Plan info
WordLive - Year OneSample
Prepare: ‘Lord Jesus, help me to hear you now and throughout my day. Give me your love and concern for your people everywhere. Amen.’
God-incidences
This part of the letter reads as though Paul has been interrupted by a knock on the door. The Thessalonians have been on Paul’s mind, and suddenly Timothy shows up with news from the Thessalonian believers (v 6)! Do you ever get those moments, those ‘God-incidences’?
Look what effect Timothy’s news had on Paul. The anxiety of verse 5 melts into relief and joy (vs 6,7) that overflows into thanksgiving (v 9) and renewed, focused prayer (vs 11–13).
Paul’s experience here reminds me that the people we meet, the emails that come in, the phone calls or texts we receive are not by chance. Could the interruptions in our day become moments of God’s grace?
Focus on fellow believers
Take another look at Paul’s prayer for these Christians (vs 11–13). Are we as focused as Paul is in meeting up with fellow believers (v 10)?
When I was living in China, I was struck by the effort Chinese Christians made and the dangers they were prepared to face to meet with other Christians. Even if circumstances prevent us from getting together with other believers, we can still follow Paul’s example and pray.
Respond: As the Holy Spirit brings names of believers to mind, pray for them as Paul did (vs 12,13). If possible, find a practical way to encourage them in their faith – and perhaps arrange to meet up.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-10-25
Scripture
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WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship...
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