12-13And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!
13-15Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.
16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
19-22Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
From the Apostle Paul
- Honor your hard working leaders, overwhelm them with appreciation and love.
- Get along with each other and always do your part.
- Warm the freeloaders to get a move on.
- Encourage the stragglers.
- Reach out and pull the exhausted to their feet.
- Be patient with each person.
- Be attentive to individual needs.
- When you get on each others nerves, don't snap.
- Look for the best in every person.
- Do your part to pull the best out of every person.
- Be cheerful no matter what.
- Pray all the time.
- Thank God no matter what happens.
- Don't suppress the Spirit.
- Don't stifle those who carry God's Word through the gift ... but don't be gullible ... check everything out (weigh it by the written Word), keeping only that which is good, and throw out anything tainted with evil.
Selah ...
Stop and Think on These Things!
