This verse comes at the end of the admonition to respect and hold in high regard those who are over the believers and admonish the flock. Though it may apply specifically here to being at peace with Pastors and others, it is also an often mentioned encouragement. The Bible many times says for us to 'live in peace'. Doing so from my personal point of view would certainly make my job easier and more enjoyable.
I'm sure Paul must have found it awkward because I sure do, to address this matter. Paul is telling the believers that they should respect and hold in high regard those who the Lord has called to serve them. That of course includes himself. This is a request. It is not a mandate. Respect for those who serve the Lord in the ministry has greatly waned in recent decades. Some because some have behaved so wrongly, some because general respect is on the decline and some because the respect and regard for Christianity and Christians is in such decline. But as for believers, they should do just as Paul has asked. Pastors and other ministry leaders should be given a respect because of the work they do. Sometimes you may respect the work more than the person, that is understandable. But, in general, Pastors, Missionaries, and other ministry workers should be held in high regard, as should those who serve. I know some Pastors, Missionaries and Ministry people, who because of their weaknesses, personalities or styles are difficult to respect, hold in any regard, even with love. But, because of their work and who they work for, they should be respected.
Let me add a little Bible Study before the devotional today. Whenever you see the word "therefore" in the Bible, you should ask... what is the therefore there for. There is always a reason a verse starts with the word therefore. In this verse the therefore is there for a couple of reasons. The therefore is because we are not like those who don't know Christ. We are different. We are set apart. That is why we encourage each other. That is why we build each other up. The other reason the "therefore" is there for is because we have received salvation and we know who we are in Him, so we should encourage one another and build one another up.
You can count on the fact that I, for one,will not be putting times or dates on the return of Christ. Evidently this verse, and some others, are not in some folks Bibles or they somehow explain away that we cannot know the day of Christ's return. The way I read my Bible, the Son Himself doesn't know that day and only God the Father knows. Struggle all you want how one of the Godhead knows and the others don't, but the truth remains, His return is top secret. I know this, it won't be on a day when somebody has made some big deal about His return or predicted it precisely. God would not honor that. Although, my understanding of God says that He can do whatever He pleases, whether that works with anyone's calendar or prognostication or not.
This verse has been studied and torn apart as much as any in the Bible because there are several viewpoints on what, how and when these events are to take place. I have never been fond of tying down the details of what God is gonna do. He does it how He pleases, when He pleases and How He pleases. That is good enough for me. I try to let Him handle those details, because He is so good at them. Let me add three things that are important to me in the passage, one from the beginning, one from the middle and one from the end. First off, I love that it is the Lord Himself that is coming again. He is not sending someone or doing all this from above. He is coming back Himself.
Wow! Isn't this the freshest definition of ambition that you have seen in a long time? Ambition is usually defined as becoming famous, or the best, or better than everybody else, or getting ahead, or making money, or being influential, or impressing people with all your accomplishments. Be aggressive and assertive and get yourself out there in the public eye for everybody to approve of you! Not quite... I must make a list. This is too good not to illustrate the principle behind it.
I am noticing that teaching and talk about love is not as strong as it used to be. Back in the 60's and early 70's there was much talk about love. Some of it was called 'free love', which is love without commitment and without boundaries. The brotherly love that Paul speaks of here is the kind of love that Christians should be known for wherever they are. I think our problem may be that it is hard to say you love when you are constantly creating stress, drama and agenda for people. Or, it is hard to talk about love when you are being mean-spirited or vengeful. It is also hard to spread the love when you are greedy or selfish. Equally difficult is to speak of love when you, yourself feel so unloved or think you are entitled to more love.
People who want to argue with me about what God's Word says are wasting their time. Of course they say that they are arguing with my interpretation of what God's Word says. Usually I direct their frustration with me to the Bible. Particularly in the cases about sexual immorality. The norm of the day or whatever is culturally acceptable justifies many in their minds to be involved in sexual sin. Some would say that all sexual behavior that is consensual cannot be against God's Word. After all, He made us sexual beings with a need to express that sexuality, therefore whatever way that comes out is a matter of personal choice as long as there are no victims involved. Have you heard these kind of arguments before?
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" Philippians 4:8
Truthfully, this is a struggle, for us all. Controlling our words and actions seems tough enough, but most importantly, we need to control our thoughts. Herein lies the real issue of "control." You see, what we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions.
"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life" 1 Thessalonians 4:7
When we as Christians hear the word impure, we most often think of it as a reference to sexual purity. Granted, it is often exactly what the Scripture is talking about. Even in this passage the previous verse references sexual immorality and encourages each of us to control our lusts. It even says that we should not sin against one another or take advantage of one another. To make sure that we are honoring one another. Pure means sexually pure. In our world today we seem to have an uneven view of sexual sin. Christians can rail against homosexuality and the wrongness of it while turning a blind eye to adultery and fornication (sex before marriage). When Paul addresses impurity and is referring to sexual immorality he is talking about all of it. We need to be pure towards one another, in all relationships.
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