SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 5
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. [1 Thessalonians 5:11]
Are we as serious about our life in Jesus as we ought to be?
We claim to believe that Jesus will come back one day soon, looking to see who is living for Him.
Do we live like it, or do we live as if He won’t come soon, or that it doesn’t matter how we live.
We really need to think this through – are we living the kind of life we want to be living when He returns?
I am not talking about Bible study, I am talking about living like Jesus did.
I hear Paul encouraging us, building us up in the kind of life that we ought to be living!

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. [Matthew 28:19-20]
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands He has given us – to obey!
Sometimes one gets the impression that teaching or learning is the most important thing.
Week after week, year after year, we are instructed and taught – information overload.
I once heard someone say that we are educated beyond our level of obedience.

Its not about how much we know, but how we are living.
People who delve into the mysteries and details of biblical history, prophecy or theology may have an abundance of information in their heads, but are they living the Jesus life?
This was Jesus’ greatest concern, and why He encouraged His disciples and built them up.
Paul describes the Jesus’ life for us in this chapter [1 Thessalonians 5:12-22].
If we just focused our energies here, instead of trying to figure out the complexities of Jesus’ return – premillenial, amillenial, pre-tribulation, post-tribulation, mid-tribulation, literal or figurative millenial reign – who cares!
He is coming, He is coming soon, and when He comes we will know!
Until then, let us be engaged in living the life He left us to live, being the people He called us to be.

Jesus encourages us, as does Paul, that He is with us and will one day come for us.
Until then, let us live like it: joyful and thankful praise and prayer, loving service, forgiving and blessing our enemies, generosity and compassion for those who suffer and are in need.
To help each other live like this is what we need to focus on, not just on more information.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. [Hebrews 10:24-25]

PRAYER:
Lord, we have enough information, now we need reformation – of character and conduct. Help us to start living the life that You will look for when You return!