And He Will Do It - 6

“…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 5:14-24

There is so much to unpack here. It feels like too much. Really too much. What a high calling. I mean, who can possibly do all this? I can’t. I fall so short. Yet, the answer is in the last line I suspect. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. He is faithful. He will do it. He will do it. He will teach me to be a help and to encourage. He will show me how to be patient with everyone… everyone!?!?! He will regard my helpless estate, instructing me to not pay back wrong for wrongs. He will guide me as to how to do good for others. He will teach me to be joyful and to be a person who prays first. He will sanctify me so that I can give thanks in all things. All. All. All. All. All. All. All. All. All. All. He will help me not quench the Spirit as I am apt to do. Lord, help me to not treat prophecies with contempt, but to be wise in testing and to hold on to all the good things while rejecting evil. Lord, may You, Yourself, the God of peace, sanctify me through and through. That’s a scary thing to ask and I fear I ask in vain, but You have promised and You are faithful and You will do it. Dear friend, He will do it. He is faithful and He will do it.