1 Thessalonians 2

It seems so simple and non-threatening. Why does it cause so much turmoil? The Good News is that God loves you, forgives you, and provides a way for you to live forever with Him in His Kingdom. Why would that offend anyone? Yet, in Paul’s letters we learn there was resistance to his message of Good News and persecution for him and those who chose to follow Jesus. And, the sad reality is that there is just as much resistance and persecution today as there was when Paul was working among the Thessalonians.

Many of my colleagues have experience terrible turmoil and resistance in their churches this year. And, for those of us that may not have experienced the pain caused by disunity there have been economic or other issues that have kept us up late at night with worry.

Why? We read the answer Sunday in Ephesians 6. If the drug Kingpin learns that someone has come to town and is setting the addicted people free, that Kingpin is going to do everything in his power to stop the liberation.

So, what do I do? How do I respond? First, I practice what I preached last Sunday. I press on with courage and persistence and seek to encourage my colleagues. AND, like Paul I keep my eye on the prize:

What gives (me) hope and joy,

and what will be (my) proud reward and crown

as (I) stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns?

It is you!

Yes, you are (my) pride and joy.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?

1 Thessalonians 1

Thessalonica was located approximately 200 miles north of Athens and the church was founded by Paul during his missionary trip that is described in Acts 16 & 17. Idolatry through the worship of many, many gods, as well as the Roman Ruler, was common place in Greece. It is a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit’s witness that the Thessalonians accepted Jesus as their Lord and worshiped only God the Father Almighty. (The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:16)

Paul writes that everywhere he went people were telling him about the Thessalonians faith in God. What a witness for their church. I had a similar experience. A church had begun a new outreach to the youth in their community. News of the ministry spread beyond their church and their denomination. I was in a neighboring city and heard people praising God for what was happening in that church. When I visited that church I was able to tell them that news of their faithfulness had spread throughout the region.

I wonder what message about our church is being spread through our city and region. By the way, in verse three Paul identifies what is at the root of the news about the Thessalonians. In verse three Paul affirms their faith, hope and love.

What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?

Ephesians 6

Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians with a call to prayer. Prayer is the most difficult and the most misunderstood aspect of the Christian life.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

Prayer is hard work. What Paul has in mind cannot be accomplished by a few minutes early in the morning as you try to pray with sleep still in your eyes. Or, a few minutes late in the evening when your body is longing for sleep. While that may be better than no prayer at all, still it is like giving a hungry person a piece of stale bread. That may be better than no food at all, but certainly not a substitute for a good meal.

This is not the place to teach about prayer. Last summer I wrote a small book about prayer from Paul’s perspective. It is still available through the church office. (www.christumc.us) Here and now though, is a good time to reflect on whether your prayer life is consistent with the call to prayer Paul is making? If not, why not? A good barometer of our prayer life is to measure our prayer requests over and against the things Paul prayer for. Ephesians 6:19-20 is a good place to start looking:

“And pray for me, too.

Ask God to give me the right words

so I can boldly explain

God’s mysterious plan

that the Good News is for

Jews and Gentiles alike.

I am in chains now,

still preaching this message

as God’s ambassador.

So pray that I will keep on

speaking boldly for him,

as I should.”

What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?

Ephesians 5

When I think of the world Paul lived in I marvel at his courage. For Paul the life in Christ was as different from the normal cultural life of his times, as is light from darkness. Yet, he was unafraid to take head on the cultural norms as he urges the followers of Christ to raise high their standards for life. Paul was ridiculed not only by those in the world he opposed and from some within the Christian communities he loved so dearly. Not much has changed as Paul continues to revile many, within and without the Christian church.

Remember Paul’s dream for Christian communities: “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28.) Equality in Christ for all people is a theme Paul continually reinforces. If that is his ultimate dream, why then does he seem to be urging male superiority and a continuation of slavery?

As you consider the application of Paul’s writings today keep in mind:

Paul’s model for someone in a superior position is Jesus. In Philippians 2: 5-11 Paul shows the self-sacrificing manner in which Christ loved us. Paul says this is the way that a husband should love his wife. That was hugely counter-cultural for the church in Ephesians, just as it is today.

In Paul’s world slavery was as much a part of the culture as electricity is in our world – you can’t imagine the world without it. Here again, consider how counter-cultural Paul is by not only inspiring the slaves in their work ethic, but also inspiring the slave masters to ethical treatment of their slaves. Such instruction was unheard of in Paul’s time. Remember, in the Christian communities the slaves and masters came together as one in their worship and Christian fellowship.

In Paul’s day women and children were seen as inferior subjects. Paul raises everyone to an equal plain before God. He has counsel for parents and children, husbands and wives, slaves and masters.

Paul believed intently that when we keep our eyes on Jesus, when we submit ourselves to God and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us by the renewing of our mind we begin living the life in Christ, we begin living as people created in the image of God. I believe that too.

What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?