September 7-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 17:1-8, When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul and Silas went to Thessalonica on Paul’s second missionary journey. Thessalonica was a busy port city in Macedonia sitting along the Via Egnatia which gave it the best access between Rome and the East. When Paul visited there, it enjoyed a good relationship with Rome, though the history between Rome and Macedonia was tense. Upon arriving, he entered the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath and taught from the Scriptures for at least three weeks. His message centered on the suffering and resurrection of the Messiah. We are told some Jews believed, as did many Greeks and a large number of prominent women. However, some Jews created a riot as they claimed Paul’s message of Jesus as king stood opposed to King Caesar. The situation was so tense that Paul and Silas escaped at night.
Relate it to your life.
The proclamation of Jesus does not settle well when people have put their trust in political power.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, may my first loyalty always be to You, not to the inferior powers of this world. Amen.
September 8-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-3, Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul identified himself as a coworker with Timothy and Silas writing to the church who is identified by God the Father and the Lord Jesus. We must always remember where we get our identity. Paul thanked God for them and appreciated greatly their virtues of faith, love, and hope. Paul switched the usual order of faith, hope, and love to put an emphasis on the theme of hope that runs through the whole letter. Paul also identified these virtues as being action virtues: work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope. He cleverly countered wrong views of each: faith is not opposed to works, love should include labor, and hope requires endurance. He celebrated the fruit the gospel was bearing in them and should be accomplishing in all of us who claim the name of Jesus.
Relate it to your life.
Am I progressing along in my faith producing work, love prompting labor, and hope inspiring endurance?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, as it was for them, may it be obvious that I am making good spiritual progress. Amen.
September 9-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
Observe what it is saying.
Because they were loved and chosen by God, the Gospel made its way to the Thessalonians through these missionaries in four ways: (1) It came "with words." This is obvious, since words are basic to intelligent communication, but the Gospel's coming was not "simply" in word; it was only a part of the whole picture. It reminds us that a preacher’s message is powerless on its own. (2) That is why the Gospel came "with power". There has to be an inner power within the messenger that proclaims the message. That power is identified as (3) the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit empowering the messenger and the receiver, there is nothing of eternal value that can take place. True Spirit-filled messengers are used as the earthly voice of Jesus. (4) With such Holy Spirit empowerment, there comes a deep conviction in what is believed and spoken. They had absolute assurance what they were proclaiming was true and life-changing. "You know how we lived among you for your sake" draws on the Thessalonians' awareness of what Paul, Silas, and Timothy became while with them, confirming the kind of inner transformation God brings through His power. The missionaries’ quality of life had in itself been a strong witness of their sincerity and of the life-giving message they preached.
Relate it to your life.
The Holy Spirit enlivens the messenger’s life and proclamation and the hearer’s ability to respond.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I ask that my life and words will be a compelling conviction and testimony for You. Amen.
September 10-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7, You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul said that the Thessalonians “became imitators of us and of the Lord.” It is important that new Christians have mature Christians by which they can model their own lives and faith. Just as young children need a family, so do young Christians need the church family. As Christians, we must not only seek to win people to Christ but disciple them in the faith so they grow up in obedience to God’s Word. Because the Thessalonians were so attentive and responsive in following Jesus and other believers, they were already setting a good example that provided a model of encouragement for other churches throughout the area. Churches were never meant to be in competition with each other, but to serve as an encouraging and supporting presence for each other. The church at Thessalonica was showing itself to be exemplary as they believed and lived the message in spite of the suffering they experienced. They discovered that joy of the Spirit is greater than the pain of suffering. We discover a pattern of growth that began in yesterday’s Scripture. The Thessalonians were loved and chosen to be followers of Jesus. They became imitators of other faithful persons by holding on to faith in persecution, thereby, becoming a witness to others.
Relate it to your life.
I am loved, chosen, and changed to become a channel of faith to others.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving and choosing me. Change and use me to be a model for others. Amen.
September 11-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:8-9, The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
Observe what it is saying.
The Thessalonians transformation in Christ Jesus was remarkable as it became known everywhere. Their testimony was being shared, not just in their local area, but throughout the larger Roman Empire. As we mentioned on the first day of this series, it was not necessarily an easy place for Paul to do ministry since they had to leave in the cover of night. However, there were a large number of God-fearing Greeks who responded to the gospel message. Their transformation was unexpected and stood out as it became known around the empire. The message that was being told was they turned from idol worship to serve the living and true God. Idols are not living. Idols are not true. However, in Jesus Christ, they discovered what was real and alive and it woke them up spiritually. Their lives were so different that the message rang out! In the same way, it is the responsibility and privilege of each local church to share the message of salvation with the lost world. At the end of each of the four gospels and at the beginning of the Book of Acts, there are messages for the churches to obey in doing so. Many congregations are content to pay a staff to do the work of the Great Commission. However, we find in the New Testament, the entire congregation was involved in being a witness for Jesus.
Relate it to your life.
How is my life contributing to the message of the gospel being known everywhere?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, may it be known that my life is different because You are alive and true. Amen.
September 12-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:10, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Observe what it is saying.
The Thessalonians were known to be faithfully waiting for the return of Christ. The word translated “wait” means “to await someone with patience and confidence, expectantly.” It involves activity and endurance as evidenced by the Thessalonians powerful witness. Early Christianity held that the resurrected and ascended Christ would return as King, and their strong expectation of this event implied its nearness. Had Jesus never been raised from the dead, He could never return; but since He had been raised, His future reappearance is guaranteed. It is not some mystical spirit but the historical person "Jesus" who will return as rescuer of living Christians from the period of divine wrath at the close of the world's present age of grace. "Wrath" is frequently used in the New Testament as a technical term for the period just before Messiah's kingdom on earth, when God will afflict earth's inhabitants with an unparalleled series of physical torments because of their rejection of His will. That wrath is pictured as already on its way and should be understood as quite near. However, rather than fearing this time, we find an incentive to persevere because for us it will mean rescue rather than doom. This theme of having hope in Christ’s coming is so important that it is found near the end of each chapter in this first letter.
Relate it to your life.
Do I fear the coming wrath or do I have hope in the thought of Christ’s return?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I look forward to seeing You in person! Keep me faithful as I await Your return. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 17:1-8, When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul and Silas went to Thessalonica on Paul’s second missionary journey. Thessalonica was a busy port city in Macedonia sitting along the Via Egnatia which gave it the best access between Rome and the East. When Paul visited there, it enjoyed a good relationship with Rome, though the history between Rome and Macedonia was tense. Upon arriving, he entered the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath and taught from the Scriptures for at least three weeks. His message centered on the suffering and resurrection of the Messiah. We are told some Jews believed, as did many Greeks and a large number of prominent women. However, some Jews created a riot as they claimed Paul’s message of Jesus as king stood opposed to King Caesar. The situation was so tense that Paul and Silas escaped at night.
Relate it to your life.
The proclamation of Jesus does not settle well when people have put their trust in political power.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, may my first loyalty always be to You, not to the inferior powers of this world. Amen.
September 8-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-3, Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul identified himself as a coworker with Timothy and Silas writing to the church who is identified by God the Father and the Lord Jesus. We must always remember where we get our identity. Paul thanked God for them and appreciated greatly their virtues of faith, love, and hope. Paul switched the usual order of faith, hope, and love to put an emphasis on the theme of hope that runs through the whole letter. Paul also identified these virtues as being action virtues: work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope. He cleverly countered wrong views of each: faith is not opposed to works, love should include labor, and hope requires endurance. He celebrated the fruit the gospel was bearing in them and should be accomplishing in all of us who claim the name of Jesus.
Relate it to your life.
Am I progressing along in my faith producing work, love prompting labor, and hope inspiring endurance?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, as it was for them, may it be obvious that I am making good spiritual progress. Amen.
September 9-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
Observe what it is saying.
Because they were loved and chosen by God, the Gospel made its way to the Thessalonians through these missionaries in four ways: (1) It came "with words." This is obvious, since words are basic to intelligent communication, but the Gospel's coming was not "simply" in word; it was only a part of the whole picture. It reminds us that a preacher’s message is powerless on its own. (2) That is why the Gospel came "with power". There has to be an inner power within the messenger that proclaims the message. That power is identified as (3) the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit empowering the messenger and the receiver, there is nothing of eternal value that can take place. True Spirit-filled messengers are used as the earthly voice of Jesus. (4) With such Holy Spirit empowerment, there comes a deep conviction in what is believed and spoken. They had absolute assurance what they were proclaiming was true and life-changing. "You know how we lived among you for your sake" draws on the Thessalonians' awareness of what Paul, Silas, and Timothy became while with them, confirming the kind of inner transformation God brings through His power. The missionaries’ quality of life had in itself been a strong witness of their sincerity and of the life-giving message they preached.
Relate it to your life.
The Holy Spirit enlivens the messenger’s life and proclamation and the hearer’s ability to respond.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I ask that my life and words will be a compelling conviction and testimony for You. Amen.
September 10-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7, You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul said that the Thessalonians “became imitators of us and of the Lord.” It is important that new Christians have mature Christians by which they can model their own lives and faith. Just as young children need a family, so do young Christians need the church family. As Christians, we must not only seek to win people to Christ but disciple them in the faith so they grow up in obedience to God’s Word. Because the Thessalonians were so attentive and responsive in following Jesus and other believers, they were already setting a good example that provided a model of encouragement for other churches throughout the area. Churches were never meant to be in competition with each other, but to serve as an encouraging and supporting presence for each other. The church at Thessalonica was showing itself to be exemplary as they believed and lived the message in spite of the suffering they experienced. They discovered that joy of the Spirit is greater than the pain of suffering. We discover a pattern of growth that began in yesterday’s Scripture. The Thessalonians were loved and chosen to be followers of Jesus. They became imitators of other faithful persons by holding on to faith in persecution, thereby, becoming a witness to others.
Relate it to your life.
I am loved, chosen, and changed to become a channel of faith to others.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving and choosing me. Change and use me to be a model for others. Amen.
September 11-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:8-9, The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
Observe what it is saying.
The Thessalonians transformation in Christ Jesus was remarkable as it became known everywhere. Their testimony was being shared, not just in their local area, but throughout the larger Roman Empire. As we mentioned on the first day of this series, it was not necessarily an easy place for Paul to do ministry since they had to leave in the cover of night. However, there were a large number of God-fearing Greeks who responded to the gospel message. Their transformation was unexpected and stood out as it became known around the empire. The message that was being told was they turned from idol worship to serve the living and true God. Idols are not living. Idols are not true. However, in Jesus Christ, they discovered what was real and alive and it woke them up spiritually. Their lives were so different that the message rang out! In the same way, it is the responsibility and privilege of each local church to share the message of salvation with the lost world. At the end of each of the four gospels and at the beginning of the Book of Acts, there are messages for the churches to obey in doing so. Many congregations are content to pay a staff to do the work of the Great Commission. However, we find in the New Testament, the entire congregation was involved in being a witness for Jesus.
Relate it to your life.
How is my life contributing to the message of the gospel being known everywhere?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, may it be known that my life is different because You are alive and true. Amen.
September 12-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 1:10, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Observe what it is saying.
The Thessalonians were known to be faithfully waiting for the return of Christ. The word translated “wait” means “to await someone with patience and confidence, expectantly.” It involves activity and endurance as evidenced by the Thessalonians powerful witness. Early Christianity held that the resurrected and ascended Christ would return as King, and their strong expectation of this event implied its nearness. Had Jesus never been raised from the dead, He could never return; but since He had been raised, His future reappearance is guaranteed. It is not some mystical spirit but the historical person "Jesus" who will return as rescuer of living Christians from the period of divine wrath at the close of the world's present age of grace. "Wrath" is frequently used in the New Testament as a technical term for the period just before Messiah's kingdom on earth, when God will afflict earth's inhabitants with an unparalleled series of physical torments because of their rejection of His will. That wrath is pictured as already on its way and should be understood as quite near. However, rather than fearing this time, we find an incentive to persevere because for us it will mean rescue rather than doom. This theme of having hope in Christ’s coming is so important that it is found near the end of each chapter in this first letter.
Relate it to your life.
Do I fear the coming wrath or do I have hope in the thought of Christ’s return?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I look forward to seeing You in person! Keep me faithful as I await Your return. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals