November 6, 2016
Work. Many of us consider work something we have to do in order to pay for the things we really want to have and to buy the time to do the things we really want to do. Americans have made play a higher goal than work. But that’s a low view of work. It diminishes it to an activity that we have to put up with, rather than a fulfilling and meaningful purpose for living. We place such a high value on entertainment and recreation that it has become a kind of idolatry. We celebrate idleness over work. We have made an idol of idleness!
God has a much higher view of work. As Jesus said, “My Father is always working, and so am I” (John 5:17). As soon as God made man, He gave him a job to do. And He has a job, a purpose for your life too! In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, he told them to stand firm in doing the work to which God had called them. We can stand firm in the work that God has given us to do. The text gives three ways to stand firm in God’s work.
October 30, 2016
Where are you feeling discouraged today? Where do you feel you are failing or falling behind? Paul wrote to give comfort, confidence and help establish his flock. He encouraged them to stand firm. Paul told the Thessalonian believers that they could stand firm in the Word of God that he had taught them. We can stand firm in God’s Word. The text give three imperatives for standing firm in God’s Word.
October 23, 2016
Perhaps you’ve been alarmed and shaken by today’s headlines. How are we supposed to face these things? The apostle Paul told the believers in Thessalonica not to be shaken by the false teaching that they were hearing concerning Christ’s return, but instead to continue to stand firm. We can stand firm against false teaching about Christ’s return. The text gives three “do nots” on how to stand firm against false teaching about Christ’s return.
October 16, 2016
Suffering often causes a theological problem for us. We put our trust in God, yet bad stuff still happens. We pray for healing, yet a loved one dies. We pray for reconciliation in marriage, but it ends in divorce. We share our faith with a neighbor, and they reject both our message and our friendship. Suffering tests our faith! Are you going through a time of suffering today? The apostle Paul told the believers in Thessalonica that they could stand firm in their faith in Christ Jesus during times of suffering.
