April 12, 2010 (Acts 17:1-18:18, I Thessalonians 1-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-3)

Ok, this is crazy! I've got to blog the day I read. I'm three days behind in 'blogging' so will catch up today. These will be 'short and sweet'!

I and 2 Thessalonians are some of my favorite books. In verse 3 of 1 Thessalonians Paul said "As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Two things struck me in this short verse. First, the wording was different than saying, "When we pray for you" - it was "When we talk to God about you". It gave me more of the idea of just chatting with God, as in a relationship, which is what I think it is supposed to be. It's so hard to 'chat with someone' when you can't see them, even though they are there. I think my prayers are so messed up. God, thank You for this; I need that; so and so needs this; the other so and so needs that; etc. etc. I'm going to try and incorporate a more relational approach to my prayers, but old habits are hard to break. The second thing that struck me was that I think their behavior was motivated by their continual anticipation of the return of Jesus. If we really thought He would come back today, how would that change how we live?

Following are just some verses that need no commentary:

1 Thessalonians 2:⁴ For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

^2:13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

And now a group of little verses. Do you wonder what God's will is for your life? Here it is:

^5:16 Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

And then an encouragement that God will continue His work in us:

^5:23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. ²⁴ God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

And then two sections that I highlighted from 2 Thessalonians:

^1:11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. ¹² Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Verse 11 encourages me. By His power, may He give us the power to accomplish everything our faith prompts us to do.

^3:3 But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one. ⁴ And we are confident in the Lord that you are practicing the things we commanded you, and that you always will. ⁵ May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.