Rethinking Life on Overload

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.—1 Thessalonians 4:1

And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

—1 Thessalonians 4:10

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”—1 Thessalonians 5:11

In the upside down Kingdom, it's good to know that “just one more thing” is not intended to add to anyone’s stack of daily responsibilities but to lighten it by getting our energies refocused. Instead, when life goes on overload, it’s good to fight through the mental "to-do" list traffic patterns to pause at the intersection of Chaos and Crazy, and remember that what really matters is pursuing simplicity even in the midst of it all:

• A daily life of God-honoring speech, thought, and deed

• Loving one another

• Encouraging one another

More than any earthly achievement, no matter how noble, these are the "to-do"s that can change lives (ours and others around us) and bring light to dark places.

Oh yeah, just one more thing: Don't forget to hand over the keys…

“May the God of peace himself make you entirely pure and devoted to God; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept strong and blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back again. God, who called you to become his child, will do all this for you, just as he promised." —1 Thessalonians 5:23-24