Hold On to Good

February 27, 2012 Monday Message:

Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians for Christian living teach us the following:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)

This week we look at #7, “Hold on to what is good.” That seems like a great idea, but how can we do it?

There’s a lot of “good stuff” in the Bible, and it’s good when we read it. But most of the time when we say we read it, we really only skimmed it, and most of the good will soon be forgotten.

If we read and also take some notes, we’ll hold on to more of the good stuff.

And if we read it, study it, and meditate on it we’re closer to locking the information inside our minds.

But just knowing all of God’s good stuff isn’t the goal. It won’t benefit us or others until we take action – put it into practice - until we make it part of our lives. When God’s perfect unchanging character becomes second nature to us, then we truly hold on to the good that has been given to us.

Put God’s Word into your actions - that’s what the Bible says we should do.

Norton Lawellin