Live It Out

“These aren’t commands we have to do, but are ways in which we get to live.”

“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (ESV)

Admonish, encourage, help, and be patient. These are all verbs in the passage indicating an ongoing action that believers are to take part in. These are far more than mere suggestions, but instead are commands to be followed. 

What’s your first impression of these commands? Do they seem doable? Or are they seemingly impossible? Are they just another thing to add to the unending list of your daily tasks? Do you feel that you are the one who needs encouraging instead of you being the encourager? No matter how you answer, take heart. First off, all of your first impressions are valid. Still, we are commanded to live out this verse. 

However, we are not living out its commands on our own strength, for that would be impossible. Instead, we are to rely on the grace of Jesus and the Holy Spirit living inside of us to admonish, encourage, help, and be patient.

Which of the four commands from the verse are you drawn to? Which of the commands would you rather steer clear from? I find myself thinking it would be most life-giving to encourage the fainthearted and help the weak. But when it comes to admonishing the idle and being patient with all, I could skip those parts. The idle seem lazy, and I don’t have much patience for that. And when Paul says “all” he means everyone. Every. Single. Person. Regardless of your impression of them, how you feel about them, how they rub you the wrong way. It doesn’t matter. You are commanded to be patient with them too.

So lean into the strength and grace given to us in Christ. Live out these commands through the Spirit. These aren’t commands we have to do, but are ways in which we get to live.

Action Steps:

• Identify one part of the verse you feel drawn to and live it out today. Identify one part of the verse you are not drawn to and live it out today.

Written by Michelle, mom of one