Lead A Peaceful Life
There is an interesting verse in 1 Thessalonians 4:11. It says this, The Voice, “and make it your goal to lead a peaceful life, mind your own business, and keep your hands busy in your work, as we have instructed you.” I have never heard a sermon preached on this, probably because it sounds sort of boring. But, the verse has stuck with me because there is a message of freedom in it.
In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, Paul is giving a great deal of practical encouragement and instruction. Just prior to 4:11, Paul is exhorting this church to stay away from anything that pollutes them. He urges them not to live “impure, adulterous, scandalous lives, but to seek holiness and purity.” He then praises them for the love they show to the brethren and tells them to “make it their goal” to lead a quiet life.
I know that for myself and many, many others I have talked to – we want to fulfill our God-given purpose, we want to make a difference but we never seem to be sure that we are doing that. It’s like we have a constant, nagging feeling that we aren’t doing enough or we aren’t enough. But, here is Paul, setting us free from that.
Leading a life filled with peace and a quiet spirit, minding our own business and working is actually a goal! It’s enough because that kind of life speaks volumes to those around us. In addition, it can be hard to do because our world is not peaceful or quiet and everything around us tries to draw us in to its chaos. Just focusing on your own life, your own business and keeping those hands busy in Godly pursuits can be work at times! But, it’s supposed to be – it’s a goal – something we are always working toward and – God likes it!
Jesus told us to do a very simple, non-glamorous thing - go into the world, make disciples and preach the gospel. He didn’t tell us to be famous, or that we had a quota to meet in order to be acceptable; He didn’t say we had to be in full time ministry; He didn’t say we had to do anything other than love and follow Him. He just told us to go do a simple thing. Paul is doing the same thing. Your life has a voice – it speaks to others. When people all around are in the midst of turmoil and strife but one person in their midst is at peace, who do you think they will turn to? You know the answer. Our plain, daily, repetitive, non-famous lives are not only enough, they are more than enough. They are a goal to strive for if they are being lived in peace and quietness, minding our own business and keeping our hands busy in our work. In other words, pursue peace and quietness, don’t be a gossip and keep your hands out of trouble. Love others. Rejoice in the life you have and live it well every single day.
Here is Paul’s prayer at the end of 1 Thessalonians. Make it yours today and every day that you need it. The Voice, “So now, may the God of peace make me His own completely and set me apart from the rest. May my spirit, soul and body be preserved, kept intact and wholly free from any sort of blame at the coming of my Lord Jesus the Anointed. For the God who calls me is faithful, and He can be trusted to make it so.”
—-Fleda