12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. (I Thessalonians 5)
The well-known, simple exhortation to prayer in this passage is part of a long string of exhortations calling on us to consider how we influence one another in the body of Christ. We, by our examples, are able to enhance the values of diligent work, peace and harmony, openness to the Holy spirit and Word of God, and maintaining the purity of the Body. Verses 16 through 18 give some of the personal disciplines we can practice to help make that happen. When we allow joy to flow into and out of our lives, when we are known to pause and pray at any given time, and when we are verbally thankful to God and for others, then we will have a positive influence. The brief call to "pray without ceasing" is obviously not a call to always be on our knees with our eyes closed, but it is living life as if God is right there with us all the time, and we can turn and talk with him for wisdom, for a need of a brother or sister, in a crisis for comfort, or even to give God thanks for something. It is living life like He is always in the room, and we are not going to ignore Him. Imagine the impact we can have on one another individually and as a church if we practice His presence in such a way. It will "raise the bar" for us all.
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