...the positive Word of God...

My wife, Linda, and I just returned home from Oregon after visiting our son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Emily, and our brand new grandson, Shiloh, who is just 7 weeks old. It was such a memorable visit to hold little Shi and feed him. He is such a blessing. His parents are responding with amazing love and attention to their new son, and he is growing every day. I am so grateful to God to witness this. 

In my prayer and Bible reading each day while in Oregon I was touched by how positive and helpful the Scriptures are in assisting us to live our daily lives. So today I am stepping aside from our look at Genesis and sharing with you today some of the most helpful and practical words of encouragement from the Bible from chapters 4 & 5 of 1 Thessalonians, a letter my namesake, Paul, wrote to some brand new Christians. See how powerful and helpful these words are to you:

"...brothers and sisters...live in order to please God...I urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more...make it your ambition to live a quiet life, to mind your own business and work...for someday we will be with the Lord...so encourage each other with these words...for God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ...therefore encourage one another and build each other up...respect those who work hard among you...hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work... live in peace with each other...and make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong but always try to be kind to one another and to everyone else.

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not put out the Holy Spirit's fire...and do not treat prophecies with contempt...test everything and hold onto the good...and avoid every kind of evil.

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through... and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

So dear friends, look at how helpful the Word of God is for us all! See how supportive God is for us all.

Today, then, enjoy these words and share them with others.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.