I Thessalonians 4: 1-18
In today's reading Paul is instructing a relatively new church on how a Christian should walk in holiness, especially in view of the second coming of Christ. He taught that we should walk in holiness, walk in love, walk in diligence and of course walk in hope. Paul urges us to live a life that is pleasing to God. There is more to Christian living than simply loving other Christians. We must be responsible in all areas of our lives. We must love others as we love ourselves. It's never been said better than "They will know we are Christians by our love."
Now, what is it that pleases God? What one quality in life is essential to please God? Faith - without faith it is impossible to please our God. A life of expectation that the God who lives in you will manifest his life through you is the kind of life that pleases God. We should strive to be like Jesus in all we do. It isn't a life of your efforts, struggling to live up to a standard you've imposed upon yourself, or someone else has imposed upon you. It is a life in which you are constantly dependent upon the one who dwells in you that will keep you doing the things he has planned for your life.
Paul talks to us about brotherly love. As we have watched the disasters that have hit our country over the last few months, we have as a country stood up and written the definition of brotherly love, especially our churches. We have learned that material possessions really don't mean that much when we're fighting for life and limb. The raping of children, looting, and shootings only show that Satan was present and accounted for. For the most part we were definitely Jesus' hands extended.
We watched private planes, buses, trucks, vans and cars go to these areas to pick up people they didn't know to take them safely to places to visit or stay if they so wished. Locally we saw our churches collect supplies, clothes, money or whatever else we could do for these people who had lost everything. Doctors, nurses, firemen, policemen and anyone who felt they could help rushed to these areas to offer their services. Many of these people saw things they will never forget and the experience has changed their lives forever. Jesus said that what you do for the least of these, you have done for me.
These people saw a helping hand that didn't want anything in return only to provide help in a time of need. Some people saw Jesus for the first time in the hands of someone handing them clothes, water, food or a place to stay. They were told they had someone who would never leave them, never forsake them. It didn't matter what they have done all they had to do was call his name.
Paul wanted to make sure that the church kept a watchful eye for our Lord's return which caused a lot of confusion in his day as it has throughout history. These disasters only show that none of us are guaranteed the next breath we take. God alone has the knowledge of when we will die, just as he alone has the knowledge of when the trumpet shall sound and the voice of the archangel will be heard calling his children home. Belief in Jesus is the only way to ensure that when our body takes its last breath we will have the promise of everlasting life. In reality, he is all we have that is true and sure. Trust in him today!
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, in many ways we recognize the days in which we live as very similar to the days in which this letter was written; yet from our vantage point of twenty centuries away, we can see that although their hopes burned brightly for the coming of the Lord, then, they were a long way from the goal. Father God, only you know when Jesus will come to take us home, but help us learn to live that no matter when it happens, we will be ready. May we live a life that will have our Lord and Savior saying "well done my good and faithful servant." Lord, help us to walk in the light of this, as we've been exhorted and admonished by the Apostle Paul. We ask it in Jesus' name, Amen.
Suzi Bowen
In today's reading Paul is instructing a relatively new church on how a Christian should walk in holiness, especially in view of the second coming of Christ. He taught that we should walk in holiness, walk in love, walk in diligence and of course walk in hope. Paul urges us to live a life that is pleasing to God. There is more to Christian living than simply loving other Christians. We must be responsible in all areas of our lives. We must love others as we love ourselves. It's never been said better than "They will know we are Christians by our love."
Now, what is it that pleases God? What one quality in life is essential to please God? Faith - without faith it is impossible to please our God. A life of expectation that the God who lives in you will manifest his life through you is the kind of life that pleases God. We should strive to be like Jesus in all we do. It isn't a life of your efforts, struggling to live up to a standard you've imposed upon yourself, or someone else has imposed upon you. It is a life in which you are constantly dependent upon the one who dwells in you that will keep you doing the things he has planned for your life.
Paul talks to us about brotherly love. As we have watched the disasters that have hit our country over the last few months, we have as a country stood up and written the definition of brotherly love, especially our churches. We have learned that material possessions really don't mean that much when we're fighting for life and limb. The raping of children, looting, and shootings only show that Satan was present and accounted for. For the most part we were definitely Jesus' hands extended.
We watched private planes, buses, trucks, vans and cars go to these areas to pick up people they didn't know to take them safely to places to visit or stay if they so wished. Locally we saw our churches collect supplies, clothes, money or whatever else we could do for these people who had lost everything. Doctors, nurses, firemen, policemen and anyone who felt they could help rushed to these areas to offer their services. Many of these people saw things they will never forget and the experience has changed their lives forever. Jesus said that what you do for the least of these, you have done for me.
These people saw a helping hand that didn't want anything in return only to provide help in a time of need. Some people saw Jesus for the first time in the hands of someone handing them clothes, water, food or a place to stay. They were told they had someone who would never leave them, never forsake them. It didn't matter what they have done all they had to do was call his name.
Paul wanted to make sure that the church kept a watchful eye for our Lord's return which caused a lot of confusion in his day as it has throughout history. These disasters only show that none of us are guaranteed the next breath we take. God alone has the knowledge of when we will die, just as he alone has the knowledge of when the trumpet shall sound and the voice of the archangel will be heard calling his children home. Belief in Jesus is the only way to ensure that when our body takes its last breath we will have the promise of everlasting life. In reality, he is all we have that is true and sure. Trust in him today!
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, in many ways we recognize the days in which we live as very similar to the days in which this letter was written; yet from our vantage point of twenty centuries away, we can see that although their hopes burned brightly for the coming of the Lord, then, they were a long way from the goal. Father God, only you know when Jesus will come to take us home, but help us learn to live that no matter when it happens, we will be ready. May we live a life that will have our Lord and Savior saying "well done my good and faithful servant." Lord, help us to walk in the light of this, as we've been exhorted and admonished by the Apostle Paul. We ask it in Jesus' name, Amen.
Suzi Bowen
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