Loving Jesus Style

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5 (ESV) 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, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy. 3  Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, four brother and God’s coworker1 in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 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, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that some

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 (ESV) For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1 verses 6-10 (ESV) And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. Commentary             (Vs. 6) Paul states that the Thessalonians became imitators of the Apostle and the Lord. Echoes of Jesus words to the disciples “come follow me” are found here. “The theme of imitation is common in Paul’s letters (1 Cor 4:6; 11:1; Eph 5:1; Phil 3:17).9 But this instance is unusua

Paul’s Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 (ESV)           2  We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3  remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4  For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,   5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. Commentary:           After the initial greeting, Paul moves on to a prayer of thanksgiving. Beginning a letter with a thanksgiving is a common feature of letter writing of the time. In fact, Paul included a thanksgiving in all his letters except Galatians (see Galatians 1:6-10) which shows that Paul was sincere in his thanksgiving not just doing it because it was standard practice in the Roman Empire.           In v

Scripture: 1 st Thessalonians 1:1 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. (NRSV) Devotion:             The introduction to Paul’s letters is very often skipped or skimmed over when reading devotionally. They all are short and seem to say the same things. However, much can be learned through a close reading of the opening words.             The first thing we learn is that there are really three persons the letter is co-authored by. Paul of course, then Silvanus, and finally Timothy. The latter two occur frequently in Paul’s letters. Timothy, of course, has two letters addressed to him personally by Paul. Scholars believe this letter was written from Corinth in or about 50 AD. Timothy was taught the Christian faith by Paul and was a frequent companion. Silvanus (or Silas in some translations) accompanied Paul on all his missionary journeys.             Paul had s

Scripture: John 10:1-4 (ESV) 10  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3  To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Devotion:           The Bible reassures us that we are not alone. God knows us all by name both the good and the bad. There are over 2600 proper names in scripture. (Thanks to Brian Rosner for the counting.)   To be known by God is either a wonderful thing or a terrible thing depending on whether one is known be Jesus.           The question before us today is; are we known by God?   And what difference does it make. To be known by God as one who never knew his Son will be terrible thing. God the righteous judge

Hope Scripture Romans 5:1.5 (NRSV) 5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3  And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5  and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Devotion:             It seems that we are a fearful people these days. There is so much to be afraid of, whether it be climate disaster, an “invasion” of immigrants, natural disasters, etc. Our politicians trade on our fears. Paul in his letter to the Romans above says we should live in hope and not fear.             The world keeps telling us we need to be afraid. However, Jesus tells us to not be afraid: