Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In First Timothy chapter 2 today we see the all-important call for all believers to consistently engage in all-expansive prayer toward all people, so that God, who grants salvation to members of every tribe, tongue, and nation would pour out His all-inclusive policy of Gospel grace to a lost and dying world…

“First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people… and that in every place we should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling…This is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (vs 1,4,8).

Q. How amazing is it that we have Jesus as a perfect mediator to God our Father, who is fully compassionate to our pleas for the salvation of souls, and fully willing to bring our prayers to the One who is able to act powerfully on our behalf, for God’s mercy to be poured out on our unsaved family members and friends?!

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much that you use our prayers as a means of accomplishing your divine purposes – Please strengthen us to not grow weary in our prayers and petitions to you, and help us continue to believe that your sovereign will can save any soul, anytime, anywhere.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for representing both sides of God and man, because you were both God and man – Thank you for bringing us to a knowledge of the truth, and coming to save all people who would put their trust in you…

✝️ “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time!”

1 Timothy 2:5-6

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In First Timothy chapter 1 today Paul greets and encourages his young Gospel partner (Timothy) by relaying the inherently loving character and true heart of God toward undeserving sinners in need of a Savior…

“Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (vs 2),

Q. Do you ever stand in awe (like Paul) when you think about God’s grace, mercy, and peace to you, despite the many times you have been defiant or disobedient towards God?

Q. Is God making you an “Example of Grace” by empowering you to victory over “Old self” identity, and “Indwelling sin” struggles?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for saving and transforming a depravity-laden wretch like me through your merciful plan of salvation & redemption in Christ – Please preserve us all and hold onto us tightly so that we do not make shipwreck of our faith, and by the power of your Spirit let us wage the good warfare against our sin, giving continual thanks to you…

✝️ “The grace of our Lord overflowed for me and the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance…That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of who I am the foremost. But I received mercy and became an example of grace because of the perfect patience of Jesus Christ…To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever, Amen!”

1 Timothy 1:14-17

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In 2nd Thessalonians chapters 1-3 today we see great emphasis placed on the “Day of the Lord” & “Second coming of Christ”, and according to the Scriptures we can absolutely count on these 3 things to happen…

#1 Just as sure as Jesus was here the first time, He is coming again…

✝️ “When Jesus comes on that day to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, you will know that our testimony is true.”

2 Thessalonians 1:10

#2 Believers are secure until Jesus arrives…

✝️ “God chose you to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this He called you through the Gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (at His coming).”

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

#3 We are strengthened with peace and grace while we wait for Jesus…

✝️ “As for you brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good…Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times in every way…The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.”

2 Thes 3:13,16-17

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In First Thessalonians chapter 5 today we see a very great & precious promise of God, and a guaranteed Gospel truth regarding the future destiny of all who put their trust in Christ…

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we live to share eternity with Him” (vs 9-10).

Q. Does this “Etched in stone” guaranteed future glory encourage you and help you live with enthusiasm and zeal to pursue obedience to God in the here and now?

Q. Does the certainty that God will complete the work that He started within you give you reason to…

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances”?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for giving us your Son Jesus (the Hope of Glory), to assure forgiveness and a right standing with you, both now and forever.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for your finished and atoning work at the cross, for everliving to make intercession for us, and for sending your Spirit as a guarantee to seal us to the day of glory with you – Although we have been faithless many times, you remain perfectly faithful…

✝️ “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ – He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it!”

‭‭1Thessalonians‬ ‭5:23-24‬

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In First Thessalonians chapter 4 today we see a beautiful encouragement to the believers at Thessalonica, as they live out an others-centered life marked by self-discipline and gospel-dependence…

“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing, and we urge you brothers to do this more and more” (vs 9-10).

Q. How good does it feel when you know that you have spent some quality time being about your Father’s business, and that His great grace has created in you a compulsion to want to please Him, honor Him, and share His love with others?

Q. Along with growing and progressive Spirit-empowered belief, what are some things you can invest time in to ensure that this happens more and more?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for Jesus who obeyed you perfectly, and that because of His costly sacrifice at the cross we can live in accordance with our new identity, and be who you said that we are in Christ.

🙏 Holy Spirit please strengthen us to consistently walk in a general pattern of life that brings honor and glory to our Most High God, and help us repent quickly when we wander or stray from Him…

✝️ “Finally then brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that you walk and live to please God, just as you are doing that you do so more and more…for this is the will of God, your sanctification.”

1 Thessalonians 4:1-3

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In First Thessalonians chapter 3 today we see Paul’s great comfort and joy expressed at the strong, grace-given faith of his spiritual family, and his genuine excitement to see them in person…

“But now that Timothy has brought us the good news of your faith and love, and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you…We rejoice that through all our distress and affliction we have been comforted because of your faith…For now we live if you are standing fast in the Lord! For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, and all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you soon face to face.” (vs 6-10‬).

Q. Have you had the privilege and experienced the joy of watching someone that you care for be transformed by the Spirit and blossom in their faith, maturing into a vibrant Christ follower by the grace of God?

Q. Do you long for the day when you will reside in your heavenly home, and every person you know will have perfect praise for Jesus and perfect love for each other?!

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much that when your Holy Spirit plants Gospel-belief in the hearts of your people, abundant fruitfulness always abounds – Please save our friends and loved ones as you have saved us, and may the joy of the Lord be our strength as we eagerly await eternal peace with you…

✝️ “Now may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In First Thessalonians chapter 2 today we see Paul and his Gospel-focused partners showing sincere and selfless devotion toward the Thessalonian believers, working and sacrificing far beyond the call of duty…

“Brothers, remember our labor and toil: we worked night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers” (vs 9-10‬).

Q. Will you join me today in giving a giant shout out to all the teachers, mentors, coaches, leaders, overseers, disciplers, elders, mom’s, dad’s and other biological and spiritual family members that have given their time, effort, energy, and prayers to help mold and shape us, and point us toward Christ?!!!

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for the people you have used in our lives to love us, equip us, and draw us closer to you – We are forever grateful to them, and to you for the gift of your people in our lives…

✝️ “The leaders were gentle among you, like a caring Mother looking after her own children, being affectionately desirous of you and willing to share not only the Gospel of God but also their own selves…And like a loving Father with his own children, they exhorted each one of you, encouraging you, and charging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who called you into His own Kingdom and glory…So when you received the Word of God which you heard from them, you accepted it not as the word of man but as what it really is, the Word of God, which is now at work in all you believers.”

1 Thes 2:7-8,11-13

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In First Thessalonians chapter 1 today we see a powerful picture of conversion from love of the world to love for Jesus, and the irresistible grace that overwhelms the hearts and minds of believers in Christ through the power of His Spirit…

“For we know brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you, and how the Gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power by the Holy Spirit with full conviction” (vs 4-5).

Q. Do you remember the initial times in your Christian life where God’s love and kindness were just too much to reject or run away from anymore?

Q. Because God’s amazing grace is both the foundation (saving grace), and fountain (sustaining grace) of the Gospel message, in what ways can you show gratitude to God for such undeserved favor?

A. Seek, trust, praise, pursue, and imitate Christ, like the Spirit-led Thessalonians did!

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for your avalanche of love and tsunami of grace that caused the miraculous change to make us your own.

🙏 Holy Spirit we praise you today for appointing us to salvation, regenerating our hearts, convicting us of sin, granting us repentance, sealing us to the day of glory, and continually revealing the beautiful truth of Jesus to us for new life liberation and future assurance with our Most High God…

✝️ “And the good report was given that you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom God raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come!”

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Colossians chapter 4 today we see the Gospel fueling the Christian life through prayer, partnership, and purpose, so that we can…

“Make the best use of the time we have left” (vs 5),

“Stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God” (vs 12) and

“Fulfill the ministry that we have received in the Lord” (vs 17).

Q. Do you plan your days (and life) to avoid the dangerous trap of misplaced priorities – setting aside ample time for God’s Word, worshipful prayer, fellowship with the body, service to others, and sharing the Gospel over and above (entertainment, career, social media, tv, hobbies, reputation, comfort, and relationships)?

Q. As a Christian and born again child of God, what is your main purpose and chief goal in life?

🙏 Heavenly Father forgive me for the countless hours of making secondary matters my first priority, seeking pleasure in things that have no eternal value, and pursuing my own kingdom & glory instead of yours.

🙏 Holy Spirit please transform and mature us all, so that we will consistently seek first the Kingdom of Christ, intentionally making time every day to be about our Father’s business, encouraging like-minded believers, and sharing the good news of Jesus with all who will hear…

✝️ “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving, that God may open to us a door for the Word to declare the mystery of Christ…Walk in wisdom toward others making the best use of the time you have left, and let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you are to answer.”

Colossians 4:2-6

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Colossians chapter 2 and 3 today we see a Heaven-Sent, Gospel-Focused, Grace-Filled, Blood-Bought, Debt-Destroying proclamation of freedom and victory for all who believe and trust in Jesus…

✝️ “And you who were dead in your trespasses, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with all its legal demands. This He set aside nailing it to the cross, disarming the rulers and authorities and putting them to open shame by triumphing over them in Him!”

Colossians 2:13-15

Q. Are you living the already/not yet life that has been “Gifted to you by God” and “United to Christ by faith”?

Q. In what ways has God’s immense love for you fueled your obedience to His Word?

Q. In what ways do you still struggle?

🙏 Heavenly Father please forgive me for all of the “Old Self” areas that I still so often return to – Thank you so much that our broken relationship with you has been fully mended through the ATONING WORK OF CHRIST, and that by the POWER OF YOUR SPIRIT we can PUT ON THE NEW SELF and live out a rich and purposeful life of love, forgiveness, and humility toward others that honors you well and brings you much praise and glory…

✝️ “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones who are holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another – if one has a complaint against another, forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven you. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony…Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him!”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12-17‬ ‭