October 13, 2014
Paul prayed for the persecuted believers in Thessalonica that the God who called them would also “enable” them to live for Him. When we answer God’s call our faith begins to “prompt” us to act. This prompting comes from our new nature in Christ which gives us the will to do good. Yet, this new will power always moves us to attempt things so beyond our ability that we must totally rely on God’s power to accomplish them. The time between the prompting and the accomplishing of God’s call is a time of testing. It is a time when we finally die to self-effort and live to total dependence on God’s enabling power. As the missionary pioneer, William Carey said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”
October 14, 2013
A beautiful benediction for today. May God “comfort” (encourage, urge, call) your heart and “establish” (strengthen, plant, to make stand) every “good word” and every “good work” of yours. Now go. Live for Jesus. You have all you need in Him.
October 15, 2012
Paul warned the believers at Thessalonica about wanting to be served when they should be serving others. One of the marks of a gospel movement in a formerly unreached locale is that new believers stop drinking and carousing and go to work, supporting their families and community. This has the effect of cultural lift on an entire city. Christ followers are workers. They are givers, not takers.
October 13, 2012
Like a tree, the Thessalonian believers were growing, flourishing, … THRIVING! Perhaps it was the persecution that the Thessalonians endured that moved them to grow. In a time and place when being a believer could get you killed, they did more than survive, they thrived. What was their secret? Don’t you want to do more than just get by? To move out of maintenance mode? It’s time to thrive!
October 15, 2011
A beautiful Trinitarian blessing. May the Spirit, who abides and fills you, direct your hearts to be immersed into God’s love and girded by Christ’s unstoppable perseverance. The 1st-Century Christians had no buildings or institutions, but they had all of God and turned the world upside down!