In 1 Timothy 4:1, Paul warns us that in the later days, some people will abandon the faith by following “deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…” Today, in our culture heavily saturated with constant voices, this has never rung more true.
We are surrounded by and bombarded with information, opinions and relentless noise all day. It’s on our TVs, radios and phones. No matter the time of day, we can be assured that someone, somewhere, is talking. The TV channels & radio stations are seemingly endless, and our phones are gateways to millions of apps, a great number of which are social media in nature. We live in such a time when we no longer need to wonder long about a topic all on our own – we can simply tune into someone else’s take on it. We are a click away from all kinds of answers. We no longer are left to discern our own thoughts and opinions – they are shaped by the interpretations of others. We are influenced by millions of people in so many different ways. The important question is, my fellow brothers & sisters…whose voice will you listen to?
I’m not saying that every voice is bad. I’m not saying everyone has evil intentions. But what I AM saying is that the FIRST voice we need to heed, as followers of Jesus, is God’s. He has given us His holy spirit, His very word, and the privilege of talking to Him anytime we want to. These are gifts, and they are gifts to be used for discernment. We can discern, through these gifts, what is true, holy, and of God, and refuse to listen to voices that are not these things. In this way, we will not be led astray. We will not be counted among the people Paul mentions who have abandoned their faith.
Reflection Questions:
Do you find yourself listening to other voices on a daily basis? Has this habit shaped your opinions and thoughts – has it shaped you as a person?
If you answered the above with a round of yeses, do you believe the voices you listen to are of God? Or do you think they have led you away from Him?
Using your discernment, what are your next steps? What can you do, tangibly, to reshape your habits? How can you reclaim the voice of God in your life?
Prayer:
God, thank you for the gift of your holy spirit, for your word, and for the honor of being able to talk to you, the very creator of everything, anytime we want to. Help us to listen to you above all else. Help us to drown out the constant noise around us, and to tune in only to you. Amen.
You are probably asked countless times a day, “How are you?” And your answer probably varies between a polite “good” or “not too bad” to maybe a “tired” response. I know I have often replied with my share of “tired!”
Being tired – physically, mentally & emotionally. We’ve all been there! This can be a good thing, though. Being physically fatigued means you worked hard, that you achieved something. You put your able body to good use. Mentally fatigued? You used your brain, gave thought, produced. Emotional fatigue can be positive – it means you experienced emotions – it’s good to love, it’s normal to feel – we are human after all, created with all sorts of complexities.
While being tired can be good, it can also sway to the negative side if it’s in excess. Being overly tired can be taxing on us, affecting us negatively. Physical fatigue can wear us down if it’s habitual. We need rest & restoration because our bodies have limits. God created us that way, and has even designated a day for us to rest! We can get sick or hurt if we exceed our physical limits without taking time out. Mental fatigue can also affect us negatively if we don’t manage it well. If we don’t give our minds rest, it can impact our peace, and our thoughts can get out of control. Lastly, emotional fatigue, like mental fatigue, can wear us out. If we get too wrapped up and enmeshed in emotions, it can impact our overall health.
All that being said, feeling tired – physically, mentally & emotionally so – can be good or bad. Tired tells us ‘good job’ and then ‘rest up.’ However, being spiritually tired? That is never good. It is never healthy for us to be spiritually fatigued. Our spiritual strength should never run out, because it isn’t even our own – it’s God working through us. If we feel spiritually tired, it’s a sign for us to seek revival. To seek the true source of strength.
If we are spiritually tired, what can happen? Well, two pretty big things stand out:
-We can be caught unaware of the enemy and what he is doing. The enemy is always prowling, and we need to always be on alert.
-We can miss what God has for us. We can fail to see and respond to His leading in our lives.
We want to be aware of both our Father and of our enemy, for two very different reasons. If we are spiritually tired, our awareness can fall short, and we can become victims of either spiritual attack or missed blessings.
What really stood out to me in Psalm 85 is the concept of revival. This psalm speaks of revival from God throughout the entirety of it:
v. 4 “Restore us again, O God of our salvation…”
v. 6 “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”
v. 8 “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people…”
v. 12 “Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.”
Revival, restoration, peace – whatever you recognize it as, seek it out. Constantly. As followers of Jesus, we must keep ourselves in check, look for signs of spiritual exhaustion. When we see hints of exhaustion, we need to:
-get into the Word. It is healing, life-giving and gives us the tools we need.
-pray. Boldly ask God for revival and a renewed spiritual life.
-seek out others to help us. Others can provide a path to revival and renewal, too. We grow in community, and our brothers & sisters in Christ can pour into our spiritual lives simply by their presence, and their prayers. We need each other.
Reflection Questions:
Have you recently experienced spiritual exhaustion? What were the signs? What did you do?
Are you connected with a solid, Bible-believing church? Are there people in the church you feel like you can rely on – to pray for you, mentor you, hold you accountable, pour into your life?
Prayer:
God, thank you for our physical bodies. Thank you that you have enabled our bodies to perform and labor, that our bodies are so miraculously built. Thank you for our brains. Thank you that we can think, reason and create. Thank you for our emotions. Thank you that we can feel joy, love – and even the harder emotions, because it means we can use them to rely on you. Thank you for all of these things – and thank you for providing ways for restoration. We ask that when we are spiritually tired that you help us to recognize this and to act. We thank you that we can talk to you and ask for renewal, that your Word is accessible to us, that there are people after your own heart to help renew us when we need it. Amen.
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Yahweh of Armies! My soul has longed and has even fainted for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Psalm 84:1-2 (REV)
Do you long to be in the presence of God? Do you view being in His presence better than anything else in the world?
It can be difficult to find the time in the busyness of life to spend time with God. Whether it’s sports, practice, homework, work, other family member’s activities, or even church events, our lives are constantly full to the brim with a packed calendar and full schedule. Margin is something we write over and utilize to fill the space and time more completely with television, social media, and other numbing time wasters that we coin as “entertainment”. We are left feeling alone, jealous for what others have, regrets, and spiritually empty. Sometimes we don’t even realize how much our souls are longing to be in the courts of God.
When we reach those moments when the world feels overwhelming with its constant noise, we face two options. The first is to turn the noise up. Picking up our phones to open Tic Tok, Youtube, or Disney+. This numbs the brain and continues the vicious cycle of loneliness, anxiety, and despair. The second option is to turn off the noise by picking up our Bibles and setting aside time to pray both alone and with your church community. If you’re reading this, then you’re already taking the first steps towards seeking the presence of God.
Psalm 84 displays the beautiful sense of belonging we can find in the presence of God. Seeking God’s presence each day combats loneliness, grants strength to face the world, and helps shield you from wickedness. Have you seen a shift in your life when you have rooted yourself deeply in the presence of God?
2 Chronicles 33 and 34 recount two kings of Judah. The first, Manasseh, did what was evil while the second, Josiah, did what was good. What was the difference between these two kings? The first made temples for Baal and used worldly means to do as he pleased while the second turned the focus back to God. Manasseh led the people away from the presence of God. In those days it was through temples to deities and spiritually evil practices. What in today’s society tries to lead you away from God’s dwelling like Manasseh?
1 Timothy 2 also encourages being in the presence of God. 1 Timothy 2 starts with “Now, above all, I urge you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving for all people” (1 Tim. 2:1 REV). Paul is encouraging people to pray for not only their needs or their family’s health but for all people. It is not to be used to preach at people saying “may God let billy bob see that he is wrong” it is to pray with thanksgiving and love like “thank you god that billy bob is in my life and you guide our friendship”. Our prayer life should prompt peaceful living rooted in Christ as our mediator. When you pray, what do you normally focus on?
Prayer builds our relationship with God. It’s a precious gift we have that Christ has provided a way for us to communicate with our heavenly Father. The moments of prayer both in quiet solitude and corporate worship, bring us closer to dwelling in God’s presence.
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS
This passage might be difficult to understand as it describes how men and women pray and teach. It is one of the most difficult passages in scripture. Regarding 1 Timothy 2:8-10. In this section there is seemingly a difference of how men and women should pray. Men lift their hands without anger or arguing and women dress properly with modesty and devotion to God. That does not mean that men can wear whatever they please and women cannot raise their hands in prayer. Paul addresses issues that occur in churches speaking to issues that prevent our hearts to be fully devoted to God. This passage is encouraging purity in prayer. The examples shared are ones that might be a struggle for either gender. Women, it’s easy to buy into the culture of we can only be beautiful with makeup. That’s not God’s best for you. He doesn’t want you to find your identity in your beauty but in His presence. Men, it’s easy to go along with what the world says. Men should be strong, emotionless, and anger is the only feeling you can show. That’s not God’s best for you! He doesn’t desire you to be emotionally unavailable, straight laced and strong. He calls you to open yourself with emotions stepping outside of the social norms and comfort zones. God is calling both men and women to approach Him with hearts and hands wide open for Him to be the person’s identity and not what the world describes should identify an individual.
Likewise the final section of 2 Timothy addresses a concern within the church. Since women had no social or political authority or standing, within the Roman empire women found their “power” from money and religion. The temples of Roman goddesses set women into positions where they would lord over men. Instead of being equals, Roman goddess Diana encouraged women to be better humans who were more valuable and had more power than men. There was also a teaching going around in Rome that man was the one to cause sin to enter the world and not the women. This was a big problem that needed to be addressed! Paul writes here to remind women that they are not a better, higher being and that the scripture is not to be used to assert that a woman is a better, higher being. Now this is not to say that women are lesser than men and can never teach. That would go against the fact that all humans are the image of God (Genesis 1:27), that through Christ all are set free from the hierarchy of society (Galatians 3:28), and all are equally gifted (Romans 12:6-8).
To both men and women, do not allow misunderstandings of this scripture to allow either gender to dominate over the other. Instead, allow it to shape your hearts to dwell equally with one another in the presence of God.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
How can we be like Josiah, refocusing ourselves and our churches towards the presence of God?
What are some habits you can work on that help you dwell in the presence of God?
PRAYER TIME
Take time to pray today. Pray for God to use His word to teach and guide your life. Praise Him for His goodness. Ask Him to shape your view and understanding of the world and Scripture. Dwell quietly in His presence to tune yourself to the holy spirit, which He has so gifted you to provide understanding and guidance within your life.
Key passage: “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)
Hezekiah was a great king guiding the people towards the LORD. Instead of simply giving the people instructions on what they should be doing, he served as an example of sacrifice, prayer, and worship. Can you think of someone in your own life who has served as a great example of this to you? I know I can think of many individuals who led with a steadfast love for God going to Him in trials, giving to Him generously, thanking for what He has done, and encouraging others to live in the same way.
However, pride is easy to fall into. Hezekiah even in all his devotion to God, the victory and success he saw from God, still his pride blocked kindness and God’s healing work. It’s like in the movie Cars. My four year old is obsessed with this movie (but so is my brother). Lightning McQueen is talented and skilled. He has a lot of success but has a huge ego that not only is a problem in the first movie but even continues to be problematic in the third movie! Even after learning to lean on others and take advice, in Cars 3 McQueen once again faces his pride. It blocks him from seeing the opportunity in front of him of mentoring Cruz. Even though he had learned how to manage his pride it came right back in a difficult situation. Similar to Hezekiah who was so devoted then his pride came blinding him from God’s goodness.
How have you struggled with pride in your life? What are ways that you avoid becoming prideful?
One way that we see pride within the church is pride in doctrine. It’s so amazing to have truth which we see in 1 Timothy, but we must be careful how we talk about truth and how we utilize 1 Timothy 1. Let’s take a moment to further understand what Paul is saying in today’s passage.
Paul is facing an issue which seems very common in his letters: false teachers. Sometimes false teachers come in sheep’s clothing like in Matthew 7 while others confidently speak on things that are not true. In this passage, the false teachers are teaching false doctrine. Some Biblical unitarians might jump to the thought, “they are teaching the trinity! Run away!” But Paul makes clear what these false teachers are focusing on. That is myths and endless genealogies. Myths and endless genealogies were likely mythical or false stories built upon the genealogies we see in the Old Testament. These would be things similar to Paradise Lost. Paradise Lost is a book that speculates what it was like in the garden of Eden expanding on the account of Genesis 1-3. It would be as if we started teaching that the book Paradise Lost is biblical truth instead of being a fictional poetic expression of Genesis 1-3.
We should not take pride when rebuking and guiding a false teacher back to the truth. Instead, it should be with an attitude of love, faith, patience, and mercy. We also need to remember that the person we are trying to guide toward a better understanding of truth also has their own pride. We see in Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones that Anakin Skywalker has an insane amount of pride. It not only attributes to his reckless abandon but to his inability to fall under the authority of the Jedi counsel. The Jedi counsel attempts to shape well with patience, wise counsel, and a heaping amount of grace and yet Anakin does not conquer his pride. Be careful my friends in how you interact with people. Do not have your own pride and continue to be aware that they too struggle with pride. Questions to Ponder
How do you see pride within your own life? What is your response when someone points out your pride?
Take a minute to reflect on ways that God has provided that you may have not noticed. Consider how you can be more aware of God’s actions within your life and your response towards His workings. How can you rely on Him and praise His good deeds?
When someone is not teaching the truth, how can you be aware of your own pride and their pride when teaching them truth?
Prayer Time
Take five minutes to pray today. Thank God for His good works in your life. Thank Him for His Holy Scripture. Ask Him to guide you closer and closer towards truth each day and lean on Him to take away your pride.
-Devotion by Rachel Cain (OH) – with questions sprinkled throughout
A few weeks ago my family gathered with friends to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the USA! The long and epic gathering began with a festive city parade, continued at a cookout replete with red and blue fruits, and culminated in a colorful explosion of fireworks.
The Israelites have their own sort of Independence Day known as Passover, which commemorates when they were freed from slavery under Pharoah and began their journey to the land of liberty that God had promised to give them. In today’s reading, Hezekiah wanted the scattered tribes of Israel to reunite for an overdue, epic Passover Celebration, but because the priests weren’t consecrated in time, they decided to hold the Passover a month late.
Better late than never! Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. An ancient Chinese proverb states, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is today.”
What is something that God has been nudging you to do for Him? Take steps to obey today!
Hezekiah invited all the separate tribes (who were divided by more than just location – this was likely a deep cultural and political rift) to come together to worship and remember God’s provision together. Some tribes ridiculed the couriers who delivered this invitation of repentance and celebration; however, a few groups set aside their differences, humbled themselves, and joined the party. Those in attendance were not all ritually clean, but Hezekiah prayed for God to honor the hearts of those who had come to honor Him. God responded with grace and accepted the people’s repentant hearts.
God looks deep into the intentions of our hearts. We see repeatedly in scripture that God wants people who are not just going through the motions, but who truly desire to live for Him.
How have you seen evidence in Scripture of God looking at the heart and motives over rituals? Are there any examples of this in your life or the lives of others?
In a culture that praises pride of all kinds and promotion of self even at the expense of others, it’s refreshing to read about divided nations humbling themselves to seek God as one body. One of my favorite Sundays of the year is when a local organization called Declare joins with area churches for a worship gathering in our town square. What a fantastic opportunity to commune with a variety of believers who, despite deep doctrinal differences, choose to meet together for the sole purpose of praising God and serving our city together.
God wants us to come together as one body for His Mission. We must set aside our disagreements so we can accomplish more together than we can apart!
In what ways might you be called to unite and serve with others on the common ground of Faith?
Hezekiah’s gathering turned out to be the most joyful Passover celebration in over 200 years! Even though they missed a few requirements of the law, God saw that His people were drawing near to him, and He appreciated their renewed commitment. Celebrating together reminded the people who they were – and WHOSE they were. They remembered their true identity.
In this world of confusion and mistaken identities, don’t forget who (and Whose) you are.What steps can you take to get back to the root of your true identity as a new creation in Christ?(Read the Bible, join a small group, engage in prayer, seek wise and godly counsel, worship and seek God with like-minded believers, cut off distractions so you can focus more on God’s purpose for you…. Those are just a few ideas!).
While we’re on the topic of Passover… I want to encourage you to experience it for yourself sometime! There is so much rich significance in all the little details of a Passover seder. Our family has celebrated Passover at a basic level for several years, but earlier this year we learned a powerful part of the Passover that we had never practiced before (and which was likely practiced at Hezekiah’s Passover), called the Dayenu. The closest translation in English that we have to the meaning of the Hebrew word dayenu is, “it would have been enough.” The original dayenu has statements representing the 15 gifts God bestowed to the Israelites; the first five mention emancipation from slavery in Egypt, the next five describe some of the miraculous ways God provided for His people, and the last five share about the closeness to God among His people. Each of the stanzas is followed by the people stating, “Dayenu” (it would have been enough). I encourage you to look up the phrases recited/sung during the traditional Dayenu. What phrases would you add onto the original dayenu to represent God’s provision throughout history and in your own life?
God has given us blessing after blessing, but even if he didn’t… what He has already done for us would be enough. Many of us tend to be so drawn to the things of this world, always wanting more and more, never fully satisfied nor willing to express, “it would have been enough”. But God has called us to a deep contentment and joy that is counter-cultural… almost as if we are citizens not of this world, but of a coming Kingdom (see Philippians 3:17-21). In his book Uncluttered Faith, Joshua Becker writes, “Once you become content with the things of the world that you possess, you are freed to pursue the kingdom of God. Contentment isn’t about settling. It’s about recognizing that you have enough, that it came from God, and that there are greater things to pursue than more of this world. Correctly understood, it’s acknowledgement that while you have enough, you also have so much potential in the kingdom that’s waiting to be unlocked” (p. 175).
Write down specific ways that God might be calling you to eschew the materialism and negative mindsets that are so abundant in this culture so you can focus your time, talents, and treasures on what truly matters – the work of advancing His kingdom in unity with one another.
Prayer
I leave you with the Priestly Blessing that was most likely spoken at Hezekiah’s Passover and is still a prayer for us all:
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
2 Thessalonians 2:1b-2a; 3a – “…we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us…Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way…”
Many years ago, while I was an eighth grade science teacher, I had several students approach me and ask me to buy a Christmas wreath or door swag as part of a club fundraiser. Instead of politely declining, I chose to have a little fun and make up a story of why I couldn’t. (If you can’t have fun teasing a 13 year old, why even be a middle school teacher?) The story I told for why I was not in a position to buy a wreath was because I claimed that I didn’t have a front door. As a science teacher, I said, I tinkered after school and had developed an invisible entryway that I couldn’t hang anything on. I was insistent that this was the truth and the students walked away wondering if I was completely insane or maybe a secret genius. Another student observed the entire interaction and looked at me with a side-eye and said, “You could have just told them ‘no’”. But where would the fun be in that???
Fast forward to 2026, where our social media algorithms are full of click bait headlines and the use of AI in just about everything trying to entice us with just enough truth to make the claim believable. Like my former students, we often think, “Is this real?”
I can relate to the believers in ancient Thessalonica who were starting to think that the news of Jesus’ return had already happened was true. The messages they heard sounded reasonable. What if they had missed something? They knew what they had been taught by Paul, but thoughts of ‘what if’ stirred in their hearts and caused them to doubt.
It’s been said that the only way to recognize a counterfeit $100 bill is to have studied a legitimate $100 bill. When you see the ‘real deal’ you learn to identify anything fake.
Paul was (and still is) urging New Testament believers to not get pulled into false teachings and stir up doubts of what God has promised He will do. The only way to stay confident in what is True is to know the Truth inside and out.
In Acts 17 we read about the Bereans who are described as being of more noble character than the Thessalonians (ouch), because “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (v. 11).
Let us take a hint from our Berean brothers and sisters and carefully examine the Scriptures. Let us do what the psalmist of Psalm 119 did and seek God and hide His word in our hearts; learn from His decrees; recount with our lips all the laws that come from His mouth; rejoice in following His statutes, meditate on His precepts, consider His ways, delight in His decrees and not neglect His word. (Ps 119:10-16)
Then we will be able to be confident in the Truth and not be easily swayed by some false messenger.
Reflection Questions
What are some “unrighteous deceptions” (vs 10) you have seen or heard of in our world today?
How often do you consider that there is a saving truth?
How often and how do you verify that what you believe falls in line with the saving truth?
What will happen to those who do not believe in the saving truth?
Prayer
Dear God – You are the giver of all Truth. I pray I am not deceived. Help me to know, love and spread the saving truth.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 – “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.”
The summer between my second and third grade, my family moved from Michigan to Arizona. I left behind my first best friend, Jenny. We promised each other that we would write to each other frequently so that our friendship could continue even though we were 1900 miles apart. And that’s exactly what we did. All throughout elementary school, junior high, and high school we wrote back and forth sharing the excitements and disappointments of growing up. And while the time between the letters increased as we got older, we managed to stay in touch through college. There were some years even in our early adulthood that we exchanged Christmas cards.
When was the last time that you either sent or received an actual, personalized letter from someone near and dear? What information was exchanged? How did it make you feel? How do you imagine it made the other person feel?
As part of today’s Scripture reading, we begin a second letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica. His purpose for this follow up is to encourage the believers to continue to persevere in their faith, to correct misunderstandings that had begun to make their way into the teachings, and provide some discipline for those who were not being productive.
It’s the third verse that captured my attention as I read this chapter. How often, in our communication, whether it be written or face-to-face, do we extend the message, “I see how your faith is growing” or “I am so thankful for you” or “I have been bragging about you to others” (see verse four).
Admittedly, I am not good at this sort of talk, especially face-to-face, particularly on Sunday mornings. I am much more comfortable staying on topics that are related to the business of the church, or how the previous week went, and how I am anticipating the events of the upcoming week.
But I think that I should take a note from Paul and start noticing and sharing how I see my friends living out their faith actively. Because even in a church community that stays active and engaged, it can be easy to slip into the feelings of isolation. And I shouldn’t let my awkwardness and insecurities prevent me from telling people that I care about that I see them and their efforts in living like Jesus would want them to and to support them when they might be struggling with something.
I sometimes wonder if Paul had any inclination that the words that he penned 2000 years ago to a specific group of believers would continue to have impact on Christian brothers and sisters centuries later on the other side of the world? But if his words of encouragement and teaching are able to keep us anchored in our faith, how much more would something that we said to another today make a difference?
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am so glad that we are striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. Seeing you dig deep when life throws you curveballs encourages me to stay the course in my own faith journey. I am so grateful to God that our paths have crossed and to know that I am not in this alone. To Him, be all glory and honor and praise!
Your friend in the faith,
-bethany
REflection Questions
Who are Christian brothers and sisters you thank God for? Have you let them know?
Whose Christian perseverance do you see that inspires you to keep the faith? Have you told them? (Perhaps if a person you have thought of is currently asleep/dead, there is still someone currently living who would love to hear the impact their loved one had on you.)
Besides the encouragement and thanks found in verses 3 & 4, what else found in the rest of this chapter does Paul want his brothers and sisters in Thessalonica to know and remember? How often do you share this with others? Who do you know who could benefit from hearing this information or reminders this week? Will you tell them?
Prayer
Dear God, I thank You for being the Father with a Big Plan which includes the blessings of a church family today and the promise of an incomparable Coming Kingdom when Your Son returns. Thank You for all those who have taught me and encouraged me and helped be to grow my faith in You. Help me to be grateful and a wise motivator and encouragement to others.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 – “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
School mascots are one of the unifying elements of building culture and community on a campus. As a student and an educator I’ve been associated with more than just a few. I’ve been a: Koala, Hawk, Tiger, Charger, Thunderbird, Wildcat, Lumberjack, Coyote, Cougar, Prospector, and another Cougar and finally, a Spartan. Upon graduating from high school, I received, along with my diploma, a “Once a Charger, Always a Charger” card – which was a game pass for any home game that I wanted to attend as an alumni. At all of these schools, I wasn’t just a student or a teacher on that campus, but I was a (fill in the name of the mascot here). Whether I was on campus, traveling with a school group, or even associating with friends from a different school, I represented my school with the attributes of what our mascot symbolized.
In today’s New Testament reading from 1 Thessalonians, Paul is providing encouragement to the believers in Thessalonica about waiting for Jesus’ return. As we wait for our Lord’s glorious return, we should do so in a manner that embodies who we are in his name.
As children of the Light and children of the Day, we are to live righteously, in peace with others, being generous with our resources, standing firm in our faith, and remaining on alert and self-controlled.
A favorite childhood chorus, “This Little Light of Mine”, is a declaration that the Light lives in us – it’s not just something that we possess, but it’s part of who we are. And because of this truth, we cannot help but shine the Lord’s Light everywhere we go.
This Light influences how we interact with each person with whom we cross paths.
This Light directs the short-term and long-term decisions we make.
This Light prompts us to persevere through trials.
This Light guides us towards godliness.
This Light counsels us when we’re confused and corrects us when we veer off course.
This Light spurs us to spread the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
As you go about your day, consider how you can best illuminate the space you’re in with the Light that comes from our Lord.
Reflection Questions
Who have you witnessed shining as a child of the light? What was helpful, beautiful and appealing about that light?
Do you see yourself as a child of the light? How do you shine? Are there any spaces that you occupy, or people you come in contact with, that you do not currently shine as bright?
“As you go about your day, consider how you can best illuminate the space you’re in with the Light that comes from our Lord.”
Prayer
Dear Father – I thank You for Your light which shines through Your Son and all Your children. Show us what belongs to the night/darkness and what comes from You. Help us shine every day and in every situation we are in so that others may see more clearly You and Your way that leads to life.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 – “Finally, brothers, 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.”
NASA has recently made some exciting progress towards the goal of establishing a livable station on the Moon’s surface. Just imagine, in a few short years, we’ll have humans living and working on the Moon. And it’s quite possible that if NASA and its global partners keep their projected timeline, we’ll be sending astronauts to Mars within a decade from now.
The required preparation for such feats is staggering. Transporting humans is only one piece of the puzzle. Determining how to have a sustainable existence in space is another. Why? Because space, for all its glory and wonder, is NOT where humans were meant to exist. It’s not our natural habitat. Learning how to support living beings where the necessary resources of oxygen and water do not exist requires scientific ingenuity at its finest.
Prior to any space mission, astronauts undergo years of training to prepare for their journey. They are not only given the tools but lessons, and practice, and feedback in order to go and do what a space agency is asking them to do.
Like an astronaut living in space is not normal…being a Christian in today’s culture is not normal.
We, as children of God, are living in a world that is not our natural habitat. We were created to live in existence with God. But because of sin, we’re relegated to living in a broken world.
Upon our declaration of faith, we receive God’s Spirit in order to live in this broken world according to His will and plans. And like the astronauts who receive training, we also need lessons on how to live like God intends for us.
In his letter to the believers of the Thessalonican church, Paul writes to encourage them to live a life pleasing to God. They (and we) are reminded to abstain from what is culturally “normal”; to live a holy lifestyle that honors God.
So what does that look like for us? Scripture tells us plainly:
“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind, and with all of your strength…love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31)
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
If you have a chance this evening, go out and look at the stars. And while you’re gazing at the night sky, give thanks to God for giving you His Spirit in order that you are able to live in such a way that honors Him.
Reflection Questions:
Like a human living in space, what parts of life in this present world is supposed to be foreign or unlivable to a Christian? How instead is a Christian to live?
The Thessalonians were living in a way that was pleasing to God but Paul told them to do it more and more. Should we be content with a little holiness or pleasing God? In what ways are you working at pleasing God and what would it look like to do so more and more?
Since living to please God is not this world’s normal behavior or goal, what instruction and training have you received to be a successful alien here living as God desires? And from whom? What additional and repeated training would be helpful this week? To whom can you offer some on earth alien training to and how would you go about it?
Prayer
Dear God – I thank You for providing all we truly need to live in this broken world as Christians. Thank You for the instruction given in Your perfect Word, Your Son who shows the way, Your Spirit which guides, and our Christian brother and sister aliens. Help me to live in a way that is pleasing to You Father, more and more. We are so looking forward to life with You in Your coming Kingdom. Help me be prepared and help me prepare others for eternal life with You.
Jehoshaphat narrowly escaped being taking out for his mistake in aligning himself with the most evil king in Israel’s history, going to war with him against the LORD’S advice. Upon return home, he’s met with the words of the LORD through Jehu who says,
“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord? 3 But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.” (2 Chr 19:3).
This says a lot. Yes, Jehoshaphat did much good in the eyes of the Lord, but he made a grave mistake. After his return and listening to the words of the LORD, it seems he learns from his mistakes and gets back on track, following the path of righteousness. He appoints judges in all the fortified cities of Judah to consider carefully how they judge, as they are being judge for God, “for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.” (2 Chron 19:7). We find this bit of wisdom in the New Covenant too.
They’re also told to warn their brother if a dispute comes between brother or sister, so that they may not be guilty, and the wrath of God will not come on either of them. This sounds like the wisdom we find in Matthew 18.
Jehoshaphat is prepared for the next battle, as he seeks God and his wisdom about what to do. He declares a fast and humbles himself before God, declaring that he is afraid, powerless, and doesn’t know what to do, but his eyes are on God. He praises God for being above all, almighty and powerful. He remembers what God has done for his fathers and reminds him of his promises to them.
God in turn tells the people not to be afraid, for the battle belongs to him. They get to stand on the sidelines and see the salvation of the LORD put to work on their behalf. So the king worships God with all the people, then instructs his people to put their trust in God to be established and to succeed. He sends the singers out to battle first. When they begin singing, the LORD God goes to work. It’s a miraculous tale. When the battle is won, the people bless the LORD and he gives them peace…
……until Jehoshaphat goes and makes the same mistake again. He aligns himself with the next evil king of Israel and his plans are thwarted. If only Jehoshaphat would have listened to God until the end of his race.
There’s so much going on here that we can apply to our lives. For one, set your heart to seek God and do what he says. Don’t align yourself with evil doers. If you do, repent, humble yourself, cry out to God in your distress. Seek God’s admonishment for your own good. Sing praises to him for all his goodness. Bless him. Watch him work.
Jehoshaphat is on the list of “good kings,” or “mostly good kings.” Oh, that we would be on the list of good people in the eyes of our God until the end of our race. Thank God that we can through our Lord Jesus.
The Thessalonians are on Paul’s “good” list. He writes so passionately to them. He couldn’t bear the thought that they may have been deceived by those who don’t want them to know Christ, or through thinking that they may have lost heart after seeing him suffer for Christ (as they too will have to suffer for Christ).
He can rejoice though after sending Timothy to them, to know that their faith is strong, and their love abounds, despite the battles they’ve faced on behalf of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God for Christ. Now that Paul has heard their good report, he can really live.
Imagine that being our attitude towards brothers and sisters we’ve preached to, or someone you know who’s changed her mind and decided to live for Christ. This is exactly who we are supposed to be in Christ. Having this attitude because you’ve gained souls for Christ will establish your heart blameless before God at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Christ.
QUESTIONS
1. What are ways you can humble yourself before the LORD when facing an impossible battle, like Jehoshaphat?
2. Do you see any other wisdom from God that he reiterates from the Old Testament into the New Testament?
3. Do you “really live” after hearing a good report about your brothers and sisters in Christ you’ve witnessed to? What a beautiful attitude to have.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father – I thank You for Your wisdom, power and love and for revealing Yourself and Your way to us through Your Word. Like Jehoshaphat, help me to seek You, not align with evil, humble myself, know the power of singing praise, and turn my eyes on You, especially when I don’t know what to do. May I learn from my mistakes, and show others the good way that leads to life eternal, made possible by Your precious Son Jesus. In his name I pray, Amen.
Seek Grow Love 