Feeding through Thessalonians . . .

1 Thessalonians 3:4-7 >

Paul and Silvanus and Timothy say they told the Thessalonians that they would "suffer tribulation". We will suffer for the gospel, for believing in and preaching the death of Jesus for our sins, and preaching His resurrection from the dead. And we love any and all people and are ready to forgive and adopt any evil person; so ones will attack us, for this. Ones want us to be only or mainly about them; but, even in our marriages, I understand, we encourage and even correct one another to love any and all people and not to make each other or our children our love idols. So, Satanic people who do not know how to love will attack us for loving unselfishly and because we do not allow them to use us for what they want.

And we have people who claim to be Christian, but who are desperate to have some one companion to spoil them and give them what they want. So . . . they, too, might criticize us for not going along with them; selfish lovers may reject us because we challenge them to learn how to love any and all people and not only try to have a favorite to use.

So, we are not persecuted only because of a few moral rules. However, we need to have rules for ourselves, so we do not do what is wrong.

1 Thessalonians 3:5-6, to me, means that Paul and Silvanus and Timothy got very concerned about how the Thessalonians were doing. They had ministered for them to get saved, but then they went on to minister elsewhere. But . . . it got in their hair > they couldn't just have "faith" and believe God to take care of the Thessalonians.

Our Father wants us to do things as family, not to just minister and then leave people. So, He had it so Paul and Silvanus and Timothy could not stand being away from the Thessalonians and not know how they were doing. I can see that God wanted them to get all the good news about how well the Thessalonians were being blessed . . . so they could be encouraged about how successful God made their ministry He wanted them to see how there can be results in people who trust in Jesus, and that Christian ministering is not all about evil people just rejecting them and making them suffer and trying to kill them.

They needed the Thessalonians. The apostles had been suffering for Jesus, and now the Thessalonians were under attack. So, they could help and support each other . . . but not only comforting each other, but sharing as family in love In Christianity, we have so much more than only surviving trouble; we have God and all we can enjoy in His own love with each other > Romans 5:5, John 17:22-26.

And we have 1 Thessalonians 3:8 >

"For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord."

Paul and Silvanus and Timothy are great disciples; yet, they say they live "if" the Thessalonians "stand fast in the Lord."

So, does this actually mean that Paul and Silvanus and Timothy depend on the Thessalonians to stand fast in the Lord, in order for the Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to stay alive in Jesus?? The Bible does say we in Jesus are "members of one another" (Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:25). So, like how members of a body depend on each other to stay alive, does God have us so we depend on one another to stay alive in Jesus?

"But we all have a free will; others don't decide what happens to us and what we do."

"But if we have trusted in Jesus, we are not on our own, any more. We are no longer in our old free will."

"And it says that while we had our own wills, we were 'dead'. It says how God,

"even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)," (Ephesians 2:5)

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10 >

"For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?"

So, Paul and Silvanus and Timothy had great joy about the Thessalonians who are suffering tribulation. A number of people would be very upset and out of sorts, if ones they love were suffering trouble. But, even though these Thessalonians are suffering hate and attack from enemies of God, Paul and Silvanus and Timothy have great joy for them and because of them. And this is while Paul and Silvanus and Timothy themselves have been getting persecuted.

So, God's joy is stronger than all the trouble which Satan brings against us.

And they do not allow Satan and his evil to decide how they were!!

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

However . . . if we do things in our own ego, we can be in weakness so things get the better of us and we do not have joy. And if we do things in ego, our troubles can be a consequence of what we have taken it on our own selves to do. We need to trust in the LORD and not lean on our own understanding > Proverbs 3:5-6.

But if we obey how God cares for us and guides us in His grace, we can take "pleasure" in the troubles which come against us because were are serving God > like Paul learned to do > 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 > Paul had that "thorn in the flesh" "messenger of Satan" messing with him; and, even though Paul had such apostolic power and faith to cast out devils and to heal, still he could not get rid of that thorn messenger; he even prayed three times for the Lord to take away his problem.

But I can see Jesus was not about to give Paul a miracle of convenience!

"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Paul needed to learn to always do things in God's grace, so that Satan could not effect him. But while Paul did things in ego, he was in weakness so that thorn demon could parry past Paul's egotistical defenses and inject Paul's puffed-up ego with frustration, depression, nasty angry reacting, shame, unforgiveness, and bitterness and anxiety. But then Paul had that little talk with Jesus, and then was when he got the real message of that thorn demon's messing.

So, Paul also is saying he needed correction. And here they are saying the Thessalonians, though they are so great and doing good, still they need more correction, and Paul and Silvanus and Timothy are praying for this, including how they with God can help the Thessalonians >

"night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith"

So, again, they are showing how much they care for the Thessalonians . . . including by praying for them. So, I can see that loving people includes praying for them . . . caring for them in prayer. Well, God can do so much better for any of us, than we can even try to do for each other!!! So, we really love each other, by giving each other to God, in prayer . . . love's prayer.

And they say they want to "perfect what is lacking in your faith". So, to me this means that Paul and Silvanus and Timothy are saying that the Thessalonians need what is still lacking in their faith > they need correction which brings God's perfection . . . even though they were doing so well and even though they were suffering because of standing for Jesus. They were not perfect, then.

So, I can see, that this means that even if we are doing very well with Jesus and loving one another, still we, also, are not perfect. And we are lacking in our faith, therefore. So, we still always will need correction. And because Paul and Silvanus and Timothy really loved the Thessalonians, they could see their need that they still had, for correction. And because they loved them, they wanted to visit with them so they could help the Thessalonians to get more of our Father's correction.

Hebrews 12:4-11 shows how we all need more and more of our Father's correction, and therefore we need to actively pray and seek for His correction, knowing it will not be delightful, "but painful", to go through His correction > yes, LORD our Father, please grieve our selfish nature with Your correction, and change us more and more into how Your love cures our character > 1 John 4:17. This scripture shows us that because God loves us, He so greatly corrects us; so if we truly love one another, we help one another to get all the correction which our Father does with His own children.

We actively seek this correction in prayer.

If the Thessalonians needed what was lacking in their faith, then surely we all need the correction of His love's perfection of our faith > "faith working through love", Paul says in Galatians 5:6. So, faith is not only about ideas and beliefs and outward practices; but faith has to do with how we become in God's own love, and how He has us becoming pleasing to Him like Jesus is so pleasing, while also we discover how You, LORD, have us loving one another and caring for any and all people as ourselves.

So, faith is certainly not only about getting miracles of convenience!

So, thank You so much for supplying us with joy and thanksgiving to You, and joyful caring for one another, and alive hope for any evil person, at all . . . like how Jesus on the cross had such hope for all of us

"Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you." (1 Thessalonians 3:11)

So, they were depending on God to direct them, to make the way for them to get to the Thessalonians.

And I notice how they say may God "Himself" direct them. I see this shows how God would personally guide them. Whatever God wants with us, He personally takes care of this, makes sure this comes about exactly how He pleases. This includes in us, how He works to have us His way and doing all He desires >

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

So, in us He personally takes care of how He wants us to be willing, what He has us will and then succeed in doing . . . with Him.

And I consider that being directed to the Thessalonians included how in their hearts God would bring them together more and more as one in His love, in His Spirit, so they would be together, even when absent in body.

"that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love" (in Colossians 2:2)

"For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ." (Colossians 2:5)

brinny said:

The words "knit together" reminds me of the verse where God knit us together in our mother's womb...

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amen . . . excellent . . . thank you

And I think of how it says,

"My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you," (Galatians 4:19)

So - - - Jesus Himself is being formed in each of us, as our new inner Person ! ! !

I understand that the Holy Spirit is flowing through us to form into Jesus . . . like how the liquid of a mother's blood crosses her baby's placenta, then flows to form into her baby.

And Jesus says, that each of us "'who believes as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit" (in John 7:37-39). So, I see how the Holy Spirit is flowing through us, as rivers of living . . . of loving . . . waters > "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

The Holy Spirit of God's own love is flowing through each of us and is forming into Jesus in each of us. So, it is like how God uses a mother's blood liquid to make the eyes, heart, skin, blood, liver, bones and all else of a wiggling, squiggling, giggling baby!

But, "of course", we all are one, in Jesus . . . each one a part . . . a member . . . of His body. So, we are not just a bunch of little hero Jesus Christ's, each on one's own. But we are all "members of one another" (Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:25). I understand, then, that we grow with each other > no one becomes stronger without the other parts becoming stronger . . . like how an arm can not become strong without the shoulder also becoming stronger, and the heart being healthy depends on the liver and lungs being healthy.

So we need each other how You, O God, have this work. Thank You, in the name of Jesus Your Son ! ! !

"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you," (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

> "just as we do to you" > So, Paul and Silvanus and Timothy expected the Thessalonians to love, "just as" Paul and Silvanus and Timothy loved the Thessalonians. They were an example, which God expected the Thessalonians to follow. So, God does not want for there to be only certain super-hero super-spiritual saints over others. But there is only one thing God can do, in us . . . make us all loving like His example leaders have been.

This is not only an "ideal"; this is basic of what God Himself does in us. We may not now know what this means, but God does, and He is able to do this with us, also >

"so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all is saints." (1 Thessalonians 3:13)

So, our being holy and blameless has to do with how the Lord makes us "increase and abound in love to one another and to all" like our examples So, this is a basic of being a Christian . . . what You our Father succeed at doing in us Your children.

And it says He does this in our "hearts"; so this is not only about outwardly changing our behavior and what we say.

"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you," (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

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"so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all is saints." (1 Thessalonians 3:13)

So, our being holy and blameless has to do with how the Lord makes us "increase and abound in love to one another and to all" like our examples

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As we grow in God's love, we grow in how His love is blameless and holy in us. And our Apostle Paul has said, also >

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation" (in Philippians 2:14-16)

So, we become holy and blameless by how our Father establishes us in His own holy and blameless love, and by stopping our complaining and arguing which are anti-love. As we stop our complaining and arguing, we can get stronger and more real in God's love which makes us "blameless and harmless, children of God without fault" . . . even right "in the midst of" this world's "crooked and perverse generation". So, with God we gain this even while there are evil circumstances around us. We don't need to change our surroundings, then, but we trust You, God our Father, to change us

"Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;" (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

So . . . even though the Thessalonians were doing so well, still Paul says they need to "abound more and more".

"And they were suffering, they were being attacked, but Paul says for them to abound much more."

"Do not let evil people and problems have power over you, then, to keep you from abounding in God's love and joy and peace."

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

Where I am, it seems common for people to be having deep problems while claiming to be Christians. And I see a pattern > ones have been going after the lives they want for themselves; and so they are weak in seeking what they want for themselves; in their weakness they can suffer various deep emotional and spiritual problems and not know how to relate in love . . . since they are investing their effort in getting what they want, choosing who they want to use for what they want, then getting hurt.

But, for anyone who is doing well . . . Paul is saying, perhaps > "Don't ease up because you see you are doing better than others who say they are Christians; but grow more, 'abound more and more'." And our example can spread to make others the same way, howsoever God makes this work!!!

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)

I have suffered because of doing my so-called Christian things in the weakness of my own ego. But I would be more criticizing, instead of moping like a victim; so in my sinning I have been more a predator type, and not so much like a victim sinner. But now I see how the "victim" people can be getting themselves into their own traps > and trapping is being a predator. I mean there are people who set up the lives they want for their own selves, but without making sure with God about what they do and who they have relationships with, and then what they have prepared for themselves turns out to be a trap that snaps on their own selves.

And they can be very clever to talk their way out of admitting what they have done. And they can get very nasty and even blame God.

But according to what we are reading here in Thessalonians, there have been everyday Christians . . . not only the big-name apostles . . . who have been abounding in the Lord and His love.

"Be gentle and humble; grow more."

God bless you; it is good to see you

"how you ought to walk and to please God" (in 1 Thessalonians 4:1)

So, God wants us to please Him. I think that pleasing is personal . . . so we are relating personally with God, in order to please Him . . . in personal and sensitive sharing with Him. So, God does not want us to do sacrifices which we invent and do at some distance from Him, doing what we can theoretically think God would like.

But in order to please God, we need to personally submit to Him and discover how He has us becoming and what He has us doing. He knows what is pleasing to Him; we need to submit to Him so He makes us pleasing and doing what God in His heart knows He really desires.

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

So, our Father in us works to get all He knows He desires with each of us. He works in our willing; if we are pleasing God, we are not making ourselves will what we can suppose He wants; but all is in submission to how He rules us >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

So, while we are deeply pleasing our Father, we are in His peace with Heaven's own goodness of love and sweetly sensitive and intimate and satisfying joy.

So, we are pleased, too, while we are pleasing to Him

And this goes with how our Apostle Paul says to walk >

"And walk in love, as Christ also has love us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)

Jesus on the cross was "sweet-smelling" to our Father > even while He was making such a sacrifice with such pain and suffering, "He did not abandon being sweetly-pleasing to our Heavenly Father who can be pleased only by what is Heavenly."

So, if we are making sacrifices but getting into a stink about not being recognized and followed and helped . . . God can smell this. Jesus does not have us making sacrifices in witch we waste ourselves in stress and hate and angry nasty reacting and disappointment and frustration and unforgiveness and bitterness and being self-righteous like we are the only ones being "responsible" and the only ones doing anything in our churches. But God first deeply satisfies us in His Heaven-quality beauty and quality of love, then He guides us to do all He desires in love.

"Let all that you do be done with love." (1 Corinthians 16:14)

And this love is perfectly satisfying, and with His perfect guiding; so we are pleased, along with our Father, while He satisfies and guides us; and His guiding is reliable.

If someone tells me he or she is "responsible" and young people don't "get it". I offer > that if God really has blessed you to become a responsible and caring person > this is a special gift which not just anyone has. And it is required > to whom much is given, much is required > you are expected to help those who do not understand responsibility; and it can take a while for someone to get it, with your patient nurturing. But with God you get results

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;" (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

So, it is important to be moral. I understand this includes in my mind and feelings and how I react . . . how in God's love I am busy with loving, so I am not using women to look at and for sexual sensations. Love does not have us using anyone.

So, as we grow in this loving, we are sanctified . . . made holy in how God's love is and has us living

"that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor," (1 Thessalonians 4:4)

I think that part of knowing how to possess your own vessel is that you put God first. And be wise to the fact that lusts for pleasure can keep us away from loving. Pleasure seeking can be degrading, not only in our bodies; but while we are mainly about getting a treasure pleasure, we can be not in love which would make us strong against painful things of personality torments. Our weakness for pleasure can be also moonlighting as weakness for pain and suffering.

And for people with sexual pleasure as a treasure, I think I have seen how people can make their identity about whatever they treasure for pleasure. Having "male" and "female" identities can be because ones make an idol of sexual pleasure and the body parts used to get it. Also, sexual preference can be considered to be an identity; but the preference, really, is for the pleasure of sexual sensations. But, instead, we need our identity to be that we are children of God and with no other identity, really > Galatians 3:28.

"not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;" (1 Thessalonians 4:5)

I understand that lust can have our attention to pleasure, instead of first caring for each and every person. So, there can be lust in marriage, also. Lust, I understand, is dominating and dictatorial, driving and demanding; but love is tender and sensitive and first about caring for and enjoying and appreciating one's spouse.

And there is lust for other sorts of pleasures. And enough can not be enough while we go after things in lust and not in God's love. Only God's love can deeply satisfy us.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 >

"But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another," (1 Thessalonians 4:9)

So, to me it looks like Paul is saying that God Himself personally teaches each of us to love one another.

I can see this teaching includes deeper than words, how God in us changes us to love; He demonstrates in us how to be in love, even by making us more and more how He is in love >

"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

In us, God is our example > He in His own love in us is our example of how to be and relate in love >

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

One time, I was very angry against my mother. But then I experienced God showing me how He is so unbelievably wonderfully glorious and kind and sweet and pleasant and gentle and humble and compassionate in His love. And then I realized, "This is not how I am being with my mother." So, His example in me convicted me and encouraged me

Vanillasoftserve said:

I just wanted to say thanks! God bless

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God bless you, too, Vanilla Soft Serve I'm glad to wake up to meet you, this morning. And welcome to Christian Forums. I would say we do have real Jesus people here, who are good examples of how to relate and share in love; so, even if there can be ones who are not respectful and kind, it can be worthwhile to stay and share so we can be blessed with whoever is our good example. And something you share could be good for a guest reader who is not writing anything, here. You have encouraged me Every child of God can be and do good to other children of God . . . however God uses each of us. So, thank you, too

"But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;" (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)

Paul says the Thessalonians are loving "toward all the brethren" > he calls God's people "brethren", which can help us see how we are family. We are called "saints", in Ephesians 1:1; so yes we in Jesus are "saints" . . . "and faithful", Paul says in Ephesians 1:1. Well, ones of us might not be so sure we are being "faithful" to our Groom Jesus, but we can trust You, God our Father, to correct and mature us to become more and more sound and real in our character so we are faithfully loving the way You desire for us to love, and not have relationships with lusts and nasty and negative anger and frustration and worry and hurry and unforgiveness. But >

"Let all that you do be done with love." (1 Corinthians 16:14)

We trust You, O God, in the name of Jesus, to cure us and change us so we are really Your way in love with holiness.

And we are "called the children of God", our Apostle John does say, in 1 John 3:1.

So, this can show how in Jesus we are family with God our Father and Jesus our Groom and the Holy Spirit and one another "brethren".

So, Paul and Silvanus and Timothy are not talking down to people or writing down to us, but they consider us to be their own brothers and sisters!!! And we have already seen how Paul and Silvanus and Timothy say they related with and cared for the Thessalonians, as family > 1 Thessalonians 2:6-12. They cared for the Thessalonians like a mother cares for her children or a father cares for his children. And I understand this is our example for all of us, how to become in how we relate with one another. But, "of course", this means in how we really are . . . not only how we talk and show and make gestures and tone our voices! >

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

So, here . . . again . . . we see, also, how John calls us "little children" . . . family . . . not like we are inferior, not talking down on us, but humbly as family together. But I have been one to want to impress people and feel superior with Bible knowledge . . . seeming, perhaps, so Bible smart, but love stupid! So, thank You, God, for my personal examples who have been helping us.

more about 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 >

It says that the Thessalonians have loved. "But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more." God keeps giving "increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) > with God, we get into more and better as we keep growing in His love. So . . . what is better?

Jesus is "gentle and lowly in heart" (in Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus growing in us (Galatians 4:19) makes us more and more deeply gentle and humble in our nature. God's love keeps on curing us so that more and better we relate the way Jesus has us sharing >

"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," (Ephesians 4:2)

Jesus in us is "gentle and lowly in heart" and His gentle and humble love cures us to become also more and more gentle and humble in sharing with Jesus in us

And this makes us fragrantly pleasing to our Father, more and more like Jesus His Son is so sweetly pleasing to Him. We grow in this, and we ourselves enjoy the fragrance of Jesus while this is in us > 2 Corinthians 2:14-15. So, we trust You to do this in us, O Father, because we love You and desire to please You.

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

So, it is not about only doing things God wants. Our sacrifices can be just gestures. God cares how we are becoming.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 >

"that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing." (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

Hmm . . . so God wants us "to lead a quiet life". And we have 1 Peter 3:4 >

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

So, our quiet life needs to include how our inner person is deeply and pleasantly quiet. Ones can be silent, stewing in negative and nasty things. Plus, ones can use the "silent treatment" against others. But these are not what quiet means.

A very highly functional and active engine can be very quiet, because it is so efficient and well designed.

Notice how "the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" is "incorruptible" > can not be corrupted by negative and nasty and dominating and raging feelings and emotions > "you will find rest for your souls", Jesus does say, in Matthew 11:28-30.

So, living quietly has to do with quality, not only how we are acting and toning our voices.

Paul and Silvanus and Timothy in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 said:

"that you also aspire to lead a quiet life

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Quiet - - people can fear quiet. Because when we start to get quiet, our quiet can be attacked by boredom and loneliness and worries and hurries and depression and confusion. But in quietness we can be with God in His own gentle and quiet love. So, it can be that Satan will attack our quietness, in order to make us afraid of going there. There is, then, always spiritual battle in order for us to be gentle and humble in quietness which is pleasant and even joyful. Only God is able to win this battle > our own efforts and methods of meditation and self-control and self-medication can not change our nature to become quiet in God's love.

Excitements can be used to bribe us away from settling down and being sober in the LORD. And lusts can try to tempt us after pleasures, rather than the pleasantness of God's love.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

Yes, we can be devoured also by unforgiveness and bitterness and hatred and frustration and arguing.

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

So, trusting God includes not fearing quiet

In 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 >

"to mind your own business"

Does this mean to have nothing at all to do with other people's things . . . needs, problems, interests and enjoyments? I think this has to do with trying to control other people and limit others to what we can accept and suppose they are able to do.

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

We are not to be lording ourselves over others, but we may be involved with them by means of our example, and help them however we can but while making sure we do what we ourselves need to do, and keep with our ministry which God has for us.

"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17)

So, we need to first keep busy with however God is evaluating us and wants to correct us, ourselves, (Hebrews 12:4-11) instead of mainly or only sticking our noses in the business of people who do not even know God and ones who reject our efforts and play games with how we try to evaluate and correct them. We are being judged "first", if we are the ones who are right, I consider from this

So, how much is it for me, then, to try to control politicians and judge them? We can do more, by obeying God, ourselves >

"'In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.'" (Genesis 22:18)

What did Abraham do, which was obeying God? He put his son on an altar, in order to burn him as an offering to God; but then he obeyed God by not doing it. But because Abraham was obeying God, what he did . . . even in private like that . . . with no controlling of other people . . . that act has gotten God's all-loving result - - for blessing "all the nations of the earth"; because Abraham obeyed God's all-loving order.

This is our example, to feed on If you do even one thing obedient to God, this could accomplish more than what "any number" of worldly United States presidents have accomplished in all their lifetimes combined, if they never knew God; "for without Me you can do nothing," Jesus does say in John 15:5.

So, you could now be in a very hard and cruel thing . . . maybe a problem marriage, your or someone else's medical situation, or losing a job in which you were doing all you are professionally capable of, or children turning on you. But you can now obey God and have His results which are all-loving and not "only" for certain favorite people or yourself.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

This includes not letting evil have power over us to control where our attention goes. There always can be decoy things to lure our attention away from personally submitting to God and doing what is our own business with Him > our real need is to stay within our means of the income of His grace in the ruling of His peace (Colossians 3:15)

This is where to invest ! ! ! good to see yu

"and to work with your own hands" (in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

Our Apostle Paul worked with his own hands, enough to support himself and those who were with him > Acts 20:32-35.

So, Paul by God's grace was able to work enough to take care of himself and those who were with him, while also doing all the ministering he did. God's grace made him succeed like this. God's grace gives us rest and strength and creativity to do all that is good . . . while in His leading we have His timing to fit it all together.

But we have people who say they can't work because their ministering is too demanding of their time. And they can be wasted and stressed and burnt-out. But in Jesus Christ's love and leading "you will find rest for your souls," He guarantees in Matthew 11:28-30.

Also, ones can say their ministering keeps them from having enough time for their families. But I consider how Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy related with the Thessalonians like a nursing mommy and a caring father >

"But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children." (1 Thessalonians 2:7)

"as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children," (1 Thessalonians 2:11)

So, in ministry they related as family with the Thessalonians. So, I consider that if a pastor is ministering as family with all the people who God trusts to the pastor, this includes having time to share and minister to the pastor's own family.

And we all have received "the Spirit of adoption", Paul says in Romans 8:15. The Holy Spirit "of adoption" in us shares with each of us our Heavenly Father's own tenderly adoptive love > Romans 5:5, John 17:23. And this love in us has us becoming more and more lovingly adoptive in how we relate with any and all people . . . though ones might refuse us.

So, I can see that if someone is doing things in God's grace of our Heavenly Father's family adoptive love, then the person will share sweetly and tenderly with his or her own family; and in God's love and leading the person will have God timing what He has the person do so the person has proper time for his or her own family

"that you may walk properly toward those who are outside," (in 1 Thessalonians 4:12)

"Those who are outside" can include ones who are inside our natural families. There can be very mean-spirited and cruel and bitter people who are our own brothers and sisters and other relatives.

"impssible people" > yes. But God is able And example can win

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

And an example of how this can work is 1 Peter 3:1-4. Wives, even "without a word" can win a disobedient husband. Their good example can be so used by God. And I consider this is with wives sharing with one another in Jesus,

helping one anther.

No one is on one's own, in Jesus, in dealing with hard people.

And Jesus has been here; Jesus has gone through it all, of how Satanic people can treat us >

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)