When Our Lord Jesus Comes Again

Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

 

June 18, 2021

When Our Lord Jesus Comes Again

 

May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 3:13

Read: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

 

Did you notice that Paul ended each of the first three chapters with a reference to the Second Coming of Christ? Spoiler alert – he did the same in chapters five and six. At the very least, I hope this encourages you to examine your own understanding of the victorious return of Jesus and how this important doctrine impacts your faith.

 

What was it that Paul said would make the hearts of the Thessalonians strong, blameless and holy? It was something quite simple: “And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow.” (v.12) Two thoughts on this. First, note that Paul is affirming that it is God who is at work to form Christ in us. Secondly, while yes, it is God working in us, we are not to be passive in this process. Our role is to agree with what God is doing and to yield ourselves to the spiritual practices, the means of grace that will facilitate God’s work within us.

 

My Takeaway: I dare not minimize the importance of Paul’s prayerful hope for his friends, and for me. When Jesus dictated his letter to the church in Ephesus, he told them, “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!” (Revelation 2:4) May such a complaint never be lodged against me.

 

Sē’lah

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(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.

 

 

Faith and Love

Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

 

June 17, 2021

Faith and Love

 

But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love.

1 Thessalonians 3:6a

Read: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10

 

Paul had been experiencing great difficulties. Yet, in the midst of his trying circumstances, he found joy and encouragement because his friends in Thessalonica were standing firm in the faith. Paul said it even gave him new life to know that they are standing firm in the Lord. This is a perspective on Kingdom living that I find almost completely missing in churches in the USA. I know some churches routinely pray for other congregations, but in my experience, I rarely hear the name of another church mentioned. And it is more than just mentioning another congregation. News from the Thessalonians was life transforming for Paul. I believe God wants us to have this kind of connection within the Body of Christ.

 

Even though Paul received a good report about the faith and love within the Thessalonian church, he knew they were still a work in progress, that there were gaps in their faith. I too am a work in progress. I too have gaps in my faith.

 

My Takeaway: I am writing this on the day after I finished participating in a Bible Study on the Book of Ruth. As we concluded this study, I was longing for more. I know I need to keep filling in the gaps in my faith. How about you?

 

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’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.