1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:12
Click to read passage
This passage paints a very honest picture of church life. Paul does not describe the church as a group of perfect, mature people who always understand one another. Instead, he describes a community of people who need to be reminded, corrected, encouraged, and patiently supported. He writes, “Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
That verse alone reminds us of a simple reality: even in the church, even among God’s people, we are still weak and broken.
Very often, our real problem is not obvious outward sin, but a deeper, inward self-centeredness. We measure others by our own standards. We feel leaders are not caring enough, coworkers are not responsible enough, and fellow believers are too emotional or too immature. In relationships, we easily start keeping score: If you treat me this way, I’ll respond the same way. So when we feel hurt, ignored, or misunderstood, our first reaction is usually self-protection, emotional distance, or even retaliation.
But Paul says something very different. He said, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15) This is not just a simple moral reminder to be nicer people. It is a radical call that goes against our natural instincts.
By nature, we are wired to look out for ourselves. We rationalize our resentment, keep score with others, and find it natural to want revenge when we are hurt. Apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul’s call to live this way is beyond us.
That is why the gospel of Jesus becomes the foundation of all our relationships. Jesus did not wait until we were obedient, strong, or spiritually mature before loving us. Scripture tells us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). On the cross, Jesus bore our sin—our self-righteousness, our selfishness, and our tendency to repay evil for evil. He treated those who deserved judgment with grace. That includes us.
When we truly see how God has forgiven us, patiently endured us, and continually upheld us, only then can we begin to look at others differently.
In our busy work lives and in church life, we will inevitably encounter people who disappoint us—people who fall again and again, who drain our patience. The gospel does not tell us to ignore problems or enable unhealthy behaviour. Neither does it ask us to keep fixing people through our own effort, as if real change depends on our persistence. Instead, the gospel allows us to hold both truth and love together. We can address issues honestly, correct when necessary, and still refuse to judge. We can set healthy boundaries to prevent harm, while continuing to treat others with respect and hope.
Because in the end, it is God’s grace that changes hearts. We do not need to respond to weakness with coldness, nor do we need to demand immediate results. We entrust transformation to God, and in the waiting, we choose mercy and grace. After all, we ourselves are still standing today only because God’s grace has carried us, again and again.
Reflection:
Who is the person that has recently made you feel impatient, distant, or tempted to respond with indifference? In that relationship, are you willing to let the way Jesus has treated you shape the way you treat them?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we confess that without your grace, our hearts easily become hardened, impatient, and self-protective. Thank you that through the cross of Jesus Christ, you did not treat us according to our sins, but drew us back with mercy and goodness. Dear Lord, renew our vision through the gospel, so that in real and difficult relationships, we may learn to be patient, to love, and to support one another. May our lives become a testimony of your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Click to read passage
This passage paints a very honest picture of church life. Paul does not describe the church as a group of perfect, mature people who always understand one another. Instead, he describes a community of people who need to be reminded, corrected, encouraged, and patiently supported. He writes, “Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
That verse alone reminds us of a simple reality: even in the church, even among God’s people, we are still weak and broken.
Very often, our real problem is not obvious outward sin, but a deeper, inward self-centeredness. We measure others by our own standards. We feel leaders are not caring enough, coworkers are not responsible enough, and fellow believers are too emotional or too immature. In relationships, we easily start keeping score: If you treat me this way, I’ll respond the same way. So when we feel hurt, ignored, or misunderstood, our first reaction is usually self-protection, emotional distance, or even retaliation.
But Paul says something very different. He said, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15) This is not just a simple moral reminder to be nicer people. It is a radical call that goes against our natural instincts.
By nature, we are wired to look out for ourselves. We rationalize our resentment, keep score with others, and find it natural to want revenge when we are hurt. Apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul’s call to live this way is beyond us.
That is why the gospel of Jesus becomes the foundation of all our relationships. Jesus did not wait until we were obedient, strong, or spiritually mature before loving us. Scripture tells us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). On the cross, Jesus bore our sin—our self-righteousness, our selfishness, and our tendency to repay evil for evil. He treated those who deserved judgment with grace. That includes us.
When we truly see how God has forgiven us, patiently endured us, and continually upheld us, only then can we begin to look at others differently.
In our busy work lives and in church life, we will inevitably encounter people who disappoint us—people who fall again and again, who drain our patience. The gospel does not tell us to ignore problems or enable unhealthy behaviour. Neither does it ask us to keep fixing people through our own effort, as if real change depends on our persistence. Instead, the gospel allows us to hold both truth and love together. We can address issues honestly, correct when necessary, and still refuse to judge. We can set healthy boundaries to prevent harm, while continuing to treat others with respect and hope.
Because in the end, it is God’s grace that changes hearts. We do not need to respond to weakness with coldness, nor do we need to demand immediate results. We entrust transformation to God, and in the waiting, we choose mercy and grace. After all, we ourselves are still standing today only because God’s grace has carried us, again and again.
Reflection:
Who is the person that has recently made you feel impatient, distant, or tempted to respond with indifference? In that relationship, are you willing to let the way Jesus has treated you shape the way you treat them?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we confess that without your grace, our hearts easily become hardened, impatient, and self-protective. Thank you that through the cross of Jesus Christ, you did not treat us according to our sins, but drew us back with mercy and goodness. Dear Lord, renew our vision through the gospel, so that in real and difficult relationships, we may learn to be patient, to love, and to support one another. May our lives become a testimony of your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.