From: October 9, 2023
“…how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9b NLT).
The apostle Paul commended the Thessalonian believers for turning from idolatry to the worship of the true and living God. They did this by receiving the message of the Gospel with joy, so that they gladly placed their faith in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
We think that we are too modern to struggle with idolatry; that it was a problem of primitive humanity. But idolatry is anyone or anything that we put in the place of God in our lives. As Martin Luther wrote, “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God, your functional savior.”
Our Creator made us for worship, so we will worship something. When we believe the Gospel, we are set free to worship the true God. However as my son, Jonathan, has recently preached, “Worship is war.” For many things vie for our attention and affection and tempt us to worship them. But as Tim Keller wrote, true worship involves “pulling our affections off our idols and putting them on God.” We often have to fight temptation and battle the flesh in order to get our focus off of worldly things and put them on the Lord.
Worship can be like war. So let us put on the whole armor of God and fight the good fight of faith today!
PRAYER: Father, we choose to worship You alone. For You are the only true and living God. Forgive us when we put anything or anyone ahead of You. Show us where any idols remain in our lives, that we may surrender them to You, placing all of our affection on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: October 9, 2022
GOD’S ENCOURAGEMENT TO DECLARE THE GOSPEL
Paul and Silas had been severely mistreated and jailed in the nearby city of Philippi before coming to Thessalonica. Yet that did not cause them to be timid in sharing the Gospel. For God gave them courage to declare “His Good News” to them boldly.
When we’ve been hurt or harassed for telling others about Jesus, it often has the effect of causing us to remain silent. Perhaps even the thought that people would make fun of us, or reject us, discourages us from declaring the Gospel. But when we are obedient to open our mouths, God is faithful to encourage and embolden us in declaring the Good News, so that sinners are saved by hearing and believing. Our conviction that the Gospel is the very power of God unto salvation, makes us bold (see Rom.1:16).
Overcoming the spiritual opposition to sharing the Good News, we realize the reality of the battle for men’s souls. In order to receive God’s encouragement for gospel-sharing, we must actually open our mouths to speak. It’s at that precise moment of obedience that we feel His Spirit supporting us and making us bolder.
PRAYER: Dear Father, give us courage today to overcome spiritual opposition. For we often feel too distracted or too overwhelmed to tell others the Good News. Yet we are convinced that Your power to save is found in the gospel alone, therefore we cry out to You for encouragement and strength. Help us to stand for You this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: October 9, 2016
God explained to Jeremiah that His judgment on Judah would grow still worse because they would not take to heart His warnings. They would not be able to rely on the land that flowed with milk and honey because they had made it “desolate,” so that the land itself mourned to God. National identity and self reliance would not save them from the storm. God was looking for heart change. I wonder. After the desolation in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, will there be any heart change in our land?
From: October 9, 2015
The apostle Paul told the Thessalonians that when they shared the gospel with them, they also shared their lives. This was the practice of Jesus, who was accused of eating and drinking with sinners. As Christ-followers we are called not only to share the gospel, but to share our very lives, loving others with the love of Christ. Gospel-sharing and life-sharing go hand in hand.
From: October 9, 2014
Paul said that the One who “entrusted” him with the gospel message was also the One whom he sought to please in its delivery. Those who claim to share the Word, yet water it down to please its hearers, are not approved by God. Not only do they not please God, they mislead the people. Whose approval do you seek? Whose applause?