Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. – 1 Thessalonians 5:14
The idle, the fainthearted, and the weak—what kind of people are they? Timid? Sickly? Homeless? The truth is anyone, at some time or other, may fall in one of these categories, perhaps all three at once. Did you ever see long-distance runners come alongside and cheer each other on? You can do it! You’ve come this far! The finish line is just around the bend! All believers need to strengthen and support each other.
Admonish the idle. Admonish means to caution, earnestly advise, or reprimand. When a person gets off track, a true friend will help them get back on. Sometimes it takes tough love.
Encourage the fainthearted. In these days of political unrest, it’s easy to be gripped by fear. Encourage yourself in the Lord, then reach out to others around you and encourage them. Paul lived in tumultuous times as well, yet his faith in the Lord did not waiver. Persecution and trials didn’t stop him from living a life dedicated to spreading the gospel and helping people.
Help the weak. Look around you. How can you assist or supply needs of those who are struggling?
And the final direction in today’s verse is “be patient with them all,” knowing that God loves everyone and sent His Son to die for them. Do not expect people to be perfect or to think and do things the way you do. Pray for the leaders, citizens, and issues of this nation. Pray for a great revival and that many will be saved.
Today’s Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Luke 10:25-37
5 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
