Most Fridays, I join Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Lots of women. All of us writing on that same word.
Today the word prompt is … Try.
In reading the word prompt before heading to bed, one thought went through my head, “I am going to try not to do this one.”
Even as I was drifting off to sleep, I was aware of the word weaving its way into my thoughts. I tried hard to avoid it but somehow, I knew, try as hard as I may, “Try” was going to still be present in the morning.
The early morning hours found me in the usual routine of reading and Bible study. My mind was trying to move on in thought but the word kept on pulling me back. Try ….
“…but always try to do good to each other and to all people.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15, NLT)
Try to do good … to attempt or endeavor to do something.
It has to mean even more than what meets the eye. I try to lose weight. I try to keep up with the ironing. Those are trivial things. This, “try to do good”, must mean more.
Pulling my commentary off the nearby shelf I read:
“Try to be kind” fails to convey the urgency and effort implied in Paul’s exhortation … The Christian must actively “pursue” … Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to pursue the good “always”, for “each other” and for “everyone else” as well. (New American Commentary, Volume 33, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, page 180)
Paul knew this was necessary and must be continuous in our lives. We must seek that which is good for one another, those things which will benefit and bless and grow each other in the love of the Lord and for one another.
Today –
let’s try to do good.
To each other and
to all people.
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith Filled Friday and Fellowship Friday and Blessing Counters .
hi joanne:) i’m your next door neighbor at FMF. i see we were on different tracks today…but i think our goals were similar in that i want us to think about how we use the word “try” and so do you. often, we carelessly use it…and rarely mean pursue! great post.
Martha, may we both “try” with the same urgency Paul intended in his words. Thank you for stopping here!
Hi Joanne – I came to your post because you always write thoughtfully and practically. Sometimes I just need the calm of reading your words. So… I love the word ‘pursue’. God pursues us (which is AMAZING), so it seems that we should pursue the things that please and glorify Him. I like that – it’s active. I recently read something that broadened my understanding of another, related verse… It’s in a couple of the gospels: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” We need to choose to see the things that are light. We need to pursue light in our lives. We need to pursue (active) doing things of the light… good… This goes right with choosing joy (conscious and active – and not always easy…right?)
Doncha love those ‘aha’ moments in scripture. I feel blessed to have visited you today.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Janet. I have often been amazed at how practical God’s Word truly can be in my life. But then, if I cannot apply it so as to make a change in my life, somehow I don’t think it would be as meaningful to me. I love the verse (and application) you shared. When you come down to it, much of this walk with Jesus takes us being flat out active & cooperating with Him. Thank you for blessing me with your visit!
such great thoughts.
Much appreciated!