DAILY DEVOTION No 40

NURTURING GOD’S PEOPLE

1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

14  And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be 

patient with everyone. 15  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be 

kind to each other and to everyone else. 16 ¶  Be joyful always; 17  pray continually;

18  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19  Do not put out 

the Spirit’s fire; 20  do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21  Test everything. Hold on to the 

good. 22  Avoid every kind of evil. 23 ¶  May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through 

and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord 

Jesus Christ. 24  The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

As leaders over God’s people we see from the above scripture that we have certain responsibilities. Let’s have a look at these:

i) Warn Those Who Are Idle, Encourage The Timid, Help The Weak And Be Patient With Everyone

Warn The Idle – As a leader, you are a watchman over the flock of God. You must guard those that God has placed in your care. This will often mean putting interest towards others above your wants and desires. In ancient Israel, watchmen were stationed on the walls surrounding the city to warn the people of imminent danger and the approach of messengers. Fearful persons, awake during the dangerous hours of the night, would often repeatedly inquire of the watchman whether all was well. The watchman’s job was to sound the alarm, then the army brought the victory against the enemy.

As God’s appointed leader, you must constantly be on guard that the enemy doesn’t get a foothold in people’s lives. If he can, he will try every way possible to discourage or to place temptation in their way. You must watch for his tactics at all times. If you become slack and lose focus or fall asleep on the job, you give the enemy an opportunity to move in on those you are guarding. 

Encourage The Timid And Help The Weak - Bring strength where strength is needed. As a leader, this can sometimes be required when you are far from feeling strengthened yourself. You must learn to encourage yourself in God so that, even though you may be going through difficult circumstances, you can boldly say to your people, ‘The Lord Is My Helper.’

Be Patient - Some people take quite a while to move beyond being a babe in Christ. They are constantly going from defeat to more defeat. Don’t get frustrated and give up on them. Extend grace to these ones and in patience, disciple them and help see them mature into God’s plan and purposes for their lives.

ii) Make Sure That Nobody Pays Back Wrong For Wrong, But Always Try To Be Kind To Each Other And To Everyone Else

Constantly foster brotherly kindness and in your own life demonstrate God’s love. If you notice wrong take place between your Christian brothers and sisters, endeavour to be a peacemaker and seek for righteousness and justice.

iii) Be Joyful Always, Pray Continually, And Give Thanks In All Circumstances

Be a person that lives a life of gratitude and thanksgiving. There should always be a ready word of praise unto the Lord for what He has done for us. Ps. 100:4 says ^“I will enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” You must make the choice to give thanks. Constantly be drawing joy from the wells of salvation.

Also, in this time where God is especially calling His church to prayer, as a leader you must lead by example. You cannot encourage others to pray and seek God if you are not doing it yourself. Luke 18:1 instructs us that ‘Men ought always to pray and not lose heart’. Then in 1 Tim 2:8 we read, ‘I desire therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. You cannot expect God to move in your individual life or corporately in the life of the church without making prayer a priority. This will mean being seen as a leader in prayer at prayer meetings etc.

iv) Do Not Put Out The Spirit’s Fire; Do Not Treat Prophecies With Contempt And Test Everything.

Be a person full of the Holy Ghost. Constantly be building up yourself in your most holy faith by

praying in the Holy Ghost. 2 Timothy 1:6 encourages us to stir up the gift of God that is within us. 

The inference in the Greek here is ‘to constantly add fuel to.’ Seek to be constantly filled with the 

Spirit, by speaking to yourself in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Seek earnestly the best 

gifts. Believe God for a greater impartation of His anointing to begin to operate in a greater 

dimension of the prophetic, in tongues and interpretation, in healings, miracles, word of knowledge 

and wisdom. Start to step out in faith.

Also, line up everything against the Word of God. Ask yourself the question, “Is what is said or done contrary to Scripture or does it line up with what Scripture says?

v) Hold On To The Good And Avoid Every Kind Of Evil.

Live an exemplary life and be a man or woman of holiness that is above reproach.

Your life must be transparent and you are to show integrity in everything you do. Let

there be no area in your life where others can point the finger. Remember that you are

a ‘living epistle known and read of all men.’ Therefore, in your speech and in your

actions, allow Christ’s character to be outworked through you.

Prayer

Lord, help me to love and nurture the people You have placed in my care. Give me a heart of compassion and always help me to stay alert as I careful guard and protect the flock.