November 15, 2010 (Acts 17, I & II Thessalonians)

Several things jumped out at me again today. Several times Paul talked about the return of Christ. And it seems as if "the continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ" is what prompted them to "their faithful work and loving deeds". And again he reiterated that "Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts".

Jesus told us that the world would know us by our love. And it seems as if Paul is emphasizing that as well:

^{I Thessalonians 3:12-13} And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. ¹³ May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

^{II Thessalonians 3:5} May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

What is God's will for us?

^{I Thessalonians 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.

In each book Paul stresses the faithfulness of God:

I Thessalonians 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.

^{II Thessalonians 2:3} But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

And in each book, he asks them to pray for him.

I Thessalonians 5:²⁵ Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

II Thessalonians 3:1-2 ¹ Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. ² Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.

Even Paul, the one specially called and anointed by God, was asking for people to pray for him. We all need the prayers of one another. Heavenly Father, may the Holy Spirit continually guide us to pray for each other.