READING: Song of Solomon 1-3, Psalm 72, 1 Thessalonians 5
I recognize that I’ve been blessed as a pastor. Sure, I’ve had to deal with hard situations that sometimes made me wonder about my calling—but I don’t recall many of those situations today. What I generally remember are great men and women of God who loved me, respected me, and supported me. Paul’s writing to the Thessalonians in today’s reading, on the other hand, at least hints at the possibility that not everyone in that church was treating their leaders with respect. Whatever the situation was, he wanted the believers to recognize those who labor among them and then regard them highly in love. More specifically, the wanted them to live together in peace among themselves.
You see, there’s a sweetness to the right kind of relationships among believers and between the believers and their leaders. I think about fellowship events and picnics where I could simply look over believers I’d grown to love and watch them find delight in their time together. God brings together people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and nationalities and somehow makes them one. Then, He allows pastors to care for their souls even as those members grow to love and respect us. When all those relationships are in order, the world sees a love they can’t fully understand apart from Christ.
Living in peace together – that happens only because of God’s uniting love.
PRAYER: “Lord, forgive me when I’m not living in peace with others. Grant me grace to seek reconciliation where needed.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Song of Solomon 4-6, 2 Thessalonians 1