STARTING BACKWARDS

REFERENCE
1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 [NASB] But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

EXPLORATION
This is a long list of what Christian Living looks like.
1] Appreciate and look up to your pastor, ;and or group leader
2] Live at peace with one another
3] Let the jerks, know they are jerks
4] Encourage the discouraged
5] Help the weak
6] Be patient with everyone
7] No getting even, no payback, nobody
8] Seek good for everybody, all people
9] Rejoice always
10] Pray continually
11] Give thanks in everything
12] Don't break community with the Spirit
13] Listen to counsel, test it, and take the good
14] Abstain from evil
15] Pray
16] Kiss

APPLICATION
That's a big list! I'm starting backwards
I'm going to kiss and embrace brothers and sisters in Christ, I'm going to pray my heart out for those that speak into my life, and I'm betting that that doing the first two will keep me from the third. For to abstain from evil and not do good - that is the greatest sin of all.
Truth is I need to work on the whole list. Just reading it made me ashamed of how bad I am at some of the things listed. I need to mediate on it, probably memorize it, and with the Holy Spirit's help - own it.

PRAYER
Father,
Enable me to love
Encourage me to pray
Eliminate evil every day
Echo Paul's prayer in my life; "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."