For Them

ALL – Psalm 80:1-19
ALL – Proverbs 25:1-5
OT – Jeremiah 14:11-16:15
NT – 1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

Interesting passage for the day: We can bear anything as long as we know that you remain strong in him. – 1 Thess. 3:8, The Living Bible

Thought: There was another school shooting Friday (google “Kelly Elementary School shooting”). This time it was some crazy man, shooting at elementary kids. Thankfully, none were killed, and several construction workers reacted quickly to subdue the man.

I would do just about anything to protect kids from a shooter—at least, I hope I would. Especially my own kids. To keep my kids strong and healthy, I wouldn’t mind the risk (and possibility) of suffering.

I think that’s kind of Paul’s thought here. His spiritual children were facing persecutors—grown-up bullies. And Paul couldn’t get there to help the people he loved. So he was just in agony. But then he was finally able to get the news that their faith was still strong. And the news that his spiritual children were healthy was enough to set his heart at ease, even though the circumstances that had kept him from getting to them were still in place. He could put up with his own troubles if he knew that the Thessalonians were doing ok.

Question: Is there anyone for whom you would go through just about anything to make sure of their spiritual safety? What is keeping you from helping them grow closer to Christ right now? What are you free to do to help them?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Gospel Love, Life Love

ALL – Psalm 79:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 24:30-34
OT – Jeremiah 12:1-14:10
NT – 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8

Interesting passage for the day: We loved you dearly—so dearly that we gave you not only God’s message, but our own lives, too. – 1 Thess. 2:8, The Living Bible

Thought: That’s what ministry should look like. It should be about love. Love is the motive for telling people about Jesus—for giving them the bad news that they have rebelled sinfully against their King who created them, but also giving them the good news that this Creator King Jesus loved them so much that He Himself died for their sins so they wouldn’t have to pay their own penalty, rose to life, ascended to heaven, and invites them from heaven to become loyal to Him, to receive His Holy Spirit, and to look forward to eternally unblemished life with Him.

But love goes beyond delivering a message—whenever possible, love should cause us to give people ourselves, too.

Confession time: This is where I feel like I fall short, personally. I do pretty well at making sure that I deliver God’s message (in love, too!). I really want people to know Jesus. But giving myself is a lot harder. I feel like I have given people too little time with me—not that it would be a great privilege for them to spend time with me, but just that I want to be a more of a blessing to the people I’m around all the time than just the blessing I offer as a professional preacher. Am I clearly also a friend? Am I helpful? I pray that I will love well—not just well enough to “do my job,” but well enough to give myself to those around me.

Question: Where does your love fall shortest—in giving yourself to your neighbors, co-workers, families and friends, or in sharing God’s good news with them (or both)? Let’s cry to Jesus to make us people who love well in every possible way for the good of every person we meet.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.