Day 6 – Hold on to what is good. – 1 Thessalonians 5:21
What does it mean to hold on to what is good? What exactly is good? From the world’s perspective, good is something that is subjective; it changes from generation to generation depending on what the acceptable norms are for the current society.
But Paul’s command from God to “hold on to what is good” is not subjective at all. It is as old as the very earth God created and stands like a plumb line that we can compare what the world thinks is good versus what God says is good.
So what good do we need to hold on to?
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have a great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. – Colossians 1:10-12
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2
But to you who are listening I say: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. – Luke 6:27
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. – Lamentations 3:25-26
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. – Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And just in case the verses above haven’t clarified quite enough what good we are to hold on to and to act on, here is my favorite verse:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humble with your God. – Micah 6:8
Oh Father, how I love the words You gave us contained in Your Holy Bible! They encourage me and show me the way You want me to live. Give me a hunger for Your truth and the good You desire me to hold on to. Amen.
