Verse of the Day 7/30

1 Thessalonians 5:14  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 

English Standard Version (ESV)

In reading today's verse in the ESV, the word admonish caught my attention.  Other translations use the words exhort or  warn which are good, but the word admonish as defined as "warn or reprimand someone firmly" adds reprimand to better set the tone.  It is calling someone to change course, calls for corrective action, to get back in line.

In this verse, the "idle" are warned and encouraged to get back in line, in line with the truth.  The fainthearted need encouragement from their fears and doubts and the weak need strength, moral, physical and spiritual.

Read the short passage from The Message (below) for another perspective.  It refers to freeloaders, stragglers and the exhausted.  Freeloaders aren't pulling their weight, they are not helping the body, they are along for the ride. The stragglers are lagging behind, and as in nature, it is the stragglers that fall prey to all kinds of temptations and are most easily "picked off" by the evil one.  The exhausted are simply worn out, from life's struggles, the daily grind or perhaps from long term battles.

The thought of Cat Stevens song "It's a Wild World" came  to mind, especially the line "ooh baby, baby it's a wild, world, it's hard to get by just upon a smile".  We aren't going to get through the challenges and trials in life with a "grin and bare it" attitude.  We will need faith in God with the help of others around us that will urge, exhort and  admonish us to keep the faith, to hold onto it with patience.

--   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 5:14-15The Message (MSG)

^13-15 Get 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.