October 5-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul challenges the Thessalonians on to greater spiritual depths. He calls them brothers and sisters in showing his love and tenderness as he calls them to stay faithful and continue to please the Lord. The nature of Paul's appeal is "ask" and "urge". The former word is a gentle, friendly request and the latter is more of an authoritative apostolic plea. The words "in the Lord Jesus" are the reason why he speaks as he does. Everything he says and does is because of Jesus. The Thessalonians had already been given instruction about how they must "live in order to please God." Once again, he gives them credit for doing so by recognizing the substantial progress they had already made. Yet, Paul knows we cannot rest on our past success. We must stay fervent and zealous in our walk with Christ. Once we become comfortable, we lose our passion and can eventually lose our way if do not maintain vigilance in our desire to please God. We need others who “ask” and “urge” us to keep on pleasing God. However, Paul makes it clear he is not doing this on his own but understands his calling and his message bear the authority of the Lord Jesus. Jesus called and compelled Paul to passionately preach the gospel.
Relate it to your life.
Do I need to be urged to please the Lord more and more? Do I need to urge someone to do so?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for family, teachers, and preachers who press us to keep on pleasing You. Amen.
October 6-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
Observe what it is saying.
Paul gets specific about how they should please the Lord more and more. They should be sanctified or be made holy in their personal morality. Holiness is an important Old Testament concept, which conveys the notion of “separation.” It is the need for God’s people to “come out” and be “distinct” from the surrounding peoples. Holiness, therefore, is the boundary marker that separates God’s people from secular culture. Pagan moral corruption looked upon fornication either indifferently or favorably. So, Paul takes this standard of holiness, which had previously been the exclusive calling of God’s chosen people, and applies it to the predominantly Gentile church in Thessalonica. As those declared holy by the priceless blood of the Lamb, we are to consciously choose to honor our Savior by living as His pure bride. That means our lives should be markedly different than the sinful culture around us by practicing abstinence from "sexual immorality". This word includes all types of sexual sins outside the biblical marriage covenant. Even though the Thessalonians have already been commended for the way they were pleasing the Lord, Paul made it a point to warn them of the alluring power of sexual temptation that so dominated their culture. If this was true for them, then it is also true for us. We must be warned and made vigilant to stay alert in protecting ourselves.
Relate it to your life.
I need to be cautioned as they were for such temptation abounds in our culture.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I ask for your supernatural protection to stand guard over me as I navigate the many tempting voices and vices of this world. Amen.
October 7-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:5-6, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul continues to expand on his theme of holy living as related to sexual purity. As believers in Christ, they were called out of the pagan lifestyle which was characterized as "passionate lust." They had no boundaries but was an “anything goes” kind of culture that they tried to navigate as they followed Jesus. Once redeemed, followers have new prescribed boundaries which require them to a higher standard. To wrong and take advantage of a brother or sister in the faith by having relations with a woman or man outside marriage is a trespass against God's law. It also defrauds a fellow Christian who eventually will take, or has taken, this person as their own spouse. This is an especially heinous sin because the one robbed is a spiritual relative of the robber. Paul speaks the sober reason for complying is the future punishment of "all such sins." He tells of the future judgment at His Second Coming for any such unrepented sin. Paul's initial visit to Thessalonica had informed and warned them of these dire consequences. We do not know if there was currently such sin in the church or if Paul was preemptively warning them to prevent the pagan influence from entering the church. Either way, Paul cared enough to strongly caution them. In so doing, he warns us to be careful with sexual sin being so prominent in our world.
Relate it to your life.
I need to take Paul’s strong warning to heart for it has eternal consequences.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit protect me from the tempting forces all around. Amen.
October 8-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8, For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul reminds us that this is not his teaching but it comes directly from God. The main reason we are to come out of the sinfulness of this world and live a holy lifestyle is because God has called every believer to do so. If we are a follower of Jesus Christ, then this higher way of living is our destination. There are no excuses. It has been made absolutely clear that the people of God are to manifest the pure character of God. If we reject this teaching, then we are not merely rejecting Paul, we are rejecting God. This is the same God who has generously given us His Holy Spirit. The name “Holy Spirit” easily rolls off our lips but notice God has intentionally included the word “holy” to describe His own Spirit. It is not just any spirit living within us, but the Holy Spirit has been given so that we might be empowered to live like Jesus. God has not only redeemed and declared us to be holy, but He has given Himself to us so that we will be energized to become holy in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Holiness is the total of God’s beautiful attributes wrapped up in one amazing package dwelling within us!
Relate it to your life.
Do I embrace God’s holiness as a beautiful gift to be lived through me?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the glory of Your holiness. Through Your Holy Spirit, bring this to life in me in every imaginable way so I can shine Your beauty into the world. Amen.
October 9-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,
Observe what it is saying.
Paul applauds the Thessalonians for their love but also prods them to keep on loving. Paul does not see a need to teach them further because they have aready been taught by God. Jesus confirmed that this direct method had been prophesied. John 6:45,” It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” John would also later write, John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Thessalonians learned to love by God’s direct teaching just as prophesied in the Old Testament and then repeated by Jesus in the New Covenant through the teaching of the Holy Spirit. We often think we need an earthly teacher or preacher to instruct us, but the fact is the Holy Spirit is continually teaching us if we are listening. When we trust in Christ and are given the gift of the Spirit, we should expect the Spirit to speak to our spirits about what is right, good, and holy. We have an advantage over the Thessalonians because we have the instruction of the Holy Spirit as revealed in Holy Scripture. So, let us not deny the possibility and the power of God’s direct teaching. The lesson here also includes the fact that loving more is always possible because Christ’s love is infinite, and we will never be able to fully live it in all of its beauty in this life. So, there is always room for us to grow and love others as Jesus did.
Relate it to your life.
What is the Holy Spirit teaching me? Do I recognize that I can love more than I am?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to listen to Your teaching and help me to love others more like You. Amen.
October 10-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul gives simple instruction of how to carry themselves as Christians in a non-Christian world. Paul tells that our ambition should not be to become famous with a large public following. That may come, but such fame should not be our inner drive. Instead, our desire should be to live humble, behind-the-scenes kind of lives where we mind our own business. We do not put ourselves into situations where we do not belong. Instead, we should concentrate on doing our daily work, not being idle. It appears some in the Thessalonian church were taking advantage of the generosity of other Christians in accepting financial help while making no effort at supporting themselves. Paul gave two reasons for this instruction. First, it was a matter of witness. They could not have a positive testimony if they were not respected by those outside the faith. This reminds us that all we do is to shine a positive light for Jesus. Secondly, we work so we will not needlessly rely on the support of others. Those who are able should work to provide for themselves, their families, and then offer to help those who have legitimate needs.
Relate it to your life.
Am I positive witness for Jesus in my everyday life?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, empower me by Your Spirit to shine for You each day wherever I may be found. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul challenges the Thessalonians on to greater spiritual depths. He calls them brothers and sisters in showing his love and tenderness as he calls them to stay faithful and continue to please the Lord. The nature of Paul's appeal is "ask" and "urge". The former word is a gentle, friendly request and the latter is more of an authoritative apostolic plea. The words "in the Lord Jesus" are the reason why he speaks as he does. Everything he says and does is because of Jesus. The Thessalonians had already been given instruction about how they must "live in order to please God." Once again, he gives them credit for doing so by recognizing the substantial progress they had already made. Yet, Paul knows we cannot rest on our past success. We must stay fervent and zealous in our walk with Christ. Once we become comfortable, we lose our passion and can eventually lose our way if do not maintain vigilance in our desire to please God. We need others who “ask” and “urge” us to keep on pleasing God. However, Paul makes it clear he is not doing this on his own but understands his calling and his message bear the authority of the Lord Jesus. Jesus called and compelled Paul to passionately preach the gospel.
Relate it to your life.
Do I need to be urged to please the Lord more and more? Do I need to urge someone to do so?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for family, teachers, and preachers who press us to keep on pleasing You. Amen.
October 6-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
Observe what it is saying.
Paul gets specific about how they should please the Lord more and more. They should be sanctified or be made holy in their personal morality. Holiness is an important Old Testament concept, which conveys the notion of “separation.” It is the need for God’s people to “come out” and be “distinct” from the surrounding peoples. Holiness, therefore, is the boundary marker that separates God’s people from secular culture. Pagan moral corruption looked upon fornication either indifferently or favorably. So, Paul takes this standard of holiness, which had previously been the exclusive calling of God’s chosen people, and applies it to the predominantly Gentile church in Thessalonica. As those declared holy by the priceless blood of the Lamb, we are to consciously choose to honor our Savior by living as His pure bride. That means our lives should be markedly different than the sinful culture around us by practicing abstinence from "sexual immorality". This word includes all types of sexual sins outside the biblical marriage covenant. Even though the Thessalonians have already been commended for the way they were pleasing the Lord, Paul made it a point to warn them of the alluring power of sexual temptation that so dominated their culture. If this was true for them, then it is also true for us. We must be warned and made vigilant to stay alert in protecting ourselves.
Relate it to your life.
I need to be cautioned as they were for such temptation abounds in our culture.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I ask for your supernatural protection to stand guard over me as I navigate the many tempting voices and vices of this world. Amen.
October 7-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:5-6, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul continues to expand on his theme of holy living as related to sexual purity. As believers in Christ, they were called out of the pagan lifestyle which was characterized as "passionate lust." They had no boundaries but was an “anything goes” kind of culture that they tried to navigate as they followed Jesus. Once redeemed, followers have new prescribed boundaries which require them to a higher standard. To wrong and take advantage of a brother or sister in the faith by having relations with a woman or man outside marriage is a trespass against God's law. It also defrauds a fellow Christian who eventually will take, or has taken, this person as their own spouse. This is an especially heinous sin because the one robbed is a spiritual relative of the robber. Paul speaks the sober reason for complying is the future punishment of "all such sins." He tells of the future judgment at His Second Coming for any such unrepented sin. Paul's initial visit to Thessalonica had informed and warned them of these dire consequences. We do not know if there was currently such sin in the church or if Paul was preemptively warning them to prevent the pagan influence from entering the church. Either way, Paul cared enough to strongly caution them. In so doing, he warns us to be careful with sexual sin being so prominent in our world.
Relate it to your life.
I need to take Paul’s strong warning to heart for it has eternal consequences.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit protect me from the tempting forces all around. Amen.
October 8-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8, For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul reminds us that this is not his teaching but it comes directly from God. The main reason we are to come out of the sinfulness of this world and live a holy lifestyle is because God has called every believer to do so. If we are a follower of Jesus Christ, then this higher way of living is our destination. There are no excuses. It has been made absolutely clear that the people of God are to manifest the pure character of God. If we reject this teaching, then we are not merely rejecting Paul, we are rejecting God. This is the same God who has generously given us His Holy Spirit. The name “Holy Spirit” easily rolls off our lips but notice God has intentionally included the word “holy” to describe His own Spirit. It is not just any spirit living within us, but the Holy Spirit has been given so that we might be empowered to live like Jesus. God has not only redeemed and declared us to be holy, but He has given Himself to us so that we will be energized to become holy in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Holiness is the total of God’s beautiful attributes wrapped up in one amazing package dwelling within us!
Relate it to your life.
Do I embrace God’s holiness as a beautiful gift to be lived through me?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the glory of Your holiness. Through Your Holy Spirit, bring this to life in me in every imaginable way so I can shine Your beauty into the world. Amen.
October 9-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,
Observe what it is saying.
Paul applauds the Thessalonians for their love but also prods them to keep on loving. Paul does not see a need to teach them further because they have aready been taught by God. Jesus confirmed that this direct method had been prophesied. John 6:45,” It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” John would also later write, John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Thessalonians learned to love by God’s direct teaching just as prophesied in the Old Testament and then repeated by Jesus in the New Covenant through the teaching of the Holy Spirit. We often think we need an earthly teacher or preacher to instruct us, but the fact is the Holy Spirit is continually teaching us if we are listening. When we trust in Christ and are given the gift of the Spirit, we should expect the Spirit to speak to our spirits about what is right, good, and holy. We have an advantage over the Thessalonians because we have the instruction of the Holy Spirit as revealed in Holy Scripture. So, let us not deny the possibility and the power of God’s direct teaching. The lesson here also includes the fact that loving more is always possible because Christ’s love is infinite, and we will never be able to fully live it in all of its beauty in this life. So, there is always room for us to grow and love others as Jesus did.
Relate it to your life.
What is the Holy Spirit teaching me? Do I recognize that I can love more than I am?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to listen to Your teaching and help me to love others more like You. Amen.
October 10-Thessalonians-Hope
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Observe what it is saying.
Paul gives simple instruction of how to carry themselves as Christians in a non-Christian world. Paul tells that our ambition should not be to become famous with a large public following. That may come, but such fame should not be our inner drive. Instead, our desire should be to live humble, behind-the-scenes kind of lives where we mind our own business. We do not put ourselves into situations where we do not belong. Instead, we should concentrate on doing our daily work, not being idle. It appears some in the Thessalonian church were taking advantage of the generosity of other Christians in accepting financial help while making no effort at supporting themselves. Paul gave two reasons for this instruction. First, it was a matter of witness. They could not have a positive testimony if they were not respected by those outside the faith. This reminds us that all we do is to shine a positive light for Jesus. Secondly, we work so we will not needlessly rely on the support of others. Those who are able should work to provide for themselves, their families, and then offer to help those who have legitimate needs.
Relate it to your life.
Am I positive witness for Jesus in my everyday life?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, empower me by Your Spirit to shine for You each day wherever I may be found. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals