1 Thessalonians 5 - 3.8.24
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
”Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.“
Observation:
Paul is giving a final message to the Thessalonians. He stresses 3 things after talking about Jesus’s return and listing a bunch of do’s and don’t’s. All of those are good, for example honoring those who are serving.
The three things are:
😍To Rejoice-feel or express great delight. Not some of the time, but always.
🙏🏻Then pray continually -not just when you have a need, but stay connected with God seeking his plan and guidance throughout your day.
🙌🏻 Finally give thanks in all circumstances. Boy, there are times it is hard to be thankful. However, when we look we can always find a reason. No matter what God is walking us through the situation it may be hard to be thankful for with us. That is a huge reason to give thanks.
Paul says all of these things are God’s will for us, not suggestions or a good thing to do.
Application:
How do I rejoice always? This is the hardest one for me. I still could use some work on praying continually and giving thanks. I know how important God’s best is and the way to discover it and walk it out is prayer. Also, the last few years I’ve learned the benefits of gratitude and God has helped me learn to look for the good in all. I can usually find something. But to walk around delighted in everything. 🤷🏼♀️
However, God just dropped the answer in my heart. I’m not delighting in my circumstances, I’m delighting in Him!
I can walk around with joy knowing He’s with me. Hallelujah!
Prayer:
Thank you for the incredible truth that I always can be delighted and have reason to rejoice because you are with me. Please help me walk in this joy that can flow to others as I go throughout my day.
Please help me not fret, but pray. May I not move forward, make a decision, or do something without first seeking your will and your hand. Then, I can give thanks in all things because I have the assurance you are with me and am moving in my life and those around me. Thank you for the incredible joy you give!
You are listening and want to reveal your plan. I am so grateful you are always by my side! Amen
Pastor Gary led a new song at the District Gathering. Since then I have been hearing it on the radio, KLOVE 100.3 and my Alexa music. It goes perfectly with these verses. Here’s a YouTube link:
https://youtu.be/f2oxGYpuLkw?si=opEZ9Cvpv6yOi_zY
- Cindy Howard
1 Thessalonians 4 - 03.07.24
SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 ERV
“We don’t need to write to you
about having LOVE for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
God has already taught you to love each other.
In fact, you love all the believers in Macedonia.
We encourage you now, brothers and sisters, to show your love more and more.”
OBSERVATION
The Love of the Brethren
Philadelphia—phílos = beloved + adelphós = brother= Brotherly Love
Brotherly love normally referred to the love members of a family held for each other,
however, in the NT philadelphia is used to describe the love that believers have for one another.
Although we may be members of different natural families,
we are ALL united in Christ as ONE Family originating from our Heavenly FATHER AND we ALL share in the eternal Promised Inheritance of Heaven as His Spiritual Children.
APPLICATION
Love One Another—as Christ Loves us…
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
By THIS all will KNOW that you are MY disciples, IF you have LOVE for one another.””
(John 13:34-35 NKJV)
Jesus tells us that if we Love HIM, we will Love one another—
Loving each other in the Same way that Jesus Loves us.
This is important to God—because—
it is the MOST significant way others will SEE our Faith in Action!
Jesus said:
…this is HOW…EVERYONE will SEE and KNOW that you are MY disciples.
Love is an Action Word…
God Gave
““For this is how God loved the world: HE gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)
Jesus Sacrificed His Life for our sins:
“No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”” (John 10:18 NLT)
Today I am asking the question how my Love for Christ can be expressed to others sacrificially. What is God asking me to give? Would someone from the “Outside” identify me as Jesus disciple by how I am Loving “the Brethren”?
May we be the sweet aroma of Christ to those around us and especially a sweet sacrifice onto to Christ.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for placing me in a family. I so dearly love this extended family. I am constantly challenged and growing and learning by every single person—and You are shaping me. I am humbled and still there is so much to learn.
Help me to let go more and more of preconceived notions and to trust YOU with ALL my Heart. Help me to be a vessel that Your Love flows through. Even when I know I’m not at my best, help me not to shrink back. It’s not about us, it’s about YOU. Your Power is made PERFECT in our weakness. Here I am Lord, send me.
Tina L Kudelka
Psalm 91 - 3.6.24
Scripture
Because he clings to me I will deliver him; because he knows my name I will set him on high. He will call upon me and I will answer; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and give him honor. (Psalms 91:14-16, NABRE).
Observation
Psalms 91 is a wonderful psalm filled with God’s promises of protection for those who abide in the shadow of the Almighty (verse 1, KJV). When we abide in Him, we are promised protection from secret traps, deadly diseases, dangers of the night, dangers of the day, disasters at noon and protection from accidents (verses 3-12). In verse 14, God promises us that He will deliver us, if we “cling” to him. The NIV translation says “because he loves me, I will rescue him”. I chose the NABRE version as the word “cling” is a better English translation of the original Hebrew word “chashaq”, which is used to convey a deep love, longing and intense clinging of the heart to God. When we cling to God, he will deliver us from whatever we are facing. He will set us on high, because we hold on to his name. We can rest assured that He will answer us, when we call upon Him. He will deliver us and honor us.
Application
God desires that we love him intensely. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind (Deut 6:4-5). Jesus called this the greatest and first commandment (Matt: 22:37-38). When we cling onto him, he will deliver us. When we know him truly, he will lift us up. He will honor us. All of this starts by us clinging onto him with fervent love. I strongly believe that love is a verb, and not a fuzzy feeling that is depicted in the Hollywood movies. Husbands are commanded to love their wives (Eph 5:25), and wives are commanded to love their husbands (Titus 2:4) in the Bible. It is a commandment, because Biblical love is not a feeling. We choose to love. We choose to love and pursue God. When we draw close to Him, we get to understand the length and breadth and depth and height of the love of Christ (Eph 3:18). Setting our love upon Him and clinging to Him everyday is the best decision that we can ever make in our life.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for loving me. Thank you for choosing me and making me your own. Help me to love you, as you desire. Help me to set my love upon you. Help me to cling to you. Thank you for promising that when I draw near to you, you will draw near to me (James 4:8). May my life be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you (Romans 12:1). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George