Category: serving

Giving Responsibility

xr:d:DAF9U4VOudE:10,j:1267056673937771116,t:24022012

Old Testament: Leviticus 4 & 5

Poetry: Psalm 37

New Testament: Acts 6

Today, we’re going to take a break from Psalms 37 and focus on our passage in Acts. Though a short chapter, two very important events take place in chapter 6. To set the stage, here’s a quick mini review of Acts so far.

Acts 1 – Jesus leaves the apostles and Matthias is chosen to replace Judas of Iscariot.
Acts 2- Holy Spirit comes, pentecost.
Acts 3 – Peter heals a beggar and preaches in the temple.

Acts 4 – Leading priests and elders get mad. Peter, John, and believers began to worry about oppression but pray for courage and continue preaching. Believers begin to unite in one heart and mind, caring for each other by acting as generous givers.

Acts 5 – Ananias and Sapphira lie about being generous givers and are struck dead. The apostles heal many people. More officials get mad at apostles and arrest them. An angel of the Lord sets them free and they continue preaching.

In Acts 6 we see the church has grown and the apostles feel overwhelmed with responsibility. So, like all great leaders, the apostles delegate. Seven men are chosen to be in charge of caring for widows, food distribution, and other administrative duties. This enables the apostles, those who had lived with Jesus and witnessed his resurrection, to continue their preaching and teaching.

I love this story because it shows how all people are useful within the church. Not everyone is meant to be a preacher. Not everyone has a surplus of money to donate to the church. Not one role is more important than the other. This is where we start to see the church operating as a body.

As a little girl I was always in awe of my Aunt Christy. I got to really see her at work when she took over directing Minnesota State Youth Camp. My first camp job was making sure my cousin, her toddler son, “stayed out of the lake” as his parents put it. During that time of babysitting my cousin, I saw a lot of the behind the scenes work Christy did. I was impressed. There is a lot more that goes into running a camp than one might think. I told her how she was so good at her job and she laughed in humility. Then she told me something I’ve never forgotten. She said the secret to being a good leader is finding the things other people are good at and putting them in charge of those things. In Acts 6 that is exactly what happens for the early church.

Sometimes I think we are too harsh on ourselves. We compare ourselves to others and guilt ourselves for not serving like them. The thing is we all have different roles to play. We need not feel bad about our role. It takes all sorts of people to run a church efficiently. We are given this example in Acts 6.

The second important event in Acts 6 is Stephen’s arrest. His arrest leads to his death in Acts 7. This is significant as it is the first recorded execution of someone preaching the Gospel in Jesus’ name. Present at Stephen’s execution is the first time we see the man Saul who would later become Paul the Apostle. Before he is stoned to death, Stephen delivers a beautiful sermon. One line in particular stood out to me but we will look at that tomorrow. For now, I encourage you to find ways to serve within your church community, using your unique God-given gifts.

-Emilee Ross

Reflection Questions

  1. What God-given gifts have you been given?
  2. How can you use those to serve within your church community?
  3. Is there a job you have been doing for the church that might be good to share with someone else?
  4. What benefits are there to giving responsibilities to others?
sglcalendar2024Download

Gifts and Abilities for God

Old Testament: Exodus 27 & 28

Poetry: Psalm 30

New Testament: Matthew 25:31-46

God allows His followers to worship Him in so many ways! He blesses us with abilities that can be used for His glory. In our scripture readings today, we see the abilities of the embroiders, jewelers, songwriters, and those who serve and minister to others just to name a few. From skilled hands come the beautiful creations of articles that were used in the tabernacle (Ex. 27&28). Perhaps, some of the Israelites never imagined that they would have a part of creating a place where God would be worshipped. Maybe, someone just learned and developed an ability to dye and spin purple yarn. They were gifted with this talent, but they had no idea that this skill would be used for God.  Yet, God did use this ability for the creation of the Tabernacle. How amazing to be creating a sanctuary for the LORD so He might dwell among them (Ex.25:8).  

From Psalm 30, we are reminded that each of these Psalms or songs are lyrical praises that emerged from the creative minds of song writers (Ps. 30). As the Psalmist declared, “LORD my God, I will praise you forever.” Many of the Psalms’ lyrics we still sing today.  

Lastly our scriptures from Matthew remind us that every believer should use our gifts to serve our brothers or sisters in need. Matthew 25:31-46 illustrates the amazing coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man in His glory with all the holy angels. He will finally be recognized as the King when he sits on the throne of His glory. He will then reward those who have served others. Jesus the King will say “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom.”

We see that God is honored when we use our abilities and gifts for Him.

-Rebecca Dauksas

Reflection & Application

Have you thought about your abilities? Perhaps you have giftedness in certain areas?  Pray about opportunities to share your gifts and abilities with your friends, family and serving in your church.

SGLCalendar2024Download

Giving in the Difficult Season

Old Testament: Amos 1 & 2

Poetry: Psalm 128

New Testament: Matthew 14

 

We have all heard the story about Jesus feeding the 5 thousand, and what Jesus can do with our little. But what happened prior to these events?

In Matthew 14: 1-12, we are told of the moment that Herod decided to behead John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, and close friend. In Matthew 14:13-14 we are shown the reaction of Jesus when he gets the news.

Matthew 14:13-14

            “When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.”

This is an incredible image of who Jesus was. Think of a time in your life when all you wanted was some time alone. You have been through a lot and are trying to grieve and yet there are people who want to talk and need your help. What was your reaction?

Were you irritated, did you yell, maybe you said something you wish you hadn’t? We have all been to that place. We are all human. There have been times I have done the same thing, especially in the recent times with trying to find a job and being patient, as I wait for God to open the door. It has been easy to lose my temper with the people around me, or to be distant from them.

Jesus in this passage, is calling us to have compassion even in our grief and sorrow. Have compassion on people and show them the love of God. Even when we are burnt out and only have a little to give. Even that little, when given to others, has the power to change everything. Jesus took the little bread they had and gave it to God in faith and was able to feed everyone there! Our little strength makes a huge difference.

After this incredible miracle, seeing Jesus do these amazing things, the disciples get into a boat and make their way to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. In the night during a storm, they witness Jesus walking towards them on the water. The disciples in fear believe it is a ghost, but Peter says, if it is you Lord, command me to come to you on the water. Jesus says, “Come.”

Peter begins walking on the water in courage and faith, but fear sets in and he begins to sink as he notices the wind and waves.

Jesus then says as he pulls Peter from the water. “You of little Faith. WHY DID YOU DOUBT?” Jesus says this with love. Peter only had a little faith and was willing to get out and take the chance to walk.

We are called to do the same. When we are burnt out and feel empty. We are called to bring the little faith we have and walk with Jesus. Sometimes the waves in life are tall, and the wind roars in our ears. But Jesus says, “Walk with me.”  In other words, “Bring all you have to serve others,” as we are called.

As I write this, I think of the times in life that I feel burnt out, even at my young age. Life is HARD. But even during those times, it brings me hope to see others who have went before me. They continue to serve and give of themselves even in their challenging times. It is amazing to see what God does even through our grief. God uses our biggest trials to make the biggest differences in our lives, and the lives of people around us. He does this with the little we have to give.

Reflection Questions

In times of testing and grief, do we give up or keep on looking for needs of others?

Are we feeding ourselves spiritually to strengthen our faith, so we don’t sink like Peter did?

-Hannah Eldred

sgl23bibleplanDownload

No Excuses

Old Testament: Isaiah 23 & 24

Poetry: Psalm 70

New Testament: Mark 1

In Mark 1 Jesus calls his first disciples.  He calls four people.  Now these four are all fisherman with jobs and lives.  But they leave those lives and jobs to follow Jesus.  Take a second to really think about how much they’re giving up there.  They’re losing their job, their lifestyle and leaving their own homes.  All to follow someone after he says just one thing to them.  Now it doesn’t say that they stopped ,thought about it, and followed Jesus, but that “At once they left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:18 NIV) and “Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and follow him” (Mark 1:20 NIV).  They left immediately to follow Jesus; they were willing to give up their own lives which they had plans for.  They gave that all up to follow Jesus.  They did it quickly and without hesitation.  Now they could have had insight like in Matthew 16:17, “Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven’”.  I would think that they did but we can still learn from their example here.

Another thing to notice here is that Jesus is not calling scribes or priests who might know the old testament the best and who are the most well educated.  There is plenty of reasons for this.  He is calling fishermen as his first.  The first time something is done it’s setting a precedent.  Everything Jesus did set a precedent for us to follow.  But he’s showing us here that you don’t need to be the most educated, or the smartest to follow and serve him.  That is the precedent he is setting for us.  The precedent that continues even to this day.  And he took these fishermen and made them into the vessels he would use to spread the gospel even after he was gone, when they were no longer fishermen, but fishers of men. 

Now we can apply this to our own lives as well.  We’ve all been called to follow Jesus just as the first disciples were.  Yet so many times we hesitate, because we don’t want to give up things, or we’re too scared.  Take a page from these disciples, they left their lives and their homes to follow.  We should be willing to do what is asked of us as well. Most of the time what we are called to give up isn’t even as much as they gave up.  Not only that, but when we are called to do something, we should be doing it right away.  They didn’t have the full picture of who he was and were willing to follow, we should be able to as well.  Let me qualify all that by saying we should give thought and prayer if we’re going to do something, and if we are called to do something that doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you know like the disciples, they were after all in a different situation than most of us. 

And if you’re stuck thinking that “I’m not qualified” or “Someone else better can do it because I’m not good enough” you should forget those thoughts.  Because Jesus set the precedent that we all, no matter how skilled or unskilled, can serve.  Just like the disciples he equips us for what we are called to do.   You don’t need to be the best to serve.  Moses who is famous for leading the Israelites out of Egypt was a flawed person.  And if you’re saying “I’m not ready yet because I’m too young, not good enough, etc yet” then when do you become ready.  Setting a random age where you say that you know enough now?  We are called to serve, not called to serve in 20 years. 

Don’t be afraid to serve in what way you are called and do it without delay when you are called. 

-Philip Kirkpatrick

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you feel the Lord has called you to do? How are you being called to follow Jesus? If you are unsure, pray to hear directions more clearly.
  2. What excuses have you given in the past for not following the calling right away?
  3. Would Jesus think any of these excuses are valid?
  4. What are you willing to give up in order to follow Jesus well?
sgl23bibleplanDownload

Saying Goodbye

Theme Week: Paul in Review: Acts 20

Old Testament: Job 40-42

Poetry: Psalm 48

            Goodbyes are hard.  This week I gathered with a lot of people that I love.  First at General Conference in Oregon, IL.  I was gathered for 3 days with people that I love.  Some are my biological family- My Mother, sisters, brother-in-law, uncle, cousins, sons and daughters, and sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren. My wife was also there, while not biologically related she is my family and the one I love most in this world.  Then there were friends, fellow members of the Church, pastors, and other. Colleagues, people I’ve met through years of ministry.  Some I’ve known for over 40 years and they are part of my extended Church family that I love as brothers and sisters.  At the end of our conference, it was time to say goodbye.  I hope to see all of them again, but realistically, some of them I may never see again in this age and that makes me sad.

            Right after the conference we had another gathering, a family gathering to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday.  We had family come from across the US and across the world including my daughter from Germany and niece from New Zealand.  I saw cousins I had not seen in over 40 years and met their grandchildren.  We had a wonderful celebration.  But then we had to say goodbye as we all left to return to our various homes.  It will be months and years and possibly for some we will never see each other again in this age, and that makes me sad.

            What if you knew you would never see a group of people that you love again?  What would you be thinking about and wanting to say as you said goodbye to them?

            In Acts 20 the Apostle Paul is saying goodbye to a group of leaders from a Church he helped build in Ephesus.  He had spent three years of his life teaching, baptizing, training, encouraging, and correcting these people.  He loved them as brothers and sisters.  God had revealed to Paul that he would never see these people again in this age, and that made him sad.  As he said goodbye to them he gives us some insight into what things were important to him and how he had lived when he was with them and encouraged them to continue in the faith.

            Paul reminded them, and us, how he served the Lord.  Paul had been religious all of his life.  He was an observant Jew who faithfully abided by all ceremonial and purification rituals of the Jewish faith.  He was a descendant of Abraham through Jacob and a meticulous observer of the Torah, which is the Old Testament Covenant Practices.  Yet all those things didn’t get him to where he truly wanted and needed to be.  Something was missing.  That something, as it turned out, was a relationship with God as His father that was given as a gift of grace through entering into a covenant with God by faith in Jesus Christ.  Out of that new relationship with God through grace by faith in Jesus Christ came Paul’s understanding of himself and his mission.  Everything he did was in service to the Lord.

            Paul served with humility.  He knew that his call and commissioning did not originate with him and was not based on his merit but on God’s grace.  While he was not shy about claiming and using his authority as one sent by God (an apostle) Paul used that authority humbly.

            Paul did not serve God at a distance.  He was down in the front lines of battle where the true spiritual warfare was taking place.  Paul was often harmed both emotionally and physically.  He reminds his hearers that he served them with tears and trials.

            Paul discipled them by teaching a total way of life in Jesus Christ.  His teaching was not detached and theoretical, but practical.  Paul says that he taught anything profitable (vs. 20 ESV). Paul taught the whole counsel of God (vs.27). He didn’t just talk about a few narrow subjects that were most important to him.  For Paul following Jesus Christ impacts every area of your life.  There is no sacred vs. secular, religious vs. non-religious.  Jesus Christ is just as much a part of your schooling, your job, your friendships,  your marriage, your family, and your sex life as he is part of what you do at 11:00 on Sunday Mornings.

            Paul carried out his service for Christ in both public and personal spaces.  Whether he was in a large, organized group or in someone’s private home with one or two persons, Paul was about his mission.  In those spaces Paul emphasized the importance of repentance (turning away from sin and turning toward Jesus Christ as Lord), Paul emphasized faith as a way to access Jesus Christ.

            Paul placed his whole person into his service.  He was passionate in offering admonishment (correction) with tears. (Vs. 31).  Training others in following Jesus Christ includes a lot of encouragement and positive reinforcement, but it also includes the hard work of correcting both incorrect beliefs and behaviors.  Paul elsewhere talks about “speaking the truth in love.”  There is a loving way to speak even hard and corrective truth, but it is hard work and Paul did not shy away from hard work.  Paul reminded them of the many ways that he worked hard among them.

            Paul concludes his parting words by showing the value of working hard to help the weak.  The Christian’s job is not to shame the weak or guilt the weak, it’s not to judge the weak or berate the weak, but to help the weak.  This requires a great deal of altruistic love and willingness to patiently and sacrificially give.  Paul concludes with a reminder of Jesus’ own words on the value of giving over receiving. (Vs. 35).

            At the end of this passionate reminder of his life and teaching among them, they are all in tears as Paul gets down on his knees with them and prays.

-Jeff Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. If you were preparing to say goodbye to your brothers and sisters in Christ, what would you want to make sure they heard from you?
  2. What are you most impressed with what Paul shares with the Ephesians?
  3. What do you think Paul might say to your church if he was saying goodbye to you instead of the Ephesians?
sgl23bibleplanDownload

Can’t Throw Stones

*THEME WEEK – PETER – Luke 5

Poetry: Psalm 13

Old Testament: Ezra Intro – see below

This week many are gathering for a week of FUEL – a youth and young adult camp of the Church of God. Our theme for the week matches FUEL’s theme of Peter and our writers this week will all be participants and staff at FUEL. Have a great week seeking God, growing faith and loving more and more!

The past few weeks, I have been thinking about this a lot. We are so quick to cast stones when someone hurts us, or we find something out about someone that we think is wrong or sinful. I have seen this in myself recently. I have been quick to judge people when I don’t agree with their opinions or beliefs. I was very excited to have an opportunity to write about Luke 5. The story about Jesus choosing his first disciples has always been one of my favorites. But I never took the time to read deeper into it.

Luke 5: 31

Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees who are watching Jesus have dinner with tax collectors and sinners. In this time, it was crazy and unheard of to associate with these types of people, because they were considered unclean. But Jesus responds and says it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the SICK.

We are to have the same attitude as Jesus and realize that we ourselves are sick. We have all at one time sinned. Jesus has come and brought us, the sick, out of our sickness so that we can do the same for others.

He shows the same act in Luke 5:8-11

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful Man!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.

            “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon, “From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.

Jesus called to the lost. He went to the darkest places to reach people and has instructed us to do the same.

It is hard to reach out to people sometimes. Especially when we know their past. But how can we judge someone, when Jesus comes to us and says, “You are forgiven.” It says in James 2:10

“For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.”

We all know that we have sinned before, we are all sinners, but Jesus calls us – to love each other, and show everyone who HE truly is, WASH THEIR FEET.

Wash the sinner’s feet. Love them and serve people as Jesus would serve. We are all sinners, no matter what it may be, we have all fallen short somewhere.

Jesus washes the feet of his disciples in John 13:1-5. He is free of sin, and yet he washes their feet. In this time, washing of someone’s feet was an act of service. Jesus was willing to serve everyone no matter who they were. We are called to do the same.

It is easy to judge and to say, well I couldn’t do that for this person because… (You fill in the blank). I have done it. I have judged people whether that be at work, or even when I was in school. I have judged and said, “Well that person is too far gone. There’s no way I could forgive them.” But the truth is, that everyone deserves Christ’s love. We are called to be free of judgement and full of love and forgiveness.

 You can’t wash feet and throw stones. We can’t do both.

Instead choose to wash the feet of everyone you can, not literally, but be kind and show them Christ’s love.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you judged someone else and believed them to be too sick (in their sins) for Jesus to cure? How have you been proved wrong? What examples from the Bible and people you know prove that Jesus heals sinners and changes lives?
  2. Jesus called Peter to catch people not fish. What is Jesus calling you to do? What might you have to leave behind (as Peter left behind his fishing boats and nets)?
  3. How can you – will you – show others the love of Christ this week?

Ezra Introduction

The book of Ezra was written by a man named Ezra who was a Godly scribe and priest – a direct descendant of Aaron the first high priest.  The book starts with the decree of the Persian King Cyrus proclaiming the Israelites could return to Jerusalem and build a temple for God.  This was prophesied in Jeremiah 25:12; 29:10; 50:1-5; and Isaiah 44:28-45:5,13.

The first half of Ezra details the people who returned, and then describes the fits and starts of building the temple, along with the stiff opposition to building that temple.  (It took 23 years to rebuild the temple.)

Once the temple was built, the Israelites needed priests to perform sacrifices and teach God’s laws to the people.  It was at this time that Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem in a second wave of returning exiles along with priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.  

I love the description of Ezra found in 7:10, “Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”

We see a glimpse of his faith in Ezra 8:21-23, “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.  I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”  So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.”

The second half of the book talks about addressing the sin in Israel, culminating in people’s confession of their sins and their pledge to live according to God’s laws.

I’ll close with Ezra 10:6, “… he [Ezra] ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.”

How often have you been this distressed over your own sins, let alone the sins of people who claim to follow God, or even the sins of our nation?  

-Steve Mattison

sgl23bibleplanDownload

The Idle

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 8 & 9

Poetry: Psalm 3

New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 3

     We don’t know how many variations of belief people in the early church fell into. We read indications of some in the Bible, like the legalism of the Galatians or the spirit-enthused group in Corinth. It may be that Thessalonica had a division, for a time, over how to understand the day of the Lord which might be seen in 2 Thessalonians 3.

     It is remarkable what people can convince themselves of, at least briefly. In the 1960s in America, a group said it was not necessary that they eat food to live. They considered that it was fine to eat food for the pleasure of it, if you chose to, but that eating had simply long been assumed to be important. They claimed all one really needed to do for continued life was breathe air. That group died out, but there have been many such extremes in history.

     We don’t know if false claims about the day of the Lord having already come affected the behavior of some in Thessalonica, but it could explain why some stopped working. We read of something like that attitude from part of the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 4:8). Paul had made a point of telling the believers in Thessalonica that they should work with their hands and lead quiet lives (1 Thessalonians 4:11). We know that Paul himself wrote more than once about how, as an apostle ministering the gospel, he had the right to receive financial assistance but chose to work. In his work he set the people an example, but not all of them maintained it (2 Thessalonians 3:8‑9). In Thessalonica it seems that some believers who were capable of working took advantage of others’ assistance, they stopped working and behaved as busybodies (11). Whatever the reason for their behavior, it needed to change. It was bad for those who were being lax, and for the community’s reputation with outsiders. But if a claim about the kingdom was the reason for their actions it gives a nice twist to Paul’s response – if they thought the curse on the soil was past, and that work was no longer needed for food to be produced, they were wrong (Genesis 3:19). They were to return to work if they would continue to eat.

     Paul wrote that “undisciplined” people who did not obey the instructions of the letter were to be admonished and not associated with, so that they would be put to shame, but they were not to be treated as enemies (2 Thessalonians 3:11, 14, 15). They still could be brought around, and that is good. The extremes and oddities of Christianity would keep cropping up in the world, but all that Paul was asking from them was simple lives, lead with an appreciation of what Jesus had done for them. They were to live as examples of Christ’s behavior and speak his words. They were to do good, and not grow weary of it (13).

     Lord, thank you for the many and differing blessings we have in work. Work may have its origins in a curse on the soil, but you are often willing to take what began as a burden and use it to show your power and your grace. Thank you for allowing work to sometimes be a platform for our creativity, an opportunity to form friendships, a way to gain joy in our efforts. At times we may feel we are doing little more than proving we can hold out against boredom – but please help us to remember our goal of serving our Lord even as we engage in worldly employment. Thank you when you help us to locate work, thank you when you help us to do it well, and thank you for helping us to find courage and opportunity to leave it at the right time. Thank you, for so many of us who do not work in paid positions, that there are others able to provide us with financial support. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions

  1. It has been suggested that the sharing of goods in Jerusalem when the church first started had special causes, in part with so many people having come from other areas. Do you think it helped set bad influences for some churches later on?
  2. If any of the “undisciplined” chose not to work, but rather left the church over this situation, do you think that shows they were more than just “undisciplined”?
  3. What effect do you think going through this effort at correcting the “undisciplined” had on the Thessalonian church after it had been completed?
sgl23bibleplanDownload

What’s in Your Future?

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 3-5

Poetry: Psalm 1

New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 1

     Yesterday we read some of Paul’s words about the future, along with his instructions about preparing for the future through good conduct. In 2 Thessalonians 1 Paul chose to say more about coming events to the same audience. (Your Bible may have notes suggesting that only four to six months passed between the two letters.) Paul remains proud of the people’s conduct, and again mentions their shared status with him as persecuted believers (1 Thessalonians 2:2, 14; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7). But here Paul emphasizes the coming of a “just” repayment for the poor treatment they have received: “when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (7-8).

     Paul tells the Thessalonians that God intends to “repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted” at the appearance of Jesus (6-7). I think it is worth noting that God’s justice for those who mistreated the believers is not about providing ongoing torture, as some have imagined, but “the penalty of eternal destruction” (9). Paul used the same Greek word for “destruction” here and in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (when he wrote of “sudden” destruction), but here he emphasized a link to the coming age. (To say “eternal” destruction, as the NASB chose to do, is not a great translation of the Greek. What Paul wrote conveys more “of the aion” or “of the age”.) But, to those who have believed, the Lord Jesus “comes to be glorified in His saints” and “to be marveled at among all who have believed” (10). That is a lovely image.

     In a way Paul repeats his theme of preparation for the future at the end of the chapter. Paul says he always prays for the people in Thessalonica that God will count them worthy of their calling, and “fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power” (11). So, he wants them to be able to be as good and as faithful as they are desiring to be, knowing that it is God’s power which permits that desire to be fulfilled.

     It feels like Paul is inviting the Thessalonians to think about their lives more in terms of the future. We don’t know what he has heard about them in the last few months, but he is concerned over them. They are afflicted, we don’t know how badly, perhaps they are very frustrated. But Paul wanted them to realize that what they were waiting for was more than worth all they were going through. Of faith, hope and love we know that love is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13), but it would never be enough on its own. As Paul also said, if Christ had not been resurrected we would be in an awful state (15:13-19). We would have no future to look forward to no matter how much God valued us, and no matter how much we valued God or each other. But we do have a future, a glorious future we can tell others about and seek for them to share with us, and a savior on whom to put our faith and our hope. Rejoice, brothers and sisters!

     Lord, please help me to desire greater goodness, and more works of faith in my life. Please also clear out of the way whatever would prevent me from serving you as I ought to do, so that I can be the servant you desire me to be. Knowing that the day will come when Jesus is glorified in his saints, and that I hope to be among those saints, help me not to hold back from any good thing that I know I ought to do. Relying on you, I pray these things, Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions

  1. How different do you think the New Testament would appear to us if we had not only the letters Paul sent, but also messages he received which prompted those letters, so we could better understand things like the situation in Thessalonica which prompted what he wrote? Do you think that not having the specific causes for the letters may help us to treat what Paul wrote as being more universal in its application? If so, is that sometimes a problem?
  2. How often do you find yourself dealing with frustrations or concerns about your daily life by looking to the hope you have in the return of Christ? What aspects of that return do you find the most compelling to your thoughts? Is there some particular passage of scripture that draws you, or an image, or a piece of a song? Have you ever shared your perspective with someone else?
  3. Paul reminds us that in large measure what our lives becomes is about what we decide to aim for. Words like “perseverance” and “desire for goodness” and “the work of faith”, these are about the choices we make, particularly the choices we make against external and internal opposition. When did you last examine your life to decide what you will seek?
sgl23bibleplanDownload

Change

Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 10-12
Poetry: Psalm 143
New Testament: Colossians 3

Change, change, change – there is a lot of it in Colossians 3. And it jumps out to me as I read it because my family and 200 of our friends (some we just met, some we’ve known all our lives) just gathered last week at Camp Mack in northern Indiana for Family Camp where the theme of the week was Change.

It is so true that while we were still in our sins God loved us enough to send His one and only Son to die for us that we might be saved from the final and lasting death our sins deserve. God’s grace is huge! Huge enough I need to say it again. God’s grace is huge! It is also true that when we accept this incredible gift God calls on you and I to change. In Colossians 3 this change is referred to as taking off your old self and putting on your new self. Out with the old, in with the new. And not just a little bit less of the old self – but put it to death (vs. 5). No more! No more “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (vs. 5). Also, “you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other” (vs. 8,9a). Put it to death! Get rid of it! Change!

There are many reasons why we want to change – because God said to, because we want to be more like Jesus, and because we want to set a good example for our Christian brothers and sisters. And yet a powerful reason we NEED to change is stated in verse 6 – the wrath of God is coming because of the acts of the old/earthly nature. God’s wrath is real. Real enough I need to say it again. God’s wrath is real.

So what do we do? Once we see the need to change and we want to change, how do we do it? How do we change? Colossians 3 has some great steps to take.

Clothe yourself with the new (3:12-15)- replace the old with the new. The old has a much harder time trying to creep back in when it’s old place has been filled to overflowing with new, good, godly things: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiving, love, peace of Christ, unity, thankfulness. How can you grow these characteristics?

Set your hearts and your minds on things above (3:1,2) – don’t get caught up in daily, worldly living – focus on Jesus at the right hand of his Father. What will that look like for you? What will it take? Is there a difference between setting your heart on things above and setting your mind on things above? If so, how can you do both?

Your new self you want to grow is “renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (3:10) and we are told to, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (3:16) – God made you with a brain and the ability to learn and grow and change. Fill your brain with knowledge of the Creator and the words of Christ. Read your Bible regularly! It is important. It is a huge key to lasting change as we discover and do what pleases the Lord.

In perfect unity – be “members of one body” – the body of Christ – the church – “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (3:14-16). There is no perfect church, but church is the perfect place to work together for changed lives for the Lord. Stay connected with other imperfect people and together set your minds and hearts on things above, “teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom.”

Work at it – remember you are serving the Lord and not men (3:23,24). Are you serving men or serving the Lord? How can you tell? How can others tell? It will be work. Work that is rewarding and worth it.

Remember not only the wrath of God which is coming for those who are living in the old nature, but also the reward of God which is the blessed hope of those living in the new nature. If Christ IS your life, then when he appears, you too will appear with him in glory and you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. (3:4 & 24).

It’s time for a change. Before it’s too late. What will you change today?

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. What “old self” practices and characteristics have you worked at (or are still working on) eliminating? What “new self” practices and characteristics are (or ought to be) taking their place?
  2. Consider the other questions in the devotion. Then pray to God about any changes you feel He wants you to make. Continue being open to other changes God wants to show you.
sgl23bibleplanDownload

What does following Jesus look like?

Old Testament: Judges 5 & 6

Poetry: Psalm 109

* New Testament: Luke 9

In Luke 9, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples. He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and they were to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. They went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. That sounds amazing, but later Jesus explains that there is a lot more to being his disciple. There is sacrifice. We must be willing to offer up our own lives-our desires, our agenda- in the service for God. Jesus told them all that whoever wants to be his disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow him. Notice that we do it daily. Our sacrifice is about gaining life, a better life, an eternal life. As Paul would write, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1)  Jesus told them that “whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” (Luke 9:24 & 25)

Jesus assures us that what we are giving up and what the world offers us is nothing compared to what he has in store for us. Even though we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22), Christ wants us to fully rely on him every day. May he give us the strength and encouragement to always Follow Him.

-Rebecca Dauksas

Reflection Questions

  1. How can you proclaim the Kingdom of God and help heal the sick?
  2. What have you given up in order to follow Jesus? What are you still hanging on to too tightly? What might taking up your cross daily look like today? And tomorrow? And Saturday? Etc…
  3. What do we learn about who Jesus is in Luke 9? What did Peter not say? Why is what he did say important?
sgl23bibleplanDownload