Category: Devotions

Workaholics!

For those who cannot stop working, you have a Bible verse!
2 Thessalonians 3:8
“We worked night and day …”
And this was Paul’s model!
How many hours do you work in a week?
During a time when most people worked up to 16 hours a day, it was Henry Ford, (founder of the Ford cars) in the 1920s who reduced the hours for his work force to that of 8 hours, 5 days a week.
The reason for the reduction was so that his employees had time to shop and especially to go and buy the cars they were producing! It was consumer driven!
There is always a reason. So why did Paul say what he said?
The phrase that Paul used was obviously indicating that he and his team worked hard whilst they were with them. It was a model to be copied. So what was the model:
1. Work hard.
2. Be a contributor not a taker.
3. Don’t deny help given.
4. Pay your way.
5. Doing nothing is a break; doing nothing continually is lazy.
6. Adopting this ethic may be tiring but don’t give up.
7. Don’t mix with those who don’t follow this model.

So whatever you do today, however you work, then do it unto the Lord.

The Holy Spirit is holding him back, but not for long.
2 Thessalonians 2
Paul’s thoughts of the return of Christ are especially relevant today.
Once again we wake to the news of people held by ISIS, attacks by Boko Haram on innocent people and the evil stories continue. How much more will this go on for?
We read in this chapter of the return of Christ coming after the lawless one is revealed. The power of the lawless one is already at work, even in Paul’s day, but is being held back. Many comment on who is holding back the power of the lawless one. For me, it can only be the power of God, the Holy Spirit, who is the restraining arm holding him back, until the Spirit steps aside and lets him loose on the earth and then Jesus will be here!
There has never been a time like the one we live in. There has never been more Christians persecuted than in these days. Evil is intensifying alarmingly. The restraining arm is slowly letting go.
Jesus will come soon!

Can you name 2 people?
2 Thessalonians 1
Paul, Silas and Timothy.
Companions on the journey.
Sharers of the suffering.
Co-workers.
Co-authors.
Fellow missionaries.
We.
Us.
Our.
Chosen words.
It’s a team.
Your answer is always team.
Can you name 2 people?
If you can you’re rich.

Pastors have feelings
1 Thessalonians 5
You have probably realised as you have journeyed through the Bible with me that I struggle with any show of arrogance and I know there are Pastors who think of themselves in a way greater than is needed. But by and large Pastors are decent human beings with feelings like anyone else and they work hard at loving and serving others.
Recently I was at a church service and just before it commenced I witnessed 2 individuals be nothing short of rude to their Pastor. The condescending tone within their reply to his question caused me to struggle with thoughts of wanting to give them a loving slap in the name of the Lord. Within 5 minutes they both had their hands in the air worshipping God as if nothing had happened. I wondered how the Pastor felt who was definitely on the receiving end of something that had happened. Was he finding it as easy to hold his hands in the air in worship?
I am not saying we should make our Pastors into untouchables. No not at all. In travelling I cringe sometimes at the culture of honour of spiritual leaders that in my experience is way too much.
I am just advocating for niceness. It’s not too much to ask is it?
Just some respect.
Just some regard, a higher regard than the person showing it.
Just some love.
These are Paul’s instructions, v12-13.
So go on, this week, be nice to your Pastor. He has feelings too.

Make it easy on yourself
1 Thessalonians 4
I’m not being unkind but some people just make it more difficult than it need be.
If only they conducted their life with a bit more wisdom.
If only they controlled their life with a bit more effort.
If only they cared for others with a bit more commitment.
Paul gives 3 directives that apply more than ever today:
Don’t be noisy about you.
Don’t be nosy about others.
Don’t be neglectful about your responsibilities.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be as difficult as it may feel.
Make it easy on yourself.

“We train our people to stay.”
That was the incredible answer to my question on what happens when persecution becomes too much for the church planter. Just over a week ago since I returned from the church planting movement in the sub-continent and that answer remains in my thoughts.
1 Thessalonians 3
Paul had told them persecution was coming and it came.
Now he was concerned about their reaction to it.
What did they do? They remained steadfast.
This is the joy of the third chapter.
Is it tough today?
We are so conditioned now for the next chapter. Prophesies are about the next season. Destinies are in our mind.
For those persecuted: we train our people to stay.
Life isn’t always about moving on.
Sometimes it is about digging in and staying.

It’s not all failure!
1 Thessalonians 2:1
I’ve never seen this before and I love it!
v1 “our visit to you was not without results”
Paul then continues to examine their time in Philippi.
Too many have walked away from things thinking they have failed and that it was a waste of time. The only failure is the failure to examine correctly their time.
Today will hold results.
A kind word.
A new thought.
A decision that was waiting to be made.
These may not be results that get the headlines but they are important results nonetheless.
Give God your today and you will see the results.

Be thankful …
1 Thessalonians 1:2
We always thank God for all of you …
Have you ever had one of those moments where you are just a little annoyed at someone?
Though this may not be good for my reputation I had such a moment last night! I had what could be described as an attack of grumpiness. I know I’m sure you can hardly believe it of me!
Then I read this verse ahead of this morning. Hmm!
So I did what Paul said he did. I decided to thank God for everyone I could think of. I thanked God even for the people who are reading this today, for you. After I had got through the thanking I had forgotten I was grumpy! It had worked!

As Paul thanked God for these Christians he remembered their faith, love and hope and what these traits had accomplished.

As Paul thanked God he remembered the past and his involvement with their lives.

As Paul thanked God he remembered what God did for and through the people.

Now I am hoping no one will be like I was. I hope you’re not grumpy today. But instead of whining about someone, thank God for them. In fact always thank God for them. See what happens …!

CHRIST our mystery!
Colossians 4:3
The Apostle Paul uses this word often in his letters, but not as we do. We use it as something which is confusing and hard to understand.
For Paul however, he takes the word well known at the time as Greek mysteries which were hidden, secret truths, beliefs and practices within secret societies. The initiated persons are the only ones enlightened, everyone else is oblivious. Christ hidden, Christ secret, Christ unknown not to heaven but to earth. Yet now …! He is our mystery because we have been initiated and now we see.
So what do we do? v2-6
We pray for an open door.
We declare the gospel as clearly as we can.
We suffer for doing so.
We use wisdom.
We respond in grace
We do all this because others need to come in and know this mystery, this Christ!

Folks sorry for the lack of devotion/blogs. Not sure why they haven’t come through these last few days. I have enquired but not getting any joy. Anyway thank you for your emails and texts asking where they are, that’s encouraging in a way! So I’m loading these separately. Cannot rely on computer systems it seems!