you will be scattered

John 16:32
Indeed the hour is coming .... that you will be scattered ..."

We enjoy the fellowship with other believers for reasons such as security, similar interests, sense of being a family. But there are times that believers are scattered and left on their own. In these times it may be their faith that determine how they will carry on. The situation may be bad, but those in strong faith will have retain that peace of God that surpasses understanding. This faith comes from walking close with God which leads to having a confidence that is placed solely on God and not on surrounding circumstances.

May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5
23 .... may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This verse can be a general application for all Christians, because the Lord is coming and we are meant to keep ourselves blameless. To put it in context, this chapter begins with the description of the Second Coming of our Lord Yshua Ha Masiach. Although the exact time will be unknown, there will be many signs so that those who watch will now. So the whole Body or Church is supposed to be alert to this, and keep ourselves pure in preparation for His Coming.

The verse mentions not only our physical body has to be pure, but so too do our spirit and soul. A preacher once defined these three quantities as follows: We ARE a spirit - the real us, we HAVE a soul - our intellect or mind and we LIVE in our body - the physical part. This verse says to keep all three blameless.

If this does not make sense then try thinking of the opposite of keeping just the body pure but unrestricting the soul and spirit. Pretty soon the spirit will motivate the person to unholiness, then the soul will rationalize or justify the actions, and quite soon the body will be helpless but follow what the soul and spirit directs. Hence all three must be kept blameless.