# 20  2019  Devotion, I Th.5:16-18 Rejoice!  Read Ch. 5:12-28. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always ¹⁷ pray continually ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.

 After dealing with the “Day of the Lord” Paul gives the Thessalonians his final instructions. He gives the church seven areas of how to treat each other. Respect and love those who work among you, today that would be Pastors and church leaders. “Live in peace. Warn those who are idle. Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” After that Paul gives the theological basis; “make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” Take note: “and everyone else”, an important principal in today’s social environment.

 Further, Paul gives four areas of spiritual advice; “do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold onto what is good, reject every kind of evil”.

 Paul connects these two areas of instruction with the center of his final instruction giving us the theological principals for living as followers of Jesus: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.

 Paul ends his letter with greetings to God’s people and he extends to them and to us God’s love and faithfulness for his people.

 ^“23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it”.  Christ will do it, we don’t have to do it because we can’t do it, only Jesus saves!

 Remember to rejoice, pray for each other every day and praise God!

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# 19 2019. Dev. Psalm 62: 5-6. Rest! Read all of Ps. 62 The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Ps. 62:5,6 “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. ⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken”.

 Psalm 62 is the second of four Psalms praying for protection, for refuge, for relief from the current situation. If these are psalms of David as they appear to be, it has been suggested that he wrote these prayers during the time of Absalom’s rebellion, or during a time of intrigue by Saul’s family to regain the throne. It appears that David is in a weakened position; he turns to the only help available to him and that help is available to us in this life.

 In vs.1,2 David confirms his absolute trust in God: “Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from him”, truth that followers of Jesus need to confirm every day.

 Vs. 3-4 addresses David’s situation: he is weak, he addresses his antagonist, they intend to bring him down, “this leaning wall, this tottering fence?” How often in our lives and in our spiritual life don’t we feel weak and inadequate: oppressed by secular culture, are overwhelmed with the injustices of politics and divisiveness of governments around the world. We are appalled by the the hate different groups display to each other and the disinformation that drives it covering up the truth. We desperately pray for peace, truth and harmony.

 Vs. 5-8 is the center of the prayer, here David’s faith, trust and dependence is confirmed and God’s care for his people as the only place of rest, comfort, and salvation is also confirmed. Here we find the only place of rest for followers of Jesus: “Trust in him at all times, you people, pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

 Vs 9-12 puts all people on the same plane; rich and poor, leaders and kings, they all amount to “only a breath”, fleeting and temporary! Trust not in riches, “do not set your heart on them”. David ends his prayer with two powerful statements: “power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord is unfailing love and, you reward everyone according to what they have done.”

 Along with David, those who follow Jesus are rewarded for all we do in Jesus’ name and are not condemned for where we may have failed. If only all followers of Jesus understood that Jesus does not condemn us for failures, but forgives and remembers them no more. We end with a question: who are we that we think we have a right to judge others in the body of Christ?  We are but a “breath” under God’s unfailing love!

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# 18 2019. Dev. I Th.5:2. That Day!  Read Ch. 5:1-11. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Thessalonians 5:2 “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”.

 After Paul enlightens the Thessalonian church concerning those who have fallen asleep in the Lord and gives them and us a picture of the the Rapture on the last day, he moves to “the Day of the Lord” in chapter 5.

 The Day of the Lord will come when no one is expecting it, everyone that does not follow Jesus that is. For those left on the earth on that last day, it will be destructive and unexpected. Followers of Jesus “are children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober”. Commentators talk about a tribulation that is coming but the fact is, for Christians tribulation is here and it has been with us from the early church up to today. Persecution of all religious groups is increasing today, indicating to followers of Jesus that the time is short. However, Paul thought the time was short in his day. No one knows the day but we can be ready by “putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet”.

 Many Christians suffer today: after the Easter Service bombings it was reported that every month, world wide 300+ Christians are killed, 200+ are arrested for no good reason, 250 buildings associated with Christians are destroyed. Those statistics are hard to believe for Christians living in this country, yet we are not insulated here because persecution is increasing. Jesus says to his followers while he walked on this earth: “I am rejected and you will be rejected because of me”. 

 Paul ends this section on the “The Day of the Lord” with these encouraging words and they are meant for us as well: “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, (followers who have died) we may live together with him.   Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up”, Praise be to God!

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# 17 2019. Dev. Psalm 61:2 The Rock! Read all of Ps. 61 The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Ps. 61:2 “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

 Ps. 61, is one of four Psalms praying for protection, for refuge, for relief from the current situation. If these are psalms of David as they appear to be, I it has been suggested that he wrote these prayers during the time of Absalom’s rebellion.

 David is overwhelmed, he cries out to God, “hear my cry, O God; Listen to my prayer”. We identify with this prayer more then a few times in our Christian lives, we are overwhelmed with life, with sin, with evil, with rejection. We identify with the innocent people killed at worship on Easter Sunday. We ask ourselves – where is God?  Like David, we call “from the ends of the earth”, from a bad place, a place that seems far from God. We despair, our “hearts grow faint”.  We have no place to go Lord Jesus, but to you. “lead me (us) to the rock that is higher than I”, higher than we are, the rock of Jesus.

 God, we have hope because you have always been there for us, “my refuge, a strong tower against the foe”. Make no mistake, we are in a spiritual battle, those who follow Jesus are under siege all over the world, including our own county.

We all want to belong, to be protected, to feel God’s presence, to “take refuge in the shelter of your wings”, Lord Jesus! That is Jesus’ desire as well, Jesus, speaking to his own people: “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Mt. 23:37).

We are blessed, and like David we have “the heritage of those who fear your name”. Speaking for my wife and I we come from a long heritage of followers of Jesus, church attendance and years of reading God’s Word, leading us to the Rock that is the living Jesus. Thanks be to God!

In the power of the Holy Spirit David ends this prayer with a messianic reference: “Increase the days of the king’s life, his years for many generations. ⁷ May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;” Our God reigns and Jesus is alive and among us! We thank Him!

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# 16 2019. Dev. I Th.4:15. Rapture!  Read Ch. 4:13-18. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Thessalonians 4:13 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”

 There are various positions about the reign of Christ for a thousand years and the idea of the rapture. We mention the four predominate views here but will concentrate on the reformed view: 1) There is the post tribulational, pre-millennialism. 2) the next view is the pre-tribulational, dispensational pre-mill., 3) The third view Is post- mill., 4) the last view is Amillennialism held by Reformed and Presbyterian believers.

 We believe Amillennialism is the more correct biblical position. The thousand-year reign of Christ is going on right now, “Our God Reigns”! One thousand years is a symbolic number covering the time from Jesus’ birth, death on the cross, resurrection at Easter and His ascension into heaven to the coming “Day of the Lord” – when Christ comes again at the end of time, as we know it. Jesus will come with great glory, all people on earth will see Him coming and He comes to judge the living and the dead.

 So what is the great hope of the followers of Jesus?  Paul explains what will happen to those who have fallen asleep in the Lord: When Jesus comes again all His followers will be risen from the grave and meet Him as He is coming and His followers still alive at the time will be taken up to meet Him, all in their glorified bodies; a great multitude will accompany Jesus as He comes to judge the living and the dead. The rapture happens on the day of the Lord; at the end of time.

Jesus said to Martha at Lazarus’ death: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:24-28). Eternal life, our hope and our reality! Praise be to God!

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# 15 2019. Dev. Psalm 60: A Lament! Read all of Ps. 60 The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Ps. 60: 4-5 “But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow  ⁵ Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.”

 This Psalm is a prayer to God for help and protection. It is a national prayer the psalmist is praying for all the people and for the land. The prayer moves from lament to confidence in God’s love for the righteous, “Those who fear you” (God). The lament was a prayer but also a teaching tool (title) and may be connected to 2 Sam 1;17-27, a lament for Israel when Saul and Johnathan where killed by the Philistines. It was a major defeat for Israel brought on by King Saul’s unfaithfulness.

 We live in a time of lament today, the disruptions of nations by war, and by leadership corruption sending thousands upon thousands fleeing as refuges the world over. Our own country is divided by those throwing off all norms dictated by the love of God and those who continue to be faithful. As good as life is now under a strong economy we are heading to a morally corrupt existence.

May the many followers of Jesus pray unceasing prayers of lament to God who is faithful and loves those who serve Him. There is an increasing responsibility of the Church of Christ, her leaders and ministers of the Word of God to proclaim God’s will, make His Word clear and encourage her members to live Jesus in the face of immoral trends all around us.

 As David points out that God is in control, see verses 6-8, He still is in control  today and will “Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory”, We are “more than conquerors”, Praise be to God!

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# 14 2019. Dev. I Th.4:1. The Good Life!  Read Ch. 4:1-12. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Thessalonians 4:1 “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.” 

Paul wrote the Thessalonians to give them further teaching and to encourage them to stand firm while being persecuted. In Chapter 4 Paul moves to how they should live as Christians. The Greek life style during Paul’s time was pagan; their religion included many deities and the temple cults was based on prostitution. The new Christians were not only persecuted but there were daily temptations.

 Here, Paul is very specific: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” He says: “avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,” do not live like the godless people around you. Further, Paul adds something very important in that regard; “and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.”

 In this short statement Paul hits us where we are today in terms of the culture we live in. Frankly, we no longer are able to say that we live in a Christian country. We thank God that there are many Jesus followers throughout the land but we are under the same pressure the Christians of Thessalonica were under.

 It is God’s will that we live the Good Life; love others, morally pure, joyful, thankful, satisfied with what God gives us, not taking advantage of others, physically or physiologically. We are to be not only good example to those around us but if there is no repentance from lose living, God punishes those who do not heed his instruction.

 The Good Life includes a simple life style, working diligently, taking care of yourself, your family and the family of God. God’s family is based on the human family that follows Jesus and includes: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” In their daily living and relationships. Living to please Him and being Christ’s example to others is God’s will for us, thereby becoming the true church of God! The good life begins now, living in Jesus’ presence but ends in heaven face to face with God. Praise The Lord!

 

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# 13 2019. Dev. Psalm 59:9-10. Protection!  Read all of Ps. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Ps. 59: 9,10 ”You are my strength I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress,
                              my God on whom I can rely.”

 The title of Ps. 59 indicates that this is a prayer for protection for David when King Saul sent men to lay in wait for David in order to kill him. However, it appears that the prayer was revised to include a much larger force of opposition, perhaps by a king at a later time, some think in Nehemiah’s time. Be that as it may it is a prayer, including a request for protection in the first half and an expectation of God’s protection and assurance in the second half. The two sections of the prayer are divided by verses 9 and 10.

 “You are my strength,” vs. 9.  Last week we were comforted by Nehemiah’s statement: “The joy of the Lord is your strength”. David confirms God as his strength, he does not rely on himself, even as an accomplished warrior he is totally dependent on God.

As followers of Jesus where do we find our strength? Even with all the benefits of our lives today are we totally dependent on God? David continues; “I watch for you”. Do we, today, watch for God? How long are we willing to wait for God? God is always with us, but He has His timing and design for our lives.  He continues: “you, God, are my fortress” David is talking about protection, you God protect me, only you. God protects us today, those of us who depend on Him. God’s protection is something we must acknowledge and depend on in whatever situation we find ourselves.

 Then there is verse 10, “my God on whom I can rely.” God’s love for us drives out fear, Scripture tells us. We do not need to be afraid, God is with us, always, in every situation and we go forward in the confidence of the Lord relying on His will for our lives. God’s will for David was that he should be king in God’s time. God’s will for us is to serve and praise Him in every situation He places us. “God on whom I can rely”. Amen and amen!

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# 12 2019. Dev. I Th.2:19. Joy in the Lord!  Read Ch. 2:17 though Ch. 3. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Thessalonians 2:19 “^“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crownin which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our gloryand joy.”

Paul’s concern for the new converts in Thessalonica is evident in this passage. He wants to return to them but is prevented by Satan, in what way we are not told. Perhaps his return, as the leader of the group, was too dangerous for the new church, given the apparent intense persecution going on. Yet, Paul wanted to encourage them and have some news of what was going on with them, so Paul sent Timothy. Timothy returned with “good news about your faith and love”. Paul writes: “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?¹⁰ Night and day we praymost earnestly that we may see you againand supply what is lacking in your faith.” That is what Paul is concerned about.

What do we take away from this passage?

 Pray. The beginning of outreach is prayer; pray for the person or persons you are led to impact for Christ. Pray for yourself, ask for the discernment, for opportunities to speak the Good News and for the power of the Holy Spirit in your life and in the life of those turning to Christ.

Temptation. Understand that Satan will oppose you and try to lead you and the person or persons you pray for, astray. Temptation is subtle and insidious in our culture today; as it is, Satan is not seen as a threat, or believed to be a personal being, yet, what is wicked or evil is still recognized by most people.

Perseverance. Sign up for the long haul, know that faith grows and is strengthen over time and by opposition. Further, new believers have many questions about the scriptures and sometimes about their perception of churches and some purported Christians.

Joy. I think that the spiritual impact of new believers on the church and on those working with those turning to Christ is under estimated. Paul puts the spiritual impact back in focus: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crownin which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our gloryand joy.” Think about that!  Every follower of Jesus needs to again see the importance of reaching out for Christ in terms of the huge spiritual impact and benefit for churches and individuals. What really defines the Church and us as Christians spiritually?  The missional focused church and missional focused Christians, they are the true followers of Jesus and are blessed with Joy!

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 # 11 2019. Dev. Psalm 58:1 Injustice. Read all of Ps. 58 The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ps. 58:1 “Do you rulers indeed speak justly?Do you judge people with equity?”

Psalm 58 is prayer for justice, for God to judge those responsible to bring justice to the people but do not judge with righteousness. The administration of a fair judiciary was a big concern in Israel and the near east, often it was not fair.

This Psalm is framed by a rhetorical question, v.1-2 and an assurance to the righteous, v.9-11. David asks the question “do you rulers indeed speak justly?” And answers it in the negative: “No… you devise injustice and mete out violence on the earth.” Injustice starts in the heart, is pondered in the mind and is executed by the hands; injustice involves one’s whole being. Vs.3-5 wickedness is from birth and we are all affected. Wickedness is subtle, like venom spreading through the body slowly. Wickedness is intentional, “has stopped its ears that will not heed.” Vs.6-8 is the heart of the prayer; disable the wicked O God. Let those who practice injustice “vanish like water that flows away, like a still born child that never sees the light of day”. Vs.9-11 the wicked will be “swept away” quickly, there will be rejoicing and a reconfirmation of God’s presence and care: “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

We live in a country of laws, but our culture is changing, there is much injustice, discrimination on all levels and a disregard for the law. Social media and biased news facilitates convicting people before a trial, jeopardizing the presumption of innocence that is the norm under the law. Followers of Jesus, now more than ever, must practice justice and righteousness and pray daily for our country and our leaders.

 God will reward the righteous; “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” Ps. 103:6.

Praise be to God.

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