The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
Dec. 25 - 30, 2023
Enter the presence of the Lord-
(All) 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.
(Men) 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.
(Women) 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.
(Men) 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.
(Women) 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.
(All)Therefore encourage one another with these words
(From 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, NIV)
Confession
Lord of eternal hope, we confess that we have difficult time facing dying and life’s terminal point. We wrestle many issues and cannot fine rest. Your revelations through your apostle Paul offer us so much truth of our death and life. We learn that in death and in life, you always speak to us. That we die is we fall asleep in you. Like we wake up from sleep in the morning, we will rise first when you return to us. That we live is for you and through you. We will meet you in the air when you return. Either way, you intend to be with us forever! You give us a blessed and comforting hope that the world cannot offer. Thank you that you love us now and beyond. Lord, take our hands, and walk with us throughout this rough earthly journey. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Scripture Reading 1 Thessalonians (NIV)
1:2-3We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
2:4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts
2:19-20 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
3:1-3So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.
5: 5-11 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Thoughts to Share: Endurance amid the Suffering for Christ
The Christ’s followers in Thessalonica received the Gospel of Jesus Christ from Paul in the full convincing power of the Holy Spirit. They experienced the living and true God, turning away from the idols worshipping. They tasted the glorious hope in heaven. As a result, they diligently obeyed to the word of Christ Jesus and to live out the new life in Christ. They loved one another, encouraged one another, and built one another. Not only so, they were also eager to share the Gospel of Christ Jesus to local people. Their work of faith, the labor of love, and steadfast hope not only became known but also became to the example to all believers in their home state Macedonia and surrounding areas Achaia. Paul was comforted by their faith. He thanked and prayed for them. He considered them his glory and joy. He praised those who labored among them.
But, at the same time, their sharing the gospel of Christ Jesus alarmed the established religious groups and so put themselves under much affliction and distress. They imitated Paul’s example and sensed the joy in the Holy Spirit. Paul heard Timothy’s report about them. Like a nursing mother and a teaching father, he carefully thought what he could comfort them, exhort them, and supply what might lack in their faith. He hoped them to continue to stand fast in the Lord until the return of Jesus Christ. He hoped them to increase and abound in love and faith. He hoped to see them. Here, we see how Paul strengthened these Thessalonian believers to endure amid the suffering for Christ.
1) Remembering how they came to the Lord Christ Jesus
The conversion itself is by the Gospel, the word of God. It is by the Holy Spirit. It is by the true and living God Himself. It is by the hope of glorious heaven. It is by the deliverance from the wrath of God.
2) Knowing the suffering for Christ is a fact for all Christ’ followers
All believers will experience it sooner or later. There will be many tempers to tempt them and test their faith. There will be many to hinder them to speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, once they were entrusted with the Gospel, they are to be bold, to speak, to please God, just like Paul did.
3) Walking in a manner worthy of God and the Gospel in Christ Jesus
They are to live godly life. Love one another. To aspire to live quietly, mind one’s own affairs, work with one’s hands, and walk properly before outsiders. In addition, abstain from sexual immorality in the lust of passion and learn to control one’s own body in holiness and honor.
4) Learning and encouraging one another to “grieve with hope” for those who died in the Lord, or asleep
That hope is because Jesus died and rose again. Through Christ, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. The timing will be when the Lord descends from heaven. The sign is we will hear a cry of command, the voice of archangel, and the sound of the trumpet of God. Then the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So, we will always be with the Lord.
5) Keeping awake and be sober to live with God in the light of the fact that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night
Do not be deceived by the peace and security they saw around them. Though they will not know the times and seasons, it will come at the time and hour surprise to them. They will always need to equip themselves with faith and love and the hope of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ while they are waiting.
6) Continuing to be in the Christian community to let the new life in Christ grow and shine
Paul had so much to say about their community life. And he said so succinctly. Let us read every word slowly and carefully.
“ Respect those who labored among you and over you and admonish you. Be at peace among yourselves. Admonish the idle. Encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. No one repay anyone evil for evil. Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. “ Here, every saying is a piece of life work we are to master in our faith journey.
7) Entrusting them to God and praying for them
In the faith that God who called them is faithful, Paul trusted that God will surely and continuously sanctify their whole spirit, soul and body to be blameless at the coming of their Lord Jesus Christ.
As we see through church history and our own circumstances, we have so much to learn from this epistle. Yes, our faith in Jesus Christ is challenged by all cultural trends and generation tides. Yes, we still wait for the returning of Jesus Christ. How can the followers of Christ not loose heart, not loose vision of their identity and mission in the world between now and that day of the Lord? Paul teaches us how to endure such circumstance and how to walk in the manner that is fitting to our identity in Christ in the world during such waiting time period. When we get tired and discouraged in our faith journey, come to read this book and turn our face to our faithful God who called us and will surely be with us to keep us in this journey until the day when we see him or he returns.
Prayer Suggestions
Is our church good enough? If so, continue to do all good things more and more. If not, we have a lot to learn from this epistle to the Thessalonian believers’ community.
God of our salvation and our final hope, thank you for the teaching of Paul through this book. We know that we have many tasks to get matured in you. Thank you for your first love to us. Thank you for the power in the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the hope that we will be with you forever. Strengthen us in our earthly journey. We know, there is a joy in you no matter whatever circumstances we will be. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Benedictions
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (5:23-24)
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