Reading Through the Bible

Greg set a goal for he and I to read through the Bible this year!  He picked the books to start with ~ Thessalonians, Ecclesiastes, & Proverbs.

Thessalonians was first ~ here is some wisdom I gleaned from this letter that Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church. 

1Thess. 3:12-13
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hears blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
1Thess 4:3-5
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel (body) in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust.  (The world certainly needs more of personal self control!)
1Thess 4:7
For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
1Thess 4:10-11
...But we encourage you, brethren, that you increase more & more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with you own hands, as we commanded you!
(lead a quiet life, mind your own business & work with your hands ~ great & much needed advice)
1Thess. 5:11-15
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, Be at peace among yourselves.  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.  See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for both yourselves and for all.
1Thess.5:21-22
Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

2Thess. 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
2Thess 3:6
But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
(This is a lot different than what happens today ~ we should be more serious about our sin & the sin of people we associate with)
2Thess.3:10
...If anyone will not work neither shall he eat.
(We are made to work and take care of ourselves, not depend on the welfare of others)
2Thess 3:13-14
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.  And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.  Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The original letters were not written with chapters & verses but were written as letters to a group of people.  The translators added the chapters and verses for ease of reading & locating particular texts.