We are to respect and acknowledge those who work hard amongst us. The context is primarily those who serve the church. Note that they also admonished people. Part of the role of the church is to declare what is right and wrong, and to correct its members where appropriate. Not in a heavy handed way, lording it over people, but there is a time and place for discipline. The church suffers when there is no discipline.
We are to seek to live at peace with each other. Having just urged them to commend those who work hard, those who are idle and disruptive are to be warned. Idleness and disruptiveness often go together. The devil finds work for idle hands, as the saying goes. We are not to seek revenge.
Verses 16 and 17 are wonderfully short but very apposite. We are to rejoice always and pray always. These are often things we do least of. Let's change our ways and do more rejoicing and praying. Prophecies are not to be treated with contempt, but to be tested, holding on to what is good. There are those who say prophecy ceased with the apostles. I must say I can find no evidence whatsoever in Scripture to support this view, and it seems a very strange doctrine. It is true that the canon of scripture is closed, but throughout the Bible, from creation to Revelation God has spoken to individuals, to nations and to churches. I am sure that He has not changed His ways!
We can quench the Spirit by treating prophecy with contempt, we can also quench the Spirit by not rejecting evil.
Verse 23 is a wonderful verse. The Lord is working to change our lives, to transform us. He started when we were saved, it will be completed when He returns, and it is ongoing right now. He is working so that every single bit of us is completely aligned with Him.
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