Day 331: The Ministers’ Job Description (1 Thessalonians 5:14-23)

¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances ; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject 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. (1 Thess 5:14-23)

Through the Bible: 1 Thessalonians 1-5; 2 Thessalonians 1-3

It strikes me that there probably is not a better job description for pastoral ministry, or really any kind of church leadership, than what you see in this text.

From this passage, consider these twelve points for a job description for pastors:

1. ADMONISH the idle and disruptive (v. 14): I need to speak warning to those who lack initiative.
2. ENCOURAGE the fainthearted (v. 14): I need to speak courage to those who lack courage.
3. HELP the weak (v. 14): I need to not just speak, but provide relief to those who lack strength.
4. BE PATIENT with all (v. 14): I need to not get irritated or exasperated with those who lack maturity.
5. REFEREE the arguments (v. 15): Verse 15 says, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” I need to speak peace to those who lack perspective.
6. REJOICE always (v. 16): I need to speak joy to those who lack vision.
7. PRAY without ceasing (v. 17): I need to speak to God in those times I lack faith.
8. GIVE THANKS in all circumstances (v. 18): I need to speak thankfulness to those who lack gratitude.
9. RELEASE the Spirit (v. 19): Verse 19 says “Do not quench the Spirit.” I need to be sensitive to the Spirit’s work and movement in those times I lack flexibility.
10. DISCERN the Word (v. 20-21): Verse 20 says “Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test them all, hold to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” I need to speak truth to those who lack wisdom.
11. REJECT evil (v. 22): I need to speak against anything that lacks goodness.
12. YIELD to the Lord (v. 23): Verse 23 promises that “the God of peace himself [will] sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I need to be surrendered in those areas I lack holiness.

And the amazing promise from God’s Word for everyone in Christian service?

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)