Monday, December 08, 2014

Devotional 12-8-14

A Checklist, Prayer, and Promise 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Lists are big deals this time of year.

I am finding the older I get the more a list helps me.  The value of a number 2 Ticonderoga and a scratch pad is a thousand times more valuable than my diminishing memory capacity.  Running out of “gigs” quickly.

In this scripture for today we find a very helpful list of things it might be helpful to do every day.

  1. Rejoice always.
  2. Pray continually.
  3. Give thanks in every situation.
  4. Don’t brush off Spirit inspired messages.
  5. Examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good.
  6. Avoid every kind of evil.

Paul knew this was a challenge for the people of Thessalonians and it is even a greater challenge for us today.  Paul thought these were worthy enough goals and very tough to hold fast to so he offered a prayer for the  new Christians he was addressing, and he offers that same prayer for us and we can use it to pray for each other.

Paul tells us that when we can check these items off our list, it offers us the assurance that we won’t be at this all alone.  The one calling you is faithful to do this for us today.

Merry Christmas to all.

Mike Bowen

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