The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 13 August 2026 – Godly Instructions
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TOPIC: Godly Instructions
READ: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.
13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
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.
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
THE MESSAGE:
In our text today, Paul gives his readers several instructions. In verses 12-13, he emphasises the need for us to regard highly in love, those who care and labour for us in the spirit, even as we also pray for them (verse 25). He also urges us to be at peace with everyone, comfort the faint-hearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all, not to render evil for evil, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything, test all things and hold fast what is good. These are wonderful instructions from a leader to the led. Paul expects his readers to obey these instructions.
As modern leaders, we should use Paul’s words to instruct and guide those we lead, even as we also serve as perfect examples to them. Among other things, challenging situations should not overwhelm our gratitude to God. We also need to give the Spirit the freedom to move among us as He wishes. True prophecies should not be treated with contempt. We must spread this word around. As our spiritual leaders instruct us daily from the Scriptures, we must be very diligent to carry them out.
PRAYER: Help me, dear Lord, to follow to the letter; instructions from Your Word. Amen.
