Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+002

 

Proverbs 2 (ESV)

¹ My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
² making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
³ yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
⁴ if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
⁷ he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
⁸ guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;

 

REFLECTION:

1. Solomon tells us in this chapter that wisdom is not only bestowed by God, but also depends on people’s dedicated pursuit. The beginning of wisdom is God and His revealed words recorded in the Bible. It is the source of our true “knowledge and wisdom”. We should understand that wisdom is God’s gift to us, and it is only given to those who strive to pursue it. God’s Word is hidden from those who think they are wise, but are actually rebellious and foolish; while it is open to those who are humble, upright, and pure in behavior. Although the path to wisdom can only be found through hard work, once we embark on this path, we will find that God will guide us to move on, so that those of us who sincerely seek wisdom will benefit in all aspects.
2. At the same time, we should also understand that just as a journey of a thousand miles is not an overnight effort, the growth of wisdom also has a process. To walk on this path of wisdom, we must first trust and honour God, and at the same time know that it is the Bible that shows us God’s wisdom, and we learn from it by reading the Bible every day. In life, we must practice integrity and justice throughout our lives, and ask God to save us from temptation and evil. If we sin and fall, we must confess our sins and repent in time, and learn from the lesson that we should never sin again. Reflect for yourself: Am I trying to walk on this path of seeking wisdom? Does my wisdom grow day by day?

 

PRAYER:

Come to God humbly. Ask God to give you confidence and strength, so that you can walk on the path of seeking God’s wisdom throughout your life. Ask God to lead you to put your faith in concrete actions; keep reading the Bible and praying every day; and practise daily devotion, so that your wisdom will grow day by day through continuous spiritual discipline.

 

HYMN:

Trust in the Lord – www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp-8U9YzCL4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+001

 

Proverbs

Introduction

Israel understood that the Creator had placed an order in his world that could be discovered. The book of Proverbs captures these lessons in compact, memorable sayings passed down from the wisest among their elders. Many of them are from Solomon, a king renowned for his wisdom (see 1 Kings 4:29-34). These proverbs are especially designed to help younger people avoid common pitfalls and find the path to prosperity, health and security.

After a short section of teaching, wisdom itself, personified as a woman, calls out to the simple and invites them to grow in knowledge. This section ends by presenting two banquets, one hosted by Wisdom and one by Folly, illustrating the essential choice to be made in life. A collection of 375 proverbs of Solomon follows, reflecting the numerical value of his name in Hebrew. (Hebrew letters were also used as numbers, so words had a value equal to the sum of their letters.) After some “sayings of the wise,” next is a collection of Solomon’s wisdom compiled by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah. Here the count is 130, equaling the value of Hezekiah’s name. The book closes with sayings from Agur and Lemuel, ending with a poem whose 22 parts begin with consecutive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The character qualities praised throughout the book are seen in a description of the ideal wife.

This rich book of short, pithy wisdom presents a consistent theme: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

www.bible.com/zh-TW/bible/111/PRO.INTRO1.NIV

 

Proverbs 1 (ESV)

¹ The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

² To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
³ to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
⁴ to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
⁵ Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
⁶ to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
⁹ for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.

 

REFLECTION:

1. If Psalms focuses on walking with God in prayer and spiritual life, Proverbs focuses on manifesting the truth of God in daily life. Proverbs is not only a collection of good words about life, but also contains spiritual insights gained from life experience. The language of Proverbs is refined and beautiful, full of heavenly wisdom, and can make people put the truth of God into practice everywhere. This book is centred on God. It uses concise and exquisite aphorisms to let people know God’s characteristics, actions, and blessings, and teaches us how to build an intimate relationship with Him in our lives.
2. In this era of technological advancement and advanced information, people are becoming richer in all kinds of knowledge, and their ways of being in the world are becoming smarter, but they lack real wisdom from God. The author teaches us in this chapter that God’s wisdom is far superior to human ingenuity, and it has a lasting and profound impact on all aspects of human life. To obtain the wisdom bestowed by God, the most fundamental beginning is to fear the Lord and obey His words. We must know that everything works for the benefit of those who love God. As children of God, loving and trusting in God should be our highest standards of life. We should regard God’s teachings and laws as more precious than crowns and golden chains, and strive to obey them in our lives, so that we will be protected and blessed by God for a long time.

 

PRAYER:

Come to God quietly, examine yourself, and ask God to examine yourself. Ask God to remove the pride in your heart, so that you don’t think you are clever and rely on your own ability to do things. Like Solomon, ask God to give you true wisdom so that you take this wisdom from God as the highest rule in your life to guide all actions in your life.

 

HYMN:

Lay Down My Pride – www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnF4sC0eqA

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Thessalonians+003

 

2 Thessalonians 3 (ESV)

Pray for Us
¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, ² and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. ⁴ And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness
⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

¹³ As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.¹⁴ If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Benediction
¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

¹⁷ I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Members of the Thessalonian church were refusing to take responsibility. Some had quit working because they thought Jesus would be back any moment and didn’t see any reason to exert themselves. Others relaxed because there were plenty of wealthier members in the church who were always willing to share. Regardless of the reason, Paul was abhorred by such laziness and set the rule: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (v10).
2. How can our laziness affect the work of Christ?
3. When is it hard for you to feel motivated to do the work of your church?
4. Pray that like Paul, you will be a good example to others in your attitude toward work.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Jesus Paid It All – www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FHwdx5BIvc

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Thessalonians+002

 

2 Thessalonians 2 (ESV)

The Man of Lawlessness
¹ Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, ² not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. ³ Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. ⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, ¹² in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm
¹³ But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. ¹⁴ To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, ¹⁷ comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

 

REFLECTION:

1. The “man of lawlessness” (v3) points clearly to a person commonly referred to as the anti-Christ. He is introduced in Daniel 9:25-27, and Jesus referred to him in Matthew 24 and Mark 13. He also appears in books such as Revelation. Here, Paul describes this anti-Christ as “opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God” (v4).
2. Paul advises us that Satan has yet to attack us with the worst he has, and when he does, it will be a fearful time to be alive. However, Paul also promises that God will always be in control.
3. The Thessalonian church was facing persecution, false teaching, secularization and various uncertainties. Therefore, Paul wanted the Thessalonian believers to know that accepting Christ and salvation is only the beginning of one’s spiritual life.  He encouraged them to “stand firm” and hold fast to God’s teaching.
4. What potential threats to the safety of the world do you see right now (for example, attitudes, weapon building, warfare, diseases, crimes, and so on)? What personal fears or concerns do you have about that?
5. Talk openly with God about any fears or concerns you have regarding the future.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Whom Shall I Fear – www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0gu0nOaFsI

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Thessalonians+001

 

2 THESSALONIANS

INTRODUCTION

Apparently only shortly after writing his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul had to write again to correct a false report that he had said the day of the Lord had already come. The day of the Lord was a phrase from the Hebrew prophets to describe God’s key victory over every opponent, when his faithful ones would be rewarded. The Thessalonians’ concern seems to have been not that the day had come and gone and they had missed it, but that it was now present. That would mean nothing more was to be expected from God in terms of setting things right. Since they continued to suffer persecutions, this was a depressing prospect.

Even before he contradicts this false report, Paul reassures the Thessalonians that God will indeed pay back all those who were troubling them. He reminds them of the details he had discussed with them in person of how the day of the Lord would arrive. He then repeats some instruction from his earlier letter, urging them not to be idle but to work hard and earn their own livings.

At the end of the letter, most of which would have been written by a scribe, Paul adds a greeting in his own handwriting. He wants them to know for sure this teaching is really coming from him!

 

www.bible.com/zh-TW/bible/111/2TH.INTRO1.NIV

 

2 Thessalonians 1 (ESV)

Greeting
¹ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

³ We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.⁴ Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

The Judgment at Christ’s Coming

⁵ This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— ⁶ since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels ⁸ in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, ¹⁰ when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.¹¹ To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, ¹² so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Some people want to think of God as being “nice”. Much too nice to get angry at people, and much too nice to punish sin. The truth is that the idea of “nice” as we understand it is not found in the Bible. This passage talks about Jesus coming “with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God” (vv7-8).  And they will “suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord” (v9). The justice of God is displayed in two ways. One is by “repaying” those who do evil (v6). The other is by taking on Himself the punishment due those who do evil. This has already happened on Calvary.
2. Spend a few moments to meditate on the enormity of God’s love in sacrificing Jesus to save you!! Say a word of thanksgiving to God.
3. Think of the non-believing family members and friends. Think of one or more that you will FAITHFULLY pray for their salvation.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Our God Saves – www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUOgVl0KuFI

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Thessalonians+005

 

1 Thessalonians 5 (ESV)

Final Instructions and Benediction

¹² We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

²³ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

²⁵ Brothers, pray for us.

²⁶ Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to “live in peace with each other” (v13) and closed his first letter to them with several instructions on how they could do this.
2. Among the instructions are: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, giving thanks in all circumstances” (vv16-18). These three teachings are totally contrary to our human nature. However, as we learn to obey God’s Word wholeheartedly, we will develop different perspectives toward people and things, and we will then discover that to be joyful and thankful isn’t that difficult after all, but rather the natural outpouring of our hearts.
3. Follow the discipline of giving thanks in all circumstances by finding as many things in your life as you can to be thankful for.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Give Thanks – www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMTmZKotTYw

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Thessalonians+004

 

1 Thessalonians 4 (ESV)

A Life Pleasing to God

¹ Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

⁹ Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, ¹⁰ for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, ¹¹ and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, ¹² so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Paul said that the Thessalonians knew how to live to please and serve God. And he went on to remind them the persons they were to be and the service they were called to render.
2. Paul specifically mentioned avoiding sexual immorality. But Paul’s broader concern was for controlling the “passion of lust”. A passion for power, for money, for food, for approval and popularity can have just as destructive an impact on holiness as sexual passion.
3. The call to holiness is a call to sever ties with sin and follow Christ in our daily life. As we go along our journey of following Jesus, we are called to seek after a life of holiness—one that is different than that of the world—and one that we can only live by God’s grace and Spirit at work within us.
4. Take a moment to consider your surroundings, the competitive workplace, the stressful family life, or busy studies. Pray that the Holy Spirit work within you to teach and guide you and show you specific aspects of your life that you need to seek to live out a life of holiness in all areas of your being.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Build My Life – www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGYpF-Jrfew

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Thessalonians+003

 

1 Thessalonians 3 (ESV)

1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ² and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. ⁴ For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.⁵ For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report
⁶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷ for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹ For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ¹⁰ as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Paul was forced to leave these very precious people when the rioting began in Thessalonica. Later he sent Timothy to visit them as soon as he could (vv1-5) and was filled with joy when Timothy brought back a good report (vv6-13).
2. The Thessalonians’ testimony of faith and love comforted and encouraged Paul. Similarly, your testimony can also provide much needed encouragement to fellow believers, your cell leaders, Sunday school teachers, and even pastors. We can also be encouraged by the stories of other members of our community of faith.
3. Have you had the privilege of hearing the testimony of a fellow believer? Is there anyone at church you’d like to share your experiences or reflections with? Pray that God will use your sharing to encourage that person.
4. Take time each day this week to reflect and be aware of God’s work in your life and find someone to share how you are experiencing God in your life. Then, bring these stories to your cell group and share with each other there.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less – www.youtube.com/watch?v=otQ3cakDr-c

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Thessalonians+002

 

1 Thessalonians 2 (ESV)

Paul’s Ministry to the Thessalonians

1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. ² But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. ³ For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,⁴ but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. ⁵ For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ⁸ So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

⁹ For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ¹¹ For you know how, like a father with his children, ¹² we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

 

REFLECTION:

1. For Paul, evangelism was always delightful and exciting. Paul’s proclamation of the Gospel was not to win the approval of the Thessalonians, but to please God who knows his heart and motivation (v4).
2. In the brief time Paul was with the Thessalonian Christians, he developed a close relationship with them as he shared the Gospel. He spoke of himself “like a nursing mother taking care of her own children”. And “like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you” (v12).
3. The Lord has entrusted us this Good News. What is your attitude towards spreading this Good News? When you share the Good News, what are you more concerned about: the way that people might respond or what God’s purposes are?
4. Ask God to give you encouragement to be a gentle and loving evangelist.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

To the Ends of the Earth – www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Ct_yQjRao

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Thessalonians+001

 

1 THESSALONIANS

INTRODUCTION

Around AD 51, Paul, Silas and Timothy brought the message about Jesus the Messiah to the city of Thessalonica. Many people became believers, but there was a riot when Paul and Silas were accused of defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus (see Acts 17:1-9). They narrowly escaped with their lives and had to flee.

A little later Paul became concerned that the believers in Thessalonica might fall away from the faith due to the opposition they were facing. So he sent Timothy to encourage them (as a Greek he could make the trip more safely). When Timothy returned to Achaia with the welcome news that the Thessalonians had remained faithful, Paul wrote to express his joy.

In this short letter, Paul first recalls his time in Thessalonica and gives thanks for their continuing faith, despite trials and challenges. He teaches them to avoid sexual immorality, to love one another sincerely, and to work hard to earn their own living.

Paul then addresses a key pastoral question: What is the Christian hope for those who have died? He explains that believers who die before the royal appearance of the Messiah are not lost, but will surely be raised from the dead when he comes. He reminds the Thessalonians that Jesus will appear suddenly and unexpectedly. They should therefore live in such a way that they would be unashamed to greet him. Throughout the letter Paul’s basic message is, “Keep up the good work!”

 

www.bible.com/zh-TW/bible/111/1TH.INTRO1.NIV

 

1 Thessalonians 1  (ESV)

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.

 

The Thessalonians’ Faith and Example
² We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, ³ remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,⁵ because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. ⁶ And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸ For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

 

REFLECTION:

1. For Christians, faith, love and hope are not just abstract ideas. We see this in the example of the church of Thessalonica. The Thessalonian Christians were remarkable as a truly committed church. They not only received the Gospel—they acted on it! They had faith that produced work, love that prompted labor, and hope that inspired endurance (v3). Their actions became an example and a source of joy for Paul and other churches who heard about what God was doing among the Thessalonians.
2. A church should be a prominent and unmistakable shining light to the community in which it exists. What is the reputation of your church or cell group throughout the community? How can you help your church or cell group become such a shining light?
3. How do you live out and act in faith, love and hope as a Christian in your everyday life?

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Shine Jesus Shine – www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3iB30gCqAc