Today's full reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us...For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'If a man will not work, he shall not eat.'" (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 10 NIV)
Not unlike the burden I have for today's young adults and college age students, Paul was concerned about idleness among those who claimed to be Christ followers in the first century church. By God's design we are all wired differently. And, because of our personalities some of us are more prone to become idle. The idle person spends far to much time talking and far to little time working. However, God desires something drastically different from those who follow his son; he is looking for our obedience and faithfulness to his word everyday.
Today, as an act of worship, confess to the Lord any sin of idleness you have lingered in. Ask the Lord for his guiding wisdom to enable you to be completely obedient to his word today.
Showing posts with label 2 Thessalonians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Thessalonians. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Meditation and Memorization
Today's full reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." (2 Thessalonians 2:15 NIV)
How sharp is your memory? I am convinced that my brain is far more capable to memorize various things in large quantities than I act. Paul leaves his Thessalonian readers with a fresh reminder to hold on to the teachings that he passed on to them both written and spoken.
Have you ever thought about how many words of wisdom you have read and heard from various Bible teachers through the years? What if God holds you personally responsible for every word of truth you have received and expects you to apply it all to your life? Does he?
Today, as an act of worship, ask the Lord for his wisdom to put into practice all the truths found in scripture. Meditate on his word throughout the day today. Praise God for not leaving us in the dark. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105 NIV)
I recently heard a pastor explain the basic idea behind Biblical meditation. He said, and I agree, that it is not emptying your mind to focus on your inner self, but it is filling your mind with God's Word to focus on his truth. The three aspects of Biblical meditation are reading, memorizing, and praying. Try it today!
"Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. " (Psalm 119:97 NIV)
"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." (2 Thessalonians 2:15 NIV)
How sharp is your memory? I am convinced that my brain is far more capable to memorize various things in large quantities than I act. Paul leaves his Thessalonian readers with a fresh reminder to hold on to the teachings that he passed on to them both written and spoken.
Have you ever thought about how many words of wisdom you have read and heard from various Bible teachers through the years? What if God holds you personally responsible for every word of truth you have received and expects you to apply it all to your life? Does he?
Today, as an act of worship, ask the Lord for his wisdom to put into practice all the truths found in scripture. Meditate on his word throughout the day today. Praise God for not leaving us in the dark. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105 NIV)
I recently heard a pastor explain the basic idea behind Biblical meditation. He said, and I agree, that it is not emptying your mind to focus on your inner self, but it is filling your mind with God's Word to focus on his truth. The three aspects of Biblical meditation are reading, memorizing, and praying. Try it today!
"Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. " (Psalm 119:97 NIV)
Monday, October 13, 2008
May The Name of Jesus Be Glorified in You
Today's full reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
"We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:12 NIV)
I have noticed a lot of name-dropping in recent years by many of my friends and acquaintances. I even find myself dropping the names of few "well known" people I am associated with from time to time. The simple fact of the matter is the older we get the more prone we may become to this pitfall.
So, "What's the problem with name dropping?" you might ask? Well, there is certainly nothing wrong with having a wholesome conversation with someone and speaking about people you may or may not know for the sake of illustrations or subject matter content. However, name-dropping quickly turns into a pitfall when you do it for the single reason of making yourself (your name) seem important. The fully committed Christ follower should care nothing about making a name for himself but only to glorify the name of Christ.
Today, as an act of worship, seek to worship the Lord with a completely undivided heart. Make honoring Christ the single purpose of your day. Our society may operate under a "who you know" protocol, where nearly everything depends not on what you know but who you know. However, in eternity there is only one person you must know, and his name is Jesus Christ.
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17 NIV)
"We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:12 NIV)
I have noticed a lot of name-dropping in recent years by many of my friends and acquaintances. I even find myself dropping the names of few "well known" people I am associated with from time to time. The simple fact of the matter is the older we get the more prone we may become to this pitfall.
So, "What's the problem with name dropping?" you might ask? Well, there is certainly nothing wrong with having a wholesome conversation with someone and speaking about people you may or may not know for the sake of illustrations or subject matter content. However, name-dropping quickly turns into a pitfall when you do it for the single reason of making yourself (your name) seem important. The fully committed Christ follower should care nothing about making a name for himself but only to glorify the name of Christ.
Today, as an act of worship, seek to worship the Lord with a completely undivided heart. Make honoring Christ the single purpose of your day. Our society may operate under a "who you know" protocol, where nearly everything depends not on what you know but who you know. However, in eternity there is only one person you must know, and his name is Jesus Christ.
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17 NIV)
Reading Trek Update
Our New Testament readings have been covering some major ground for the last few weeks and this week is no different. Today we begin a quick glide through Paul's second letter to the church of the Thessalonians. On Thursday we will begin Paul's first pastoral letter to young Timothy, pastor of the church at Ephesus. Here's the reading trek we will follow.
Monday, October 13
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
Tuesday, October 14
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
Wednesday, October 15
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
Thursday, October 16
1 Timothy 1:1-20
Friday, October 17
1 Timothy 2:1-15
Saturday, October 18
1 Timothy 3:1-16
Sunday, October 19
1 Timothy 4:1-16
Monday, October 13
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
Tuesday, October 14
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
Wednesday, October 15
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
Thursday, October 16
1 Timothy 1:1-20
Friday, October 17
1 Timothy 2:1-15
Saturday, October 18
1 Timothy 3:1-16
Sunday, October 19
1 Timothy 4:1-16
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Strength Will Rise: Obeying The Will Of God
"The following night the Lord stood by [Paul] and said, 'Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.'" (Acts 23:11 ESV)
Paul set an amazing example of persevering in the will of God. He endured much grief, pain, stress, and persecution for the Kingdom. Acts chapter twenty three records a turning point in his ministry and future. It is here that we read the clear word he received from the Lord about him going to testify in Rome. What great assurance and joy it must have given Paul to know he was on track with God's will for his life. This was a huge moment of confirmation.
Each of us who desire to live a Christ-centered life need to know what God's will is.
We need to pursue it will all our heart. I t can sound confusing and very mysterious to hear some people describe the process of discovering the will of God. There are certainly things we cannot know about the will of God, however there is still much we can and should know about his will for our lives and his church.
A good word of advice I once received from a Christian friend about discovering the will of God is this: "Don't worry about the mysterious and confusing aspects of the will of God until you are certain you are obeying what is clearly identified in the Bible as the will of God."
Here are some verses that clearly identify what God's will is for every Believer.
Today, as an act of worship, surrender your life to the will of God as outlined in his word. Praise him for promising to strengthen us to go where he wants us to go, do what he wants us to do, and be who he wants us to be.
Enjoy the video below (on the blog) of "Love The Lord" by Lincoln Brewster. It's a great song based on Mark 12:30 which we read today. I'm excited about learning the song and using it in corporate worship sometime soon. (I use it in personal worship quite frequently already!)
Paul set an amazing example of persevering in the will of God. He endured much grief, pain, stress, and persecution for the Kingdom. Acts chapter twenty three records a turning point in his ministry and future. It is here that we read the clear word he received from the Lord about him going to testify in Rome. What great assurance and joy it must have given Paul to know he was on track with God's will for his life. This was a huge moment of confirmation.
Each of us who desire to live a Christ-centered life need to know what God's will is.
We need to pursue it will all our heart. I
A good word of advice I once received from a Christian friend about discovering the will of God is this: "Don't worry about the mysterious and confusing aspects of the will of God until you are certain you are obeying what is clearly identified in the Bible as the will of God."
Here are some verses that clearly identify what God's will is for every Believer.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. living as servants Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.(Mark 12:30, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, 1 Peter 2:13-17)
Today, as an act of worship, surrender your life to the will of God as outlined in his word. Praise him for promising to strengthen us to go where he wants us to go, do what he wants us to do, and be who he wants us to be.
Enjoy the video below (on the blog) of "Love The Lord" by Lincoln Brewster. It's a great song based on Mark 12:30 which we read today. I'm excited about learning the song and using it in corporate worship sometime soon. (I use it in personal worship quite frequently already!)
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