1 Thessalonians Day 21

4:9-10

9: Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another

Part of our sanctification is to grow in love for one another. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are also to love our brothers and sisters as Christ loved the Church. When we are saved, the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in this love for others (although it definitely can be difficult since it goes against our sinful nature.)

10: for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more.

One example of our growth in the faith is that we grow in love for one another.

What we can see from these two verses is that we should abound in love for one another. Kind of makes me think of 1 John!

1 Thessalonians Day 20

4:3 – 8

3: For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality

For our sanctification (which is the big word for God making us more like Him) we are to abstain from sexual immorality and what is mentioned in the following verses. Sexual immorality ranges from a lustful heart to the actual act.

4: that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor

We are to be able to control our own bodies. In the context of the previous verse to stay out of sexual immorality and to become sanctified. We can also see controlling our own body as applying to all aspects of life from what we say, how much we eat, and what we do or don’t do.

5: not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God

If we are only to do what we want because YOLO (you only live once) then do whatever you want (this is what unbelievers often think.) In actuality, we have one life on this earth and then we enter into eternity and we also know that God desires for us to be holy as He is holy and to grow us to be more like Him. Although to the world it may seem like we are “losing out on the fun,” we are actually able to enjoy more fulfilling things rather than passions which bring joy for a moment and then fade quickly away.

6: that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.

We are to be examples and to help each other to walk in holiness. If we cause our brother to sin, we are a stumbling block in his path and need to repent. None of us are perfect so we will make mistakes, but we need to strive to be good examples and to lead others well and be ready to repent when we do fall into sin.

7: For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

The process of sanctification is to make us holy. God comes to where we are, but He does not leave us as we are.

8: Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Since these words are from God, we ignore God when we don’t listen to His words. The Holy Spirit is what Jesus sent when He returned to heaven in order to guide us and help us while we await Jesus’ return. The Holy Spirit also aides in our sanctification.

From this passage, we learn that we are to grow in sanctification by controlling our bodies, avoiding sexual immorality, being a good example to our fellow believers, and to remember that it is God, not man, who calls us to do these things (and He will also help us to achieve these things!) We can strive to obey God by praying to Him daily and reading His Word.

1 Thessalonians Day 19

I just realized that I never did a summary of chapter three so here it is!

Paul and Silas wanted to know how the Thessalonians were doing during their afflictions (persecution because of Christ) so they sent Timothy to check on them. Timothy reported good news of their faith and that the Thessalonians also thought kindly of Paul and Silas and also wished to see them. Paul and Silas are thankful for the faith of the Thessalonians and thank God for them and pray that they continue to grow in faith and to also see them face to face again.

We’ll jump back into chapter four tomorrow because we’ll be going over a bigger chunk of Scripture! From the verses that we went over yesterday, we learned that Paul prays and urges that the Thessalonians grow in their walk with God and follow the instructions given by Paul and Silas.

1 Thessalonians Day 18

4:1-2

1: Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you out to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

So that is a long and slightly confusing sentence. An English teacher might call it a run on sentence so let’s break it down. Paul and Silas are urging the Thessalonians in Jesus. They are pointing out how the Thessalonians learned to walk in Christ from Paul and Silas. He says they are currently walking in a way that pleases God and wishes them to continue to do so more and more.

2: For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus

Paul and Silas had communicated the way to walk with Christ. Not only had did they speak it, but they had shown them how (as said in previous chapters).

We can learn from fellow believers how to walk in Christ and can also be examples to others. We should strive to grow more and more in our walk and, by implication, we should not be satisfied to stand still and drift along with little to no growth. That hits me because I’ve noticed that there have been times where I’m fine just drifting along instead of growing. Thankfully God didn’t let me feel satisfied in that for long! My prayer for everyone, including myself, is that we continue to grow in our walk with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians Day 17

3:11-13

11: Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you

Paul still desires to see the Thessalonians

12: and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you

We are to love one another as Christ loves the church and Paul is praying that they do.

13: so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

We are to be holy as God is holy and that is why Paul is praying that they grow in love for one another. As we grow in love for one another, we become more like Christ.

Paul tells us to imitate him as he imitates Christ in 1 Corinthians 11:1. Paul desires for their love to grow for one another and our love should be growing for others in Christ and we should be praying for it to grow in both ourselves and in others.

1 Thessalonians Day 16

Sorry for the lack of updates the past few days! My schedule is returning to normal so updates will daily again.

3:6-7

6: But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you –

Paul is happy to hear of their faith and that they also long to see Paul and Silas again.

7: for this reason, brothers, in all of our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.

Have you ever noticed that hearing of other Christians’ faith during trials encourages us during our own. The family that I mentioned who had lost their daughter, have a strong faith and their witness encourages me in my own smaller trials. They have such a strong faith and even though they mourn, they know that God is good and that He has a plan for their pain.

8: For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.

Paul and Silas are encouraged by the faith of the Thessalonians.

9 – 10: For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

Paul is asking what they would like him to thank God for. Paul is praying for them daily and seeks to encourage their faith.

Just as the faith of those who are going through trials can encourage us, our faith can encourage them as well. We can also be reminded to pray for those whom we know, especially when they are facing trials.

1 Thessalonians Day 15

Sorry for the irregular updates. I should be back to normal by Tuesday of next week (hopefully sooner than that, but Tuesday for sure!)

3:4-5

4: For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, just as you know.

As mentioned on day 14, we are not guaranteed a life without suffering. 1 Peter mentions this a lot. I was looking up verses that I recalled and realized that many of them are found in 1 Peter. One that is not found in 1 Peter is found in Romans 5:3-5

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

5: For this reason, when I could be it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Suffering is hard and can cause people to give up. In the parable of the sower, Jesus mentions how suffering causes people to let go of the Gospel (the seed sown on rocky ground – Matthew 13:20.) Paul sought to find out how the Thessalonians were handling their suffering and as mentioned earlier in this chapter, they sent Timothy.

Suffering is normal and it is something that helps us grow. It is also good to check on those who are suffering and to help encourage them. This is part of Paul’s desire in sending this letter to the Thessalonians. This is something that we can seek to do more of in our every day lives.

1 Thessalonians Day 14

Sorry for the delay! It’s gotten a little busy over here.

Chapter 2 Review!!

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he and Silas were treated ill by the Jews in Thessalonica and also that the Gospel that they preached was for God and not for man. Paul also mentions that he and Silas were not burdens, but worked as they shared the Gospel with the Thessalonians. Paul ends the chapter with mentioning how he wishes to see those at Thessalonica.

So that is a quick summary of chapter two of Thessalonians. Since I’ve missed two days now for posting, I’ll go ahead and jump into chapter three.

3:1-3

1-2: Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the Gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith.

Since Paul and Silas were hindered by the devil from going to Thessalonica, they sent their fellow believer, Timothy, to them to see them and send their message. Hence the reason Timothy’s name is mentioned in the introduction of the book.

3: that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

We are not guaranteed an easy life. Paul is reminding the Thessalonians of this. Just as Jesus suffered during His life, we will also suffer for our faith. But this suffering is only temporary. Jesus will return one day and we will be with Him in Heaven (either by our death or His return)! Paul seeks to encourage the Thessalonians just as we can be encouraged through reading this and how we can encourage, and be encouraged by, other believers during their afflictions. God is with us always, even when we do not see it (just as we saw in Ruth!)

1 Thessalonians Day 13

17-20

17: But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face

Paul is telling them that although they left in body, they were still there in heart. They were thinking of the Thessalonians and praying for them (as mentioned in chapter one).

18: because we wanted to come to you –I, Paul, again and again –but satan hindered us.

The devil kept them from coming by using the Jews and others who hated Paul. Their travel was stopped and it was difficult for them to be able to see the Thessalonians again.

19: For what is our hope or joy or crown of boastin before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

Paul is happy to tell Jesus of the Thessalonians because God used Paul to share the Gospel with them and their faith in God has encouraged Paul and honored God.

20: For you are our glory and joy.

The Thessalonians have brought joy to Paul because of their faith.

When the people who shared the Gospel with us see how we grow and mature in the Lord, they are like proud parents seeing their children of the faith disciple and grow others in the faith and continuing the process for generations. It is amazing to see how believers that God has given you the privilege to impact grow and mature. How much more excited is God to see how His children come to know Him more?

1 Thessalonians Day 12

Sorry for missing a day!

2:14-16

14: For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews

The Thessalonians also suffered for their faith. Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean that we are guaranteed a life without struggles. Those struggles grow us and bring us closer to God. They are hard, but worth it in the end.

15: who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind

Paul is reminding us who called for Jesus to be crucified and who despised the prophets (just read the Old Testament.)

16: by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But the wrath has come upon them at last!

Paul wanted to share the Gospel to the Gentiles as well and the Jews. He knew that God wanted all of His people to hear His Word. If you recall, often in the Old Testament God will refer to bringing judgment upon sinners when their sin has reached a certain level. As for the last portion of this passage, it is a little confusing and there are a few different options for understanding it.

the wrath is referring to the judgment that will come upon them when they die (but Paul sought for all to be saved so I don’t think he would be excited about this)

the wrath is referring to the wrath bore by Jesus on the cross for their sins (although there is an issue regarding whether or not they were actually saved and if not, their sins couldn’t have been covered by the cross)
the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 (but this book is dated to around 52 AD so unless the dating is wrong, that isn’t possible)

So I will admit that I am unsure of exactly how to understand this particular part of the passage. I do, however, understand that the measure of their, the Jews, sin had reached a certain level and God was bringing judgment to them. What the judgment is, I do not know.

We can learn from these passages that we will face trials, even as Christians. If we look around us, we can definitely see that as true. Fortunately our eternity is secure and all our struggles on earth will feel like the blink of an eye when we enter into the presence of our holy God! We can also be reminded that the wicked people will face judgment. We should seek to share the Gospel, but those who do not believe will face judgment when their measure is up. Ultimately that will be hell, and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Hell is where people are eternally separated from the love of God and instead feel the full wrath of God against the sin of man for all eternity. The joys of heaven are balanced out by the realization of what comes to those who do not repent and believe. Praise God for His goodness and ask that He will save more and use us in our imperfectness to do so!