Hello Sweet Friends,
Today’s Reading … Acts 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1-4, 1 and 2 Thessalonians
In 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Paul gives answers to some basic problems disturbing the Christians in Thessalonica. The major themes in these letters are living pure and holy lives in Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the events preceding and accompanying the return of Christ. First Thessalonians tells of Christ coming for His Church. One day He will take away His Bride, the Church. He will not be seen by the world at that time, but those who are His, including the dead in Christ, will be “caught up” to meet Him. Second Thessalonians tells of a period that begins 7 years later when Christ will appear to the world with His Church and establish His throne on the earth; then all the people will see Him, and He will exact judgment on His enemies. His coming, then, includes both of these events, seven years apart. We as Christians are looking for the first event. The world will not see Him until the end of the seven years. (“What the Bible is All About).
“The church at Thessalonica was carried away with the expectation of Christ’s glorious return. But we must keep our feet on the ground. We must work while we wait, and pray as we watch, for there is much to do while we wait for Christ to come back” (What the Bible is All About). This is the message of our current theme; The Church: A New Mission.
“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more… and make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as He commanded you”
(1 Thessalonians 4:1&11).
As we wait for the glorious return of Jesus, we have a mission. Our mission is to live a life that is honoring to God and points others towards relationship with Him. The passage above gives specific instructions on how to do just that.
“make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands.”
I love this call to obedience. I love the image of a quiet life, minding my own business and focusing on the works of my hands. The question is, how in the world is this possible? My life is anything but quiet! It is full and messy and loud. My eyes rarely want to stay on my business when they catch a glimpse of someone else’s exotic vacation, or victorious baseball team or scholarship winning children or success laced life. And the works of my hands most often end up in broken pieces that don’t seem to fit together in any significant way. So, how do I live out this beautiful life described in 1 Thessalonians?
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”
(1 Thessalonians 5:16).
A prayerful heart, rejoicing in who God is will quiet even the loudest days.
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil”
(1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).
If I am examining my own life to make sure it is pleasing to God, my eyes will have no need to examine anyone else’s life.
“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass”
(1 Thessalonians 5:24).
If the work in my hands is ordained by God, He will be the one to make the broken pieces fit.
As I go through this day, I will ask the Lord to draw my heart to Him. I pray that in the midst of my loud and messy life would dwell a heart rejoicing and peaceful in Him. I pray that my eyes would be too busy examining my own life to ensure that it is pleasing to God that they will have no time to be sucked into the comparison trap. I pray that His work will be fulfilled in my life and that I would seek Him in all that I do.
Will you join me in this prayer today? Will you accept this new mission?
Love you all,
Kinsee
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return empty, but accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”(Isaiah 55:11).
