june 26 Love… more and more

June 26, 2020,

Good afternoon everyone,

" As for other matters, brothers and sisters , we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of Lord Jesus."   I Thessalonians 4:1-2 ( NIV)

The  believing community in Thessaloniki was part of an important city during the time of the early church. The city still sits on the north end of the Aegean Sea somewhere between Athens and Istanbul. They have not found any remnants of an early church building, So, this community that Paul helped to start met in homes, probably wealthy people's homes because slaves would have been outside the city, and would have not had the room to meet. We only have these two letters about this community. Today, there are Greek Orthodox churches all over the city. The city streets of Paul's time are buried under almost 2000 years of dirt, buildings and history. It is hard to determine anything about this biblical community for certain.

Paul writes that he and the leadership gave the members some instruction. They have been faithful to what they have heard, and Paul invites them to do even more to be even more faithful. He talks for about six verses ( vv. 3-9 ) on sexual morality, saying, " and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister". Following this, he says we should love one another.

What has the Lord instructed us to do ? We could list all the things that we have learned in following Jesus throughout our lives. Is loving one another, the overarching instruction or theme that we live by in this world ? Is loving someone only a feeling, or also implies action ?

Prayer

The letter makes sense

even though written

almost 2000 years ago.

Love makes the world go around,

but

also right side up or upside down

or even on a very right angle,

Help us, aid us, wrap your heavenly arms around us, O God,

so, we might do the same for

all people we meet on the way to the end of the world.

Instruct and teach us

into the Kingdom of God

here on earth.   AMEN

Fred

Tread on bold new paths !

Fireflies flash the direction

Hope springs eternal           Monica Pieper Landoni 2020

Fred Redekop

Pastor

Poole Mennonite Church