Paul’s Still Not a Pollyanna

     

Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

 

June 16, 2021

Paul’s Still Not a Pollyanna

 

That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.

1 Thessalonians 3:5

Read:1 Thessalonians 3: 1-5

 

This is the same Paul who writes “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” (Philippians 4:6-7a) On the surface, it may appear a bit of a contradiction between what Paul writes and how he lives. I don’t think it is. To sort out the difference between Philippians 4 and today’s reading, I acknowledge that Paul’s pastoral heart is much like the heart of a parent for their child. It doesn’t do any good to tell a parent not to worry about their children; worry is an essential part of the parent’s job description.

 

I also noted how Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians not be worried about him and the persecutions he was suffering as much as he was concerned for their suffering from persecutions. Again, his pastoral heart was on display. Remember how we noted a few days ago that Paul shared his life with the Thessalonians while he was with them. Paul continues to share in this way while he is apart from them.

 

My Takeaway: Paul also reveals again that becoming a Christian is not a one-off confession of faith experience. It is a life-long pursuit of the life in Christ as our way of life. Hence, Paul wants to check on their faith development. Who is checking on mine? Who is checking on yours?

 

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Pride and Joy

Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

June 15, 2021

Pride and Joy

After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

I noted on June 10 that there are spiritual forces of evil actively resisting the spreading of the Gospel and the work of God to form Christ in the believers. Paul here says the forces of evil prevented him from returning to Thessalonians. We could have a great debate of just how powerful is Satan. I mean, if God really wanted Paul to return to Thessalonica, could Satan have stopped him? This of course begs the question of whether returning to Thessalonica was just a notion Paul had. There are so many rabbit trails we could chase in this debate, but in our chase, we may miss the point.

I believe Paul wants us to be aware that our adversary, the enemy of God, is not without power, and we do best to take the spiritual forces of evil very seriously. And we need to remember that God has not left us defenseless; we have the whole armor of God. (see Ephesians 6: 10-18)

My Takeaway: I believe when Christ returns, I know some folks who will stand before Christ, and for whom I will be part of their crown and reward. And when I stand before Christ, I know of those who will be my pride and joy. How about you? For whom will you be their crown and reward? Who will be yours?

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

May the Word Work in Us

 Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

June 14, 2021

May the Word Work in Us

And this word continues to work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13b

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Three things caught my attention in this passage. First, Paul connects the persecution for their faith the Thessalonians were suffering to the persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem. God’s New Community of Believers isn’t just a particular congregation in a particular place and time. We are participants in God’s New Community of Believers with all the followers of Jesus in our city, county, state, nation, and in all the world, in this present age, and in all of the ages dating back to the Day of Pentecost.

Next, Paul believed the oppression of the Jews by the Romans in Israel was a judgement by God against their unfaithfulness. Jesus had pointed to this judgement prior to his crucifixion. (see Luke 21)

My Takeaway: The third thing was God’s word continuing to work in the lives of the Thessalonians. This is a continuing theme for Paul as he stated in Philippians 1:6 and 2:13. This is a continuing theme in my life as well. How about yours?   

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

God Calls You

 Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

June 11, 2021

God Calls You

For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:12b

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

There are two parts to this brief passage. First, Paul continues to affirm his personal conduct while he was in Thessalonica. I don’t think Pau was trying to hold himself up to earn praise from his friends there. Rather, he was pointing to his lifestyle as a model. Remember, those cities were outposts for the Roman way of life which was highly pretentious. Over and against the Roman way of life, Paul was modeling the life in Christ as the way of life. Paul pointed out his hard work and his devout and honest and faultless lifestyle as a way of life they too were called to emulate.

Secondly, there is the brief sentence at the end of the passage, “For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.” (v.12b) God didn’t just call the Thessalonians; He has called each of us as well to share in His Kingdom and glory. This reminds me of another simple phrase Paul used in Philippians 4:2, “because you belong to the Lord.” (see my meditation for June 3)

My Takeaway: The thought that we belong to the Lord, that he has called us to share in his Kingdom and glory, these simple phrases demand much pondering on our part. How different might our lives be if we actually believed these phrases, and acted on them?

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Paul Remembers His Visit

 Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

June 10, 2021

Paul Remembers His Visit

We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

I Thessalonians 2:8

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

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 there is resistance and persecution today just as there was when Paul was working among the Thessalonians.

The resistance comes on two fronts. First, in the state of fallen human nature, our acceptance of the Good News of Jesus requires us to change from being the king in our own lives, to acknowledging Jesus as our King and Master. It is the nature of fallen flesh to resist this change. Secondly, as Paul noted in Ephesians 6:12, “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” God’s enemy, the force of evil, does not want humankind to rest in the assurance of God’s love.

My Takeaway: Paul acknowledges his credibility with the Thessalonians was due in large part to his integrity in his personal conduct while with them, and because he demonstrated his own love of God and love for them by sharing his life with them. Let’s pause again, and consider the quality and depth of our relationships.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Faith of the Thessalonian Believers - Pt 2

 Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

June 9, 2021

The Faith of the Thessalonian Believers

And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God.

          1 Thessalonians 1:8

Read: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

Paul writes that everywhere he went, people were telling him about the Thessalonians’ faith in God. What a witness for their church! I have had similar experiences. When we were in Florida, a neighboring church had begun a new outreach to the youth in their community. News of the ministry spread beyond their church and their denomination. When I was in a neighboring city, I heard people praising God for what was happening in that church. Later, when I visited that church, I was able to tell them that news of their faithfulness had spread throughout their region. When we moved to North Carolina, as we made acquaintances, we would inquire about local churches. Over and over again, we heard about the good words a particular church was doing in the community. That church has been our home now for nine years.

Paul noted the faith of the Thessalonians had brought them severe suffering because of the idolatry through the worship of many, many gods, as well as the Roman Ruler, which was commonplace in that region. Even so, the Thessalonian church was holding firm in their faith as they looked forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. (v.10)

My Takeaway: I believe this passage should give us pause to reflect on what message about our church is being spread through our city and region.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Faith of the Thessalonian Believers

 Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

June 8, 2021

The Faith of the Thessalonian Believers

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.

1 Thessalonians 1:5a

Read: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

Thessalonica was located approximately two hundred miles north of Athens, and the church was founded by Paul during his missionary trip that is described in Acts 16 & 17. It seems Paul spent a short amount of time in Thessalonica, but apparently made deep and lasting friendships with the new disciples, as the warmth of his letters, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, attest. Some scholars believe 1 Thessalonians may have been written within a few weeks after Paul left there, and it was certainly written within a year and probably while Paul was in Corinth.

As I read verse 5a, quoted above, I immediately thought of Paul’s assertions in Romans 8. In the opening verses of 1 Thessalonians, Paul affirms the disciples there belong to God the Father and our Lord Jesus. In verse 5a, Paul affirms the work of the Holy Spirit in forming Christ within us:

 “. . . you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:15-16)

These passages also affirm one of my favorite verses, one we looked at on May 25, 2021:

“God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13, emphasis mine).

My Takeaway: Because of God working in the disciples in Thessalonians, Paul affirmed their faithful work, their loving deeds, and the enduring hope they had because of our Lord Jesus Christ. (v.3) I pray that those of us seeking the life in Christ as our way of life, will also be so affirmed.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.