"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Why do you do what you do? Why do you treat people the way you treat them? Well - Paul wrote that "every deed" should be prompted by faith. In other words there is nothing that we do that should be birthed from our old nature. No words said. No attitudes held. No actions taken that do not have their root in our spiritual natures.
At the core of our faith is love. We love God first and others next - finding the power to love them is born out of our love of God. Seems simple doesn't it. That gives some context to what John wrote.
We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." - 1 John 4:19-21
If every deed and thought is to be prompted by love, then what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth is brought into context.
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Take a moment to consider your interactions with people - face to face - on the phone - even on social media. What kind of grade would you give yourself if you used 1 Corinthians 13 as the measuring stick? My point - Who we are by faith in Christ is who we should be to everyone we interact with. The Word of God is not a guide - it is a directive.
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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