October 12
Final Instructions

1 Thessalonians 5:4-28

 

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ 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.
¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil.
²³ 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. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us. ²⁶ Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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These last instructions that Paul gave to the Thessalonians are just as effective and true today as when they were written.
The words could not be more plain.
I don't need to illustrate or explain any points.
There is no room for doubt here
Simple obedience is all that is required.
Be blessed~  

October 11
Hope for Our Future!

1 Thessalonians 4-5:3

 

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; ⁶ and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.^[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ⁸ Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
⁹ Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. ¹⁰ And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, ¹¹ and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ 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. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

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".....in the middle of it all.

Even when it starts to fall.....

         There stands my Savior! "

 

Footnotes:

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or learn to live with your own wife; or learn to acquire a wife
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family

Cross references:

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 : 2Co 13:11; 2Th 3:1
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 : S Eph 4:1
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 : S 2Co 5:9
4. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 : S Eph 5:17
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 : S 1Co 6:18
6. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 : 1Co 7:2, 9
7. 1 Thessalonians 4:5 : Ro 1:26
8. 1 Thessalonians 4:5 : Eph 4:17
9. 1 Thessalonians 4:5 : S Gal 4:8
10. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 : Lev 25:17; 1Co 6:8
11. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 : Dt 32:35; Ps 94:1; Ro 2:5-11; 12:19; Heb 10:30, 31
12. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 : Heb 13:4
13. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 : Lev 11:44; 1Pe 1:15
14. 1 Thessalonians 4:8 : Eze 36:27; Ro 5:5; 2Co 1:22; Gal 4:6; 1Jn 3:24
15. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 : S Ro 12:10
16. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 : 1Th 5:1
17. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 : S Jn 6:45
18. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 : S Jn 13:34
19. 1 Thessalonians 4:10 : S Ac 16:9
20. 1 Thessalonians 4:10 : S 1Th 3:12
21. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 : Eph 4:28; 2Th 3:10-12
22. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 : S Mk 4:11
23. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 : S Ro 11:25
24. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 : S Mt 9:24
25. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 : Eph 2:12
26. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 : Ro 14:9; 1Co 15:3, 4; 2Co 5:15
27. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 : 1Co 15:18
28. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 : S 1Co 1:7
29. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 : 1Co 15:52
30. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 : S Mt 16:27
31. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 : Jude 9
32. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 : S Mt 24:31
33. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 : 1Co 15:23; 2Th 2:1; Rev 14:13
34. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 : 1Co 15:52
35. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 : Ac 1:9; S Ac 8:39; S Rev 1:7; 11:12
36. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 : S Jn 12:26
37. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 : 1Th 5:11
38. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 : Ac 1:7
39. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 : 1Th 4:9
40. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 : S 1Co 1:8
41. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 : S Lk 12:39
42. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 : Jer 4:10; 6:14; Eze 13:10
43. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 : Job 15:21; Ps 35:8; 55:15; Isa 29:5; 47:9, 11
44. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 : 2Th 1:9

•  

 

October 10
Livin' the Life

1 Thessalonians 2:10-3:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
¹³ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶ in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[a]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. ¹⁸ For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. ¹⁹ 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 So 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. ⁴ In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶ But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. ⁷ Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸ For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? ¹⁰ Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
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When we think of living the Christian life, we often think of an easy road ... flower filled window boxes, bluebirds singing in the trees, always sunshine and roses.... sort of a "Disney- Christian Version" existence.
But ....when we read scripture, or just plain... "get up in the morning".... we find it is not quite that way.
There can be bluebirds, sunshine and roses.... but as believers we are chosen to walk the rugged path. We must be ready to suffer persecution for the name of Christ, if it comes our way.
Most of us don't have to suffer in the way of the Apostles, but persecution will come if you are living for Christ and serious about your calling to reach everyone with the Gospel.
How do we do it?
Stay in the Word of God... be faithful to the Lord. If you are in His Word daily, and praying... having conversation with Him.... you will grow in your love for Him and for His Kingdom.
The Holy Spirit of God will show you wonderful rich truths.
In this life, you will have struggles, even IF you have roses and bluebirds.
But those will not be what bring you the greatest pleasure.
Your joy will come through seeing the amazing grace of God do His work in and through you to reach into the lost world with the Gospel!
Stay Faithful
 

Footnotes:

1. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or them fully

October 9
Power Line!

1 Thessalonians 1-2:9

 

1 Paul, Silas^[a] and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.

² We 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.
⁴ For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶ You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ⁷ And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. ² We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. ³ For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 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. ⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. ⁶ We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. ⁷ Instead, we were like young children^[c] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. ⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
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Out in the countryside, far from towns and cities, farm families lived with only kerosene lamps for light long after their "city cousins".
Can you imagine the joy and anticipation they had when they saw those first work crews begin to erect poles and string the wire, moving daily closer to their farmstead?
There might have been some doubt and fear, but if anyone in those rural areas had seen the wonderful electric lights of town, sparkling on a dark night, they would have been sharing the wonder of it all with anyone who would listen!

That is how it is with the Gospel of Christ!
When we witness someone receiving the gift of salvation not only by their words, but by seeing the power of God move in them, we know it is real!
They will want to share the news of that great mighty power of God with everyone who will listen!
And so their ministry will begin....

Do you have this kind of ministry? Alive with the Power of God? Do people see His work bearing fruit in your life by what you do and say?
Get connected to that power source right now, if you need to!
And if you are connected, but haven't turned on the switch yet....
it's time!
Be Blessed....

Footnotes:

1. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
2. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27.
3. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle

 

October 8
Conversation checkpoint

Colossians 4

Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

An Encouragement for Prayer

² Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. ³ Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. ⁴ Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

⁵ Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be gracious and attractive^[a] so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings

⁷ Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. ⁸ I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. ⁹ I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here.

¹⁰ Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. ¹¹ Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
¹² Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. ¹³ I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
¹⁴ Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. ¹⁵ Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters^[b] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
¹⁶ After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.
¹⁷ And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
¹⁸ Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul.
Remember my chains.
May God’s grace be with you.
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So, how are your conversations with others?
Do you tend to talk negatively about events or people?
It is hard to recover integrity after you have allowed unpleasantness to overtake your speech.
We have probably all blown it, and lost our temper....said things we so wish we could take back.
If that is you, you know that you can go to the Lord, ask for forgiveness; and then to the person(s) and apologize.
Some of us have a hard time confusing being sympathetic with crossing over into gossip and backbiting.
BE CAREFUL.
What people in difficult situations or going through a relationship problem need encouragement to see things through spiritual eyes, and to be comforted with  the comfort of the Lord.
If YOU are the one who is having trouble, be mindful of whom you confide in.
Choose someone who will build you up in the truth of God.
Be Blessed!

Footnotes:

1. 4:6 Greek and seasoned with salt.
2. 4:15 Greek brothers.

October 7
How to Walk the Talk

Colossians 3

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

3 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ² Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ³ For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ And when Christ, who is your^[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

⁵ So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. ⁶ Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.^{[b] 7} You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. ⁸ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. ⁹ Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. ¹⁰ Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. ¹¹ In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,^[c] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,^[d] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Instructions for Christian Households

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
²⁰ Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. ²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ²⁴ Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.^{[e] 25} But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.
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"How To" Books have cropped up everywhere. You can find instructions on how to teach a puppy to do tricks, how to fix your kitchen sink, and even how to raise a child to be a rocket scientist.
But yet, no one seems to ever release one book that will teach one concept to everyone about "How To" live your life.....with one major exception.
The Bible is that book.
The all encompassing, Complete Unabridged Guide to How TO do Life!
We must not believe the lies of this world that want to tell us that this book is not relevant for our times.
We must especially not believe the lies of social religions that are currently teaching a "new version" of the truth. Trying to reconstruct what the Holy Spirit of God reveals to us through the Word of God to make it fit their social agenda.
Do not be carried away by these false teachers. Just as the scripture warned us so many centuries ago, so it is coming to pass now.
The Bible is the one and only "How To" book that you can trust!
If you read it, study it, allow the Holy Spirit of the Lord to guide you.....it will tell you all that you need to know!
Be Blessed today and soak in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ!