First Thessalonians 5:12-15 Our relationship with spiritual leaders

All right, I'm not sure whether we need to go really back too far. Why don't we read, so why don't we go back, Wayne, if you could read loudly for us. Let's start with verse eight and read down through 15, please. All right, but since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet of hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another just as you also are doing. But we request of you, brethren, that you Appreciate those who diligently labor among you and have charged over you in the Lord and give you instruction. And that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly and encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, Be patient with all men. See that no one repays another with evil. For evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.

Rejoice always." Right? We'll read Rejoice Always the next week. Oh, okay. Franco and I were kind of discussing this and it's Rejoice always is among the shortest verses, by the way. Two words. Anyway, we don't want to pass any judgment on that. So let's go into today's lesson. So the first verse is... I think I have control here. Okay, it's where the pointer was. All right, we're good.

So, and we urge or beseech you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you. So ultimately, this is one of 21 times in the Thessalonian Epistles of Love where Paul addresses believers of this church as brethren. What do we make of that? Yeah, these are dear souls of the Lord. Ultimately, he urges or he seeks them to reflect an atmosphere of begging or exhorting with respect those who labored among them. So we're going to drill down on that a little bit. So this is really, this word for beseech or purge is not a soft word.

And other examples of this, for in 1 Corinthians 16, 18, for they refreshed my spirit and yours, therefore acknowledge such men. Acknowledge is really exhorting or really lifting them up. Kind of a different use, but it's the same Greek term. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

So we don't want Roger to get a big head here. And then Hebrews 13, 17. Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out over your souls as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. So here are other examples of the use of this term urge. It's really a strong term, which really relates to lifting those who labor for us out and open and in prayer.

So how do we recognize it? By the way, the term here is teido, which is the word recognizes no, but this is a factual knowledge. This is not an experiential knowledge. But you know, if you think about it, a factual knowledge becomes experiential. But nevertheless, this is fact. How do we recognize or really act upon those who are laboring? And by the way, what's laboring? How do we interpret that?

Well, they're doing their job. I mean, they're doing what they were called to do. They were called by Paul and presumably the Lord to minister to these believers. Well, but laboring here is not really kind of a, what's the term I'm looking for, kind of a minimal effort here. We're talking about people who are very, very dedicated to the work. And it really is interpreted in the Greek to be people who labor extensively with wearisome effort or toil. Now, we're not going to define that here for our elders, but nevertheless, I mean, this is not a casual activity, right? We're talking about people who are dedicated to rightly dividing the Word of Truth and teaching and leading us in that task.

Mark, do you want to comment on that a little bit? I mean, this is not a part-timer for you, right? Right, right. It's not. You know, actually, we've kind of, as we're looking for, I'll just kind of go off this, a little bit of a tangent. Mike and I have been looking for other brothers to join us in teaching.

A lot of it has to do with, does a man have a desire to teach God's Word? Does he really have a desire in his heart to do that? And that actually seems to be the most important aspect. Is there a strong desire, does he feel the blood of the Lord to do that?

And that doesn't exactly address the labor question, but it does, the motivation for why he's doing it is critical. If he's doing it just for some other reason, you know, for glory or for some, you know, esteem. That's the wrong motivation. He needs to be doing it because that's what he believes the Lord would have him do. And he needs to be excited about it. It shouldn't be something that he doesn't enjoy doing. He doesn't enjoy doing it. He shouldn't do it.

So, anyway, that's a little bit of a tangent there. Well, but this laboring goes beyond simply teaching the word. There's the role of the elder in the pastor, of bishop overseeing, and things like that. We're going to look more at that here in a second.

Thus, my question to you, is this simply respect, or could it be a deep-seated concern? In other words, this idea that we need to be really recognizing those who labor over us. Exhorting really means to ultimately carefully re-urge you to take a look at your leaders as to whether they're doing their job. And I think it does relate to a respectful assessment of their performance. But it also could lead to some concern.

I mean, we're called as a body. to really evaluate those who are leading us in the word of God. And are over you in the Lord and admonish you. So these are men presumably who are over us as brethren, as members of the body of Christ at Collingdales and the church at Thessalonica who in fact are overseeing us in the Lord and are also admonishing us. You know, over you, I think, implies that it's someone who presides and serves over us as a guardian. I mean, I could watch or have this responsibility of knowing the body, knowing the needs, and ultimately, not only teaching, but also overseeing our experience here and our growth in grace of the Lord.

Philippians 1.1, Paul and Timothy bond servants of Jesus Christ. to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi with the bishops who are overseers and beings. I mean, that's the idea here. The saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi are overseen by the bishops who have this leadership role that's spiritually impacted.

And what are the duties of those who are over us? Well, is there a list watcher you follow and look at every day? No, I don't think so. But it's an effort put forth in the Lord that is anything but laziness, but in guidance and teaching. So that's the responsibility that's implied by those being over us in this responsibility. And what about protection? Good, you could add that too. How should we interpret admonishment? are over you in the Lord and admonish you. What are your thoughts here?

You know, I can't see the people who are on video conferencing today, but feel free to speak up. I think Roger can see you, right? All we see is the speaker. We see you. If somebody asks a question, we see that. Anyway, those in the field, please contribute. Well, Bob, I was going to offer a comment.

In the New American Standard, it has, I think for the word admonish, it has give you instruction. So that kind of what, in my mind, is just a different, you know, admonish sounds like a father. And the father does that. But actually, think of a father who needs to give instruction to his children.

So it's not just wagging the finger at someone, you teach them, you show them from God's Word what the right path is, or whatever it might be. Well, there's some bullet point notes on that, Roger, and in the Greek it means to put in mind. Employment is not arbitrarily assuming authority. delivered in a rebuking manner, but it's one that's delivered in a gentle, true, faithful admonition. So ultimately this term of admonish really relates to a relationship that really is of the Lord and is led by the new creations we all are in Jesus Christ.

So we're going to look at those who are in the leadership role, and their role over us is to admonish us in terms of having this gentle and faithful oversight of us and putting in mind what their brethren really are all about and what their needs are. So that's, I think, the best interpretation.

Well, I think they also speak through their life rather than just do as I say. The walk. Yes, the walk, okay. And, you know, we're not here to be judgmental, but we'd like to perceive the walk in Roger and Mike and our teachers in general that really is representative of the relationship they have with the Lord. It's a spirit led life. Okay, no other thoughts there? Well, I think of the world as a constant battle between the world view and the Christian view, the Biblical view. It's constant. I think of our schools where kids are taught that we all evolved from... just a constant battle.

And it seems like there's different flavors. Now we're seeing a whole different flavor about the whole gender and critical race theory and all kinds of craziness. It's hard for that not to come up as an issue. I mean, it comes up. Unfortunately, Mike and I have been praying for families that have issues with gender things that happen in their families. I mean, it's terrible. We think, how can that happen in a body of believers? Not with us now, but they were. How can that happen? It's the world system, and young people are sucked into that. It's terrible. It's just terrible.

I was playing last night with a woman who had a t-shirt on that said, Black Women Matter. Yes, you do matter. Old white men matter too. All lives matter. I'd like to get a t-shirt that says old white men matter. I was thinking about that. What if I wore a shirt that said old white men matter? Maybe I'll get you one. It is Father's Day. I'll wear it just with you Heidi. I'm not going to wear that.

All lives matter. The thing about this is that again, I've mentioned this before, but We're all equal to the cross, right? Skin color is irrelevant in the Bible. It's just irrelevant. So the movement was probably felt to be necessary by the black race, but the cross is great because there's no bias in the cross. We're all sinners saved by grace. And that's the message in our lives and our conversations with the head of the cross. of knowing the Lord. The security of that life lived here and also forevermore. All right, let's go on to verse 13.

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, and be at peace among yourselves. Kind of an interesting combination of verses. So, esteeming those who serve over us very highly in love for their work's sake, and also being in peace among ourselves. So, what do you think of that? Well, you esteem them very highly in love really means that we need to carry this activity out. How should we interpret esteem?

To value them, what they're teaching. Alright. I think that's lifting them up and respecting how they bring the word across and also complimenting them when we think that their messages are consistent with the word. Occasionally, maybe we can go astray.

We need to move forward in a very respectful and practical way. So it's to command or rule or deem. What do you think is the best interpretation of the sustainment? Is it to do account or to think of, or is it to rule over? I have hold. Hold. Hold. Hold on to some standard of behavior? Okay.

Well, I'm kind of seeing that the leaders need support from us. Roger agrees. So does Bob and so does Margaret. You know, I was also thinking, could this also mean, because in the times then, you know, maybe they also needed some financial support. Maybe they needed a food bank. I mean, you know, I don't know, but maybe they needed a place to live. We don't know what the situation was, but I kind of get the impression that it's not only should we respect them and hold them up for value, but if they need any kind of help, we should also, the body should also be there to help them.

Now in context, you realize that we're talking about the day of the Lord in terms of what the behavior is going to be. It's a model for what this behavior would be in the church. So I went ahead and put it's keeping in mind to assess their work, not their personality. We have always believed that personalities don't change when we're saved. It's just the life that changes. So quiet people tend to still be quiet. But that's not what we're judging here. What we're judging is the word being widely divided, and is the role being ultimately carried out in the nature of the work. Bob? Yes? What else I was thinking is, you know, it's a tough job.

And part of that support is to recognize that. and support them. Emotionally and all that. Well I think you know we have a small enough body to not have a lot of rumbling that ultimately does become apparent. I mean I think people that are part of hospitals when we look to net up and you know there's a need to bring issues to their attention. I think we have an openness to do that. It's really a thing of when you have a church of 3,000 people that becomes a little bit more challenging.

Right? to have everyone be happy. That doesn't mean that's the goal of the leadership, to make everyone happy. But certainly, it's a responsibility to lead them in the principles of faith and grace. All right, let's go ahead then. Apparently, the idlers in Thessalonica had evidently refused to follow their leaders in church activities. So I think this is a fairly strong recommendation that ultimately they come around and be supportive of their leadership.

Whatever, it's very highly in love for their work set. So there's a qualification here about this esteemed responsibility that we have. It's carried out very highly in love. I mean, that means really quite up there. And Macaulay says, very highly is a strong double compound superlative adverb. It means out of all bounds, beyond all measure. Is that what you're sensing here, Roger, by the body? But anyway, this is really a tremendous responsibility we have as a body to lift up our leaders in love. And ultimately, this is not a part-time activity.

It's something for the home. All right. Galatians 6 says, let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him he teaches. Okay? So that means we're being taught, so we share that, we bond that with those who are teaching. And I think that really represents this in a perfect way, what Paul had shared with the church at Colossians.

And be at peace among yourselves. How does this break away, do you think, to the sense that all of this is in this verse? You kind of wonder if the body of believers, the elders or the pastor are ministering over are not at peace and that makes his job so much more difficult. So living in peace is an important thing so that they can take in God's word and not be squabbling over unrelated issues or not important issues. Other thoughts?

Could you summarize what Roger just said? I'm sorry, I didn't quite tell you that. I'm glad Roger summarized what Roger said. I was trying to speak on that. So, I was just saying that maybe if the body's at peace, if the body of believers that the elders are ruling over, directing, are at peace, then he doesn't have to spend a lot of time, you know, making peace with them. You know, okay, Joe, shake hands with Sally, or, you know, whatever. So that's the thought. So if they're at peace, that makes his job, that would be esteeming him.

Let's be at peace. Let's don't make up problems. Let's don't create problems. Now the interesting thing about this, be at peace among yourself, this isn't a period. I think it's doing. And so I'm going to interpret that as cultivate it and live in it. Okay? This peace. So is this the peace of God or the peace with God? Well, he believed the third. I was able to kind of reduce what he says here. But the command to live in peace is not only a protection, but a result.

Perhaps the apostles saying here that obeying the former instructions will enable you to fulfill this command. That relates to some extent on the messages that were being delivered, but also our response 315 and let the peace of God rule in your hearts which also you were called in one body and be thankful yeah so this is an act one it's an imperative how do we respond to an imperative that's directed to us do it sounds like a lot I think well Bobby and I I don't think I have some I teach next week And so I have a bunch of imperatives. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. They're all imperatives.

And I kind of like what Macaulay kind of offered something that really expresses the will of God. And putting an imperative in that light helps me to say, well, if this is the will of God, this is important. I should listen to that. If that's his will for me as a believer, I should pay attention to that. It's an extra focus. I should pay attention to this. This is his will, and it's expressed as an imperative. It kind of spotlights that particular thing he's discussing.

But don't you think, too, that we can't really do that? If we're not in Christ, and we're not resting in the Lord, because there's no way, believe me, that I have much patience, or I'm you know, gentle, and I don't speak my mind. Is that right? But, so, in order for that to happen, in order for that to happen, it's got to be the Lord, because really, I'm not, my personality's not capable of that, I promise. Well, there's two personalities like that in the animal kingdom. Maybe five more, right? But look who's doing the doing. I mean, It comes from the Lord. Absolutely.

But when it's an imperative, how do we respond to an imperative? Does that make our old flesh responsive? No. It's by faith we live in that new nature. Oh wow, the Word of God can be exemplified in our day-to-day lives. Is that where reckoning comes in? I think so. It's who you are. So I asked this question a moment ago, are now going to address a little bit more from Macaulay's perspective.

So Macaulay says that some interpreters attach the exhortation to live in peace to the verses that follow rather than the verses 12 and 13 that ultimately are the ones we're looking at here. If this be the case, the command in general, or is general, and one another describes all other believers, On the other hand, it seems that the context argues that one another refers to the believer and the leadership. So believers are to love their leaders, agapos, right? And those who lead are to love the ones left. So this kind of imperative is really in Christ. How do we love? Agapos is not a human love. We don't have that capability. Go ahead, if you want to go first. Wouldn't God apply it to both what was before and what was after?

I mean, that would be brilliant, would it not? I think so, and I think that's what Macaulay's saying. Well, I just was saying, since we've been studying about, you know, the long chapter, chapter 13, we just finished that in the main service. I've just really come to a new appreciation for the overwhelming You know, God's love, Christ's love, expressed in chapter 13, expresses it. It's so, so miraculous and so above what human love is. It shows me that I need to be in fellowship with my Savior.

If I'm not, if I'm not, then I can't, there's no hope for that love. I mean, it is a supernatural love, and that's what he's talking about here. That supernatural love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13, is something that man cannot accomplish on his own. And when we realize that, then we stop trying to produce that love. We say, Lord, I need to walk with you and let you live your life through me by faith. It reinforces that so much more. That's helped me to understand that.

Well, we're going to come back to 1 Corinthians 13 in the next verse as we refer to what that verse intends to accomplish. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, and be patient with all. So you can kind of anticipate where 1 Corinthians 13 is going to come through here. All right. Now we exhort Pericleo, you, brethren, warn those who are unruly. Let's look at that aspect of this first. This is strong language. But it's interesting that this is non-imperative, but indicative in terms of the mood. It's a fact.

So, what do you make of that? Now, we exhort you. Why would that be a fact? Well, Paul and Timothy are addressing the church at Thessalonica. By the way, brethren, you have a job to do here. And this is part of what we're calling you to do as people in that body of believers.

It's a fact. I mean, in a sense, you could think, why wouldn't it be interpreted as imperative? We're going to come back to that in a second. But it's a fact. This is your responsibility. This is like signing any document. When you're signing a document, you have the facts that are in it. Margaret and I just refinanced our house. And so, I'm not going to read every word there, but my signature to that indicates that I'm accepting all the consequences of this activity that in fact we're doing. So that's what this is kind of all about. Hey Bob? Yes? I just thought in passing here that Paul uses this kind of terminology in all of this letter. I don't know how many times he regards them as brethren.

So he's including himself in that sense as a family relationship. Okay. And part of this family relationship could like be a document that one signs and jumps in, this is what we agreed to, right? This is kind of the relationship that we're expecting to be lived out. Like Roger mentioned, many of the the challenges in this particular section and the verses I'm covering are imperatives, but this is not.

This is actually, I think, an accepted responsibility for the brethren. Well, that's the Christian life, right? If we go back to 1 Corinthians 13, that's what the Christian life looks like. As exalted as that is, as high above what we can attain, but that is the Christian life. If you look at those descriptions of the Christian life's love, it's just You know, incredible, beyond us.

And that drives us more to our Savior than trusting Him. So, I guess I should go back and clarify this. Is this to the leaders only or to all of us here? What do you think? To the brethren. Yeah, it's all of us. Yeah, this is just not to Roger and Mike, in terms of their responsibilities in leading this body of work. This is all of us. So who are they on a ruling?

Well, we don't have a lot of cross-referencing here. This is the only New Testament use of this particular noun. It reflects the military standards of procedure as those who are disorderly, out of ranks, and deviating from the prescribed order or rule, or irregular or inordinate.

So, do we have those kind of people at Hall Hills? Have we? Wayne probably has a better historical perspective than any of the rest of us. I would say there have been a few. But is he speaking just of the body of the church or is this those around us? I think we're going to see in the next verse that does potentially appeal to those outside the body because we have responsibilities to interact with all men. But in this particular verse, I think we're kind of needing to confine the interpretation to the body. So do you think maybe there were people who were not the teachers who were in fact talking to the rest of the body about things that maybe were incorrect and that they are the unruly within the brethren?

Well, I think, remember I mentioned previously that apparently there were idlers in Thessalonica who were in fact unruly in nature. I mean, I'm interpreting that is indicating that they were refusing to follow their leaders and church activities that were related to the leadership. I can't document that other than, I think, just reflecting on, I think, one of the commentators. I'm not sure which one. I didn't mention him by name. All right, since it's the only New Testament use, it must mean that it didn't need to apply broadly, but I'm sure it did for unruly people. So anyway, okay, so let's go on from there. So what does this look like in the body? What would unruly behavior look like? Could be the communion when they come there and eat all the food. Well, right, and in 1 Corinthians 11 we deal with that. People who are unjustly taking communion, right? We're making a big party out of it. Right.

As opposed to remembering what it was like. And as we've been taught by our leaders, communion is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, remember me in this ceremony. It's not about you. I mean, we can reflect on it as how it relates to us, but it's all about the Lord saying, remember me in what I've done. And that's really an important take home message from him. All right, good, good comments.

So the second Thessalonians, which we're going to get to also here, but we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which they received from us.

But that's pretty strong language. So how often Roger, have you ever been put in that position? Not very often since you've been in this role. Isn't that good? But that's why we gather here as a body. We all want to rightly divide the word of truth. We want leaders who teach us and rightly divide the word of truth. And unruly behavior, by the way, those people don't want to be here to begin with, right? How many times have we encouraged people to come to Holly Hills, we see them once and they're never here again? I mean, our Bible study has been like that over the years.

But don't you think it could also be I mean I can remember in my own life over time I you know have known people who probably are saved but they're going down a wrong path and the more time I spent with them the more uncomfortable I was even being with them because they were just going down a wrong road. It wasn't the truth. And so I think it also could, you know, mean people in your life that are not following the truth. That you, you know, leave them.

That happens. All right. Should we move forward? We'll show that time. Comforts the faint hearted or feeble minded. And another one, and only New Testament youths. And this is an imperative. It's kind of interesting. Most of these are in the imperative sense, but some are indicative, but I think that helps us interpret it correctly. So who are the fainthearted? Well, they're discouraged. They're a little spirited. And that's the same in terms of the interpretation degree as the fainthearted. These are discouraged and downly people for the most part.

Uphold the weak. which means to support or help the weak. Another imperative, this is something we should be doing, are these members weak in spirit or in flesh? Or both? I tend to interpret it in context as weak in spirit and not weak in the flesh, which would be someone like Norm or others who are impaired by medical illnesses or issues that are related to the earthly experience that we all go through. Romans 6, 19, Speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of unqueneness and of lawlessness, leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. So that would be weak in spirit.

This is not someone who bodily But I think the scripture, I could find scripture that could point to people who are disabled, who are discouraged, et cetera, to lift them up also. But I think we're talking about people who are mostly weak in spirit, not physically. And be patient with awe. I mean, you talk about patience. Margaret Clancy wrote patience. I don't get much either in the flesh.

Another imperative, how should we interpret two different types of verbs in these instructions? So again, we've dealt with this. I'm not sure we've answered it. Most of these things are apparent and do it, and other things just are factual. This is our kind of a known response. I can't really provide a good answer yet. And this is to all people in all situations, weighing back to the point you brought up earlier. This relates to the body, but perhaps even beyond. The same patience is required towards non-Christians, but reference to them So that's what's leading us on to the idea that we may have responsibilities that go beyond the body. Many of us are not patient people, and I'll identify that.

How can this be developed? How do we develop patience? That's one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, one of the products of God himself. So how does that develop in the believer who's impatient in the flesh? Well, do we really believe that God's in charge of our growth?

That it takes time? But that's not intellectualized, right? It's what is by faith of who we are in Christ Jesus, right? History's not automatic, is it? It's one of those growth curves that ultimately is too slow to develop in some of us, I'll admit myself.

Ronald Strong says it's to be mild and slow in avenging, be long-suffering and slow to anger and slow to punish. This is the peaceful or kind of patient role we have in the new creation. But this comes from the Word of God. We need to know the Lord Jesus Christ in all we are here. This is not a quick fix. 1 Corinthians 13, I promise, is larger. Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy. This love suffering along is the nature that we have in a new creation. Spirit-led.

This is not something we work on. I don't know about you, but Miles Stanford brings this up in None but the Hungry Heart. The more we work on improving the flesh, the more it seems to fail. Doesn't it? Think about the things in your life that really separate us from God. And I must admit, there are a few in my life that I still need to conquer, but as I work on them and say, I've got to do better in this area, it gets worse. So there's something about a new life that corrects this behavior.

2 Timothy 2, 24 and 25, And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to all, able to teach. Be patient in humility, correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance. so that they may know the truth. And Proverbs, good old Proverbs. As McGee said, Proverbs, we can find a proverb that relates to everybody else in the Bible. We can find some person with that proverb that relates, and I think we can personalize that. He who is slow to rant has great understanding. That he who is impulsive exalts fallen. That's a pretty good proverb to think about how the new life compares to the old life.

Okay, last verse, 1 Thessalonians 5. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, Wayne, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. See that it's imperative no one renders evil for evil. What should we conclude from no one and anyone? Do I need a conclusion from that?

It includes unbelievers. I'm sorry? It includes unbelievers. Yeah. That's true. Well, yeah. He's talking to brethren, but then when he switches from, I think if he intended it to only be for brethren, if he intended it to only be for brethren, since he had used brethren several times, he would have said again, see that brethren, you know, but he didn't, say that. So I think he is talking about everyone. We might also note that Paul moves from the second person plural, you all see that, to the third person singular. No one pays back evil for evil anyway.

This stresses that the whole congregation of believers is responsible to see this personally and corporately. So I think that states it pretty well. This means everybody. renders the subjunctive tense, why would it be subjunctive? Subjunctive means it can happen, it may not happen.

So why? Well, you don't have to repay evil for evil. You can stop the change. That's an important thing. I think our old man many times feels he's justified. Even for you as believers. That's true. Well, we still have a sin nature. It shows up all the time, doesn't it? I mean, the thing is, there's no condemnation in those who are in Christ Jesus. That really is scripturally true. And if you think the old man falls short and we're going to be punished for that, the punishment is the lack of that fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. So we're not, boy, evil.

I'll tell you, I mean, evil exists in so many ways, and it's sometimes very so. Evil's wrong inflicted behavior. So Romans 12 says that we pay no evil for evil, have regard for good things in the sight of all men. So we want to look at even the world, people, about things that are good, but yet that doesn't save them. But it gives us an opportunity to maybe endorse or at least present the life that we have in Christ Jesus. Not returning evil for evil, reviling for reviling, it's what Peter says, but on the contrary, blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. So in other words, as we show up in our new life to others, and we want to not, we want to recognize evil for evil, but we also want to present a difference in our lives versus what we're experiencing.

But always pursue imperative what is both good for yourselves and for, note this, and for all. Pursue, to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavoring to acquire. But is important here. However, do we always know what is good? But always pursue what is good, both for you and for others. In context, it's what is upright, it's what's honorable, it's what is acceptable to God.

And Romans 12.2. And do not be conformed to this world. We're not going to be conformed, but be transformed by the revealing of our mind that we may prove what is a good and acceptable and a perfect will of God. The primary objective here is the spiritual welfare of the offender. Thomas, non-retaliation for personal wrongs is perhaps the best evidence Final thoughts by everyone before we close.

Father, close us with prayer, please. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for our time today, Lord. We thank you for the marvelous truths we have in your Word. We pray that we would look to you in faith as we conduct our daily lives. In Christ's name, Amen.