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Study to Be Quiet

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you... - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

    John Gill had this to say about studying to be quiet...    

"that ye study to be quiet", to live peaceably in their own families, and to give no disturbance to other families, by talebearing, whispering, and backbiting; to behave with quietness in the neighbourhood, town, or city, they dwell in, and to seek the peace thereof; and to lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, in the commonwealth, and under the government to which they belong; and not to create and encourage factions, divisions, animosities, and contentions, in their own church, or in any of the churches of Christ; and it becomes saints to make this their study, to be very solicitous for it, to strive for it, and pursue after it: the word used signifies to be ambitious of it, as what is a man's glory and honour, to emulate and strive to outdo each other, as who shall have the honour of being the quietest person, and the most peaceable member in the community:

    Folks, if you aren't striving for peace amongst believers, you have missed the mark.  You aren't to just sit back and hope for peace, you should pursue after it.  When dissension arises in the churches, are you striving after the truth and to be a peacemaker (Matt. 5:9), or are you seeking to glory in the strife?  Are you seeking after quietness and peace or are you on facebook spreading tales about others?  Are you whispering about people without talking to them, or are you genuinely seeking after truth and quietness?

    Our flesh craves the drama and the attention.  Some of us like to see our names in the spotlight.  But who cares about the spotlight if your brethren are hurt?  Do you crave the spotlight and drama and attention?  Do you desire to have your name on the latest meme or facebook post?  Or do you crave for righteousness, reconciliation, unity, and peace in the Gospel?  Think about it!  Grace and peace unto you!

Topics: Pristine Grace Churchianity Neo-Gnosticism
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