1 Thessalonians 4 - 12.31.24
SCRIPTURE: 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13 - 18
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
OBSERVATION
This scripture is a great encouragement and source of hope to anyone who has lost a loved one that knew Jesus as their Savior but is no longer on this earth.
APPLICATION
This specific scripture highlights the difference between how believers and the world handle the death of someone – because the world has no hope. They have no hope because death, by the world’s standards, is final with no future.
Paul addresses the reality that we all grieve yet says “do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” We can cry, mourn their loss on this earth, yet believers need to grieve WITH HOPE. We have hope for the future of being together again for eternity. In 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, we read that as believers our perishable bodies are clothed with an imperishable body, mortal with immortality, and that death no longer has its grip on us:
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[a]
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[b]
Through Jesus, his sacrifice, and our acceptance and faith in Him, death is no longer final. There is no victory in death, no sting, all because of Jesus!!
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Grieving with hope is when we remember 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 18. When we miss our loved ones, visualize the Lord’s return as He gathers those who have “fallen asleep” with those alive – to be “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” We have hope in Jesus to be with our faithful and saved loved ones again for eternity. Hallelujah!!!
PRAYER
Lord, the holidays can be a painful reminder in missing those who have passed from this earth. I pray your comfort and mercy surround all who grieve and miss a loved one. Help us all grieve with hope – not without hope. Having lost my mother, both of my precious in-law’s, and many friends in Jesus, I anxiously await the moment we’ll be together again. Oh what a sweet reunion! Thank you Lord!!
This is also a reminder to reach out to those who don’t know you yet so they, too, can have your hope. As the new year begins tonight, help us all have a deeper heart and yearning to reach the lost so no one lives life on this earth with no hope. Help me have the words to share your saving grace and hope for eternity. Give me your boldness to speak up when my flesh is feeling weak. Help me spread your Good News and saving grace so everyone can hope – so death will no longer sting and will no longer be final. In Jesus name! Amen
- Mary Oberg
1 Thessalonians 3 - 12.30.24
Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 3:7-9
7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
Observation:
“Paul wrote this letter from Corinth, and his coming to that city was marked by difficulty. He said of his coming to Corinth, I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling (1 Corinthians 2:3). Yet since Timothy came back with good news, Paul had a renewed strength and freshness of life (for now we live). It made Paul feel much better that the Thessalonians were doing well…..For what thanks can we render to God for you: Paul’s thanks and joy overflowed because he knew that they did stand fast in the Lord. Some find it easy to rejoice in the material prosperity in the life of others, but Paul honestly rejoiced in the spiritual prosperity of others.” (David Guzik-Enduringword.com)
Timothy had just given a good report to Paul, regarding the Thessalonian church, about how well they had been doing in their faith. That encouraged and strengthened Paul so much, especially while he was going through trials in Corinth!
Application:
Encourage someone in the faith today, through your own faith! Encouragement goes a long way.
Imagine a brother or sister going through a trial in their faith with the Lord, but then being strengthened and encouraged because Your daily life shows a faith standing firm in the Lord. That’s how it was for the Apostle Paul!
Can you think of a time where you were going through a hard time, but then someone encouraged you through their steadfast faith? Let’s also be that person to someone else!
Prayer:
Thank You Lord that we don’t live this faith journey alone. Thank You for the men, women, youth and children in my life who have encouraged my own faith, especially in difficult times. I pray that I would be able to share that same encouragement with others as I lean on You daily. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
Psalm 146 - 12.27.24
Scripture: Psalm 146:5-10 NIV
“Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.”
Observation:
It’s interesting how we are reading about David’s life and then the Psalm he wrote goes with the situation. David took not only sang his praises to God, but also wrote them down (or had a scribe do it). He states that we should not put our trust in princes. In 1 Samuel 29 he was ready to fight and got sent back. God had a better plan. He learned that people will fail him.
We can trust the Maker of everything who watches over all. David lists some specific ways God provides for us:
He upholds the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, sets prisoners free, sight to the blind, lifts up those bowed down, loves the righteous watches over the foreigner, and sustains the fatherless and the widow.
Then, David contrasts it with how God deals with the wicked, He will frustrate their plans. Whatever your situation God is working to help you! You have nothing to fear or worry about and everything to praise Him for.
Application:
I want to do as verse 2 says, praise the Lord all my life and sing His praises. David recorded his praise to God and kept a record of all He had done. What a great reminder to keep or start journaling.
David also shared his praise with others-we benefit from that today. I want God to be glorified in the lives of those around me. David, as a refuge, discovered how much God cared for all people.
My prayer is He will stir up all our gifts to sing, write, declare, draw, comfort and we will use them to bring people into saving knowledge of Jesus and all God had done. “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” II Timothy 1:6 NKJV
God does this incredible work we are reading about through us! “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
Prayer:
Lord, thank you that you care about all people. Both Kings and fatherless are sustained by your hands. You fight for the oppressed and set prisoners free. You made this incredible world and all who live in it. We can enjoy your splendor and handiwork. The same care you took in supplying the animals with all they need, you do for us.
As I go through my days, may I be guided by you to use the gifts you’ve given me to share your marvelous works with others. Also, help me encourage your people to do the same. David was an outcast, but people came to him because they saw your hand on his life. May your hand be evident on my life as I obey you and walk out your plan. Keep my focus on you and prevent me from being distracted. Amen
- Cindy Howard