Verse of the Day 11/23

Verse of the Day 11/23

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.    English Standard Version (ESV) 

For today's verse we'll return one more time to 1 Thessalonians 5 and these "short" memory verses that are long on meaning.  The preceding verse (21) that we are to test everything and hold on to what is good.  I like the way The Message puts it "don't be gullible... check out everything, and keep only what's good."  The testing is evaluating, making a sound judgement in our activities which are based of fulfilling our wants and desires.

The ESV states that we are to "abstain";  other translations say "avoid", "stay away from" and "reject" every form of evil.  I've served on church boards and the boards of other organizations.  When a decision is to be made the call goes out for a vote, most often a verbal vote "all in favor", "opposed" and "abstain" are the options.  The decision to abstain is not to vote for either one, not being able to go along with either of the choices.  In my experience it is not often done, but when a vote is made to abstain, the question is often asked "why".  It is one of the benefits in abstaining from "evil".  People may ask why we are not joining in, partaking in some activity or cause and we may have an opportunity to share our position, that of a Christian, a follower of Christ.

The Message challenges us to "throw out anything tainted with evil".  How much better off would we be if we memorized and put into practice this simple verse "abstain from every evil".

In Galatians 5 from The Message, Paul gives us an idea of what this looks like:

Galatians 5:19-24The Message (MSG)

^19-21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.

^22-23 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

May we "check out" and examine everything, avoiding the evil, if we do so by God's grace we'll make better decisions,  "able to marshal and direct our energies wisely".

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Thessalonians 5:20-24The Message (MSG)

^19-22 Don'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.

^23-24 May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!