"Looking for Lovely"

Summer Book Club

“Looking for Lovely”

Thursday, August 10th

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, put you together – spirit, soul, and body – and keep you fit for the coming of the Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, MSG

These verses have been important to me for such a long time. Around 2013, I studied Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, and I loved them.

Most scholars believe these were his first letters to churches. That’s fascinating by itself. Also, in these letters, Paul was praising and encouraging a church that he’d heard great things about. He’d spent time with the people of Thessalonica. They were special to him. When word got to him that these friends were carrying the name of Jesus well, Paul wanted to write to them. They weren’t “in trouble” for missing his message. Throughout the letters, he’s mostly telling them they understood well. They were doing a good job. Paul wanted these people that he loved to keep on going.

The verses I shared read like a New Testament 10 commandments: “Do this,” and “Don’t do this.” Read the verses again. Does it sound that way to you?

After a complete first letter of encouragement and instruction, Paul wrapped up the letter with a list of commands that would lead to fullness of life with Christ.

Annie’s chapter, “Unfinished,” made me specifically think of 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24,

“Now, may the God of peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely holy. And may your entire being – spirit, soul, and body – be kept completely flawless in the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. The One who calls you by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete his work in you.” MSG

God has called us to be holy, to live holy. He has plans for us, and those plans are good. Also, we are in process. We are unfinished. That can be so difficult at times. I don’t know about you, but I keep hoping for an “arrival date and time.” I deeply desire being finished and complete. I don’t really want more and more growth opportunities. Yet, they keep coming.

Also, I don’t pass each one with flying colors. I wish I could, but I do not. Why? Because I’m in process. I am unfinished. You too? Great!

Together we can learn to trust the One who is trustworthy, because He has promised to thoroughly complete His work in us. “Thoroughly” sounds like finished to me.

Our God is in the process of finishing what feels unfinished. That’s good enough for me!

God, thank you for Jesus! He is our only hope for this process called life. Please help us to trust Him rather than worry and fret and take ourselves so seriously. We are Your children. You knew we’d fail. You knew we’d live our lives in messy ways. You sent Jesus to live perfectly, and His righteousness covers us. Not only that, but His righteousness is also sanctifying us from the inside out. I pray that every thought of being unfinished would remind us that You are in the process of completing us. Amen.