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1 Thessalonians 5:12-28; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3:18; Acts 18:4-23<\/strong><\/span> First Thessalonians<\/strong> \u2013 Today we wrap up Paul\u2019s first letter to the Thessalonians! There is a lot of good letter-closing advice in these today\u2019s readings. To make sure this advice gets heard throughout the church in Thessalonica Paul commands in chapter 5 verse 27: \u201cI command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.\u201d<\/em> Think this letter got read to everyone? \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Below is a great image for verse 25 from today\u2019s readings \u2013 <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Verses 12 & 13 stood out to me in today\u2019s readings: \u201cDear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord\u2019s work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This verse ties in perfectly to Clergy Appreciation Month!\u00a0 Did you know that October is Clergy Appreciation Month? I don\u2019t know who started this trend, but I like it!\u00a0 We\u2019re in November, but hopefully you can take 15 minutes to write a letter or send a card of encouragement to your pastor or clergy?\u00a0 I encourage you to encourage your pastor this month! \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 More details about how you can participate in clergy appreciation month are on this website link: <\/span>https:\/\/parsonage.org\/cam\/index.cfm<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n More verses from today\u2019s readings that stood out \u2013 <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in First Thessalonians chapter 5 titled \u201cThe Conduct of the Assembly\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Below is a powerful image for 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 from today\u2019s readings:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Second Thessalonians<\/strong> \u2013 Today we begin Paul\u2019s second letter to the church in Thessalonica!<\/span><\/p>\n ~ Second Thessalonians ~<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n Paul\u2019s encouragement during times of persecution is powerful in chapter 1 verse 5 today:\u00a0 \u201cBut God will use this persecution to show his justice. For he will make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 If there is persecution in your life today, I hope this verse is encouraging to you. It reminds me of the old adage \u2013 \u201cit builds character.\u201d I know this is tough to realize in the midst of persecution \u2013 that God is working in the midst of it to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom.\u00a0 Your suffering is for His Kingdom.\u00a0 You are not suffering alone.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Second Thessalonians chapter 1 titled \u201cCommendation and Comfort in the Face of Persecution\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Below is a great image for 2 Thessalonians 1:12 from today\u2019s readings:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Second Thessalonians chapter 2 is a good look at the 2nd coming of Jesus. Verse 7 is interesting \u2013 \u201cFor this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.\u201d<\/em> Seems that this is alluding to sin and the temptation to sin that pursues people in our world today. The lawlessness is at work \u2013 secretly \u2013 and will remain secret until it comes out in the open in the form of the anti-christ?\u00a0 Again, I\u2019m not big into end times stuff.\u00a0 But, clearly, there will come the day of Jesus\u2019 return.\u00a0 And the Bible is preparing believers for what to expect and to know that God is bigger than whatever evil comes in those days.\u00a0 \u00a0God is bigger!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Second Thessalonians chapter 2 titled \u201cChallenges to Believers in View of the Day of the Lord\u201d <\/strong>is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Second Thessalonians chapter 3 is a nice closing chapter to this 2nd letter of Paul\u2019s! The first few verses remind us of the need to pray. Pray for those doing the Lord\u2019s work! How are you doing in praying for your pastors, your church, other ministries you support?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Paul then goes into an exhortation for proper living. These verses remind me of the importance of work in our lives. We are not called to be blissful aesthetics \u2013 but called to work. Paul worked hard during his time of ministry. He was at times a \u201ctentmaker\u201d \u2013 making a living during the day and preaching and conducting ministry in the evenings and weekends. How are you doing with work these days? Are you giving your all, your 100% for the hours you are at work?\u00a0 No matter where you are working \u2013 are you working as if you were working for God?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Second Thessalonians chapter 3 titled \u201cFinal Exhortations Regarding Idleness in the Church\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Acts<\/strong> \u2013 Today\u2019s readings in Acts 18 are important in that Paul is beginning his work of building the church in Corinth through his ministry!\u00a0 We of course are very familiar now with Paul\u2019s letters of 1st and 2nd Corinthians \u2013 today we get a glimpse of how Paul\u2019s relationship with the city of Corinth began.\u00a0 Verses 9 through 11 let us clearly know that the Lord was very involved in Paul\u2019s ministry in Corinth: \u201cOne night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid! Speak out! Don\u2019t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will harm you because many people here in this city belong to me.\u201d So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.\u201d<\/em> How are you involved in helping to build or support the church today? What are some ways that God has called you to love and serve your local church? How about the global church?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Per Tyndale\u2019s One Year Bible Companion today: \u201cCorinth was the political and commercial center of Greece, surpassing Athens in importance.\u00a0 It had a reputation for great wickedness and immorality.\u00a0 A temple to Aphrodite \u2013 goddess of love and war \u2013 had been built on the large hill behind the city.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in First Thessalonians reminded me of Matthew West\u2019s song \u201cMy Own Little World.\u201d Here\u2019s a great live version of this song:<\/span><\/p>\n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
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Verse 16 \u2013 \u201cAlways be joyful.\u201d<\/em> How\u2019s joy doing in your life these days?
Verse 17- \u201cKeep on praying.\u201d<\/em> And prayer?
Verse 11 \u2013 \u201cSo encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.\u201d<\/em> I like this. It reminds me that we have the opportunity to encourage people that we come in contact with each day. Spread some love. How are you doing on being encouraging to others each day?<\/span><\/p>\n
Author: Paul the apostle
Place: Corinth
Date: A.D. 51
Content: Either Paul\u2019s first letter or a forged letter purporting to be from him had disturbed the Thessalonians concerning the second coming of Jesus. Perhaps adding to the confusion was the continued persecution that they were enduring. Paul writes to assure the believers that Jesus will certainly return to comfort the believers and to punish those who are troubling them. He also tells them that the great Day of Judgment (the Day of the Lord) will not take them by surprise but will be preceded by a series of events. In the light of Jesus\u2019 sure return, Christians are to live above reproach.
Theme: Throughout this short letter the promise of God\u2019s victory over evil is stressed. Believers may suffer now, but God has planned comfort and reward for them. For those who refuse to obey God, however, there will be distress and judgment. Paul also stresses the need for living in such a way that God is honored. Some people at Thessalonica may have stopped working because they believed Christ would return soon. This does not honor God and Paul says concerning it, \u201cHe who does not work shall not eat.\u201d (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers \u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d pp. 28-29) <\/em>A wonderful commentary on Second Thessalonians by J. Hampton Keathley, III, titled \u201cThe Struggles and Growth of a Church\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n