirit;
do not despise prophetic utterances, but examine everything carefully;
hold fast to that which is good;
abstain from every form of evil." 

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you and He also will bring it to pass." ( v23-24)

What a wonderful prayer! Without His help, His Spirit at work in us to sanctify us, how could we ever do these things that are pleasing to our Lord?  But He is faithful to bring to pass that which He calls us to do!  Such a precious promise!

Father in heaven, be exalted and glorified in all the earth!  May Your Name be honored and blessed forever and ever.  Come and reign over us, our God. We are citizens of Your Kingdom in heaven and long for the day when You will send the King Jesus to come to earth to reign forever.  May Your will be done fully in our hearts and lives today, we pray in His Name. Amen.