Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Today's Passage : Today's Passage:Paul’s Strong Affection for the Thessalonian Church
BibleVerse:1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
"As for our separation from you — our brothers and sisters — we feel like orphans. Our hearts are with you, wherever we go. We long to see your faces, and nobody more than I myself, Paul. Time and again I have tried to get back to Thessalonica, but Satan hindered me.
For what is our joy, what is our hope, what will be our crown at the coming of Christ, if not you? Our joy is you, and you are our glory.
DP Parallel Bible (3-Column) - 1 Thess. 2"
Message:
Having described the behavior of the Pauline group when they were in Thessalonica, and the willing response of the people there, Paul now reassures them that he has not lost interest in them. He misses them so much he feels “orphaned,” bolstering his constant use of “brothers and sisters” to address them. They are family.
Paul is lonely and worries that the Thessalonians are also lonely, being separated from him. We see, then, a very human and emotional side to the epistle. His emotion strongly reflects the words of Jesus Himself, throughout John 15 and 16, as He sought to bolster the apostles forseeable sadness when He would be crucified. (See e.g. John 16:5-15.)
His uninhibited emotionalism reflects his enthusiasm for the Gospel. And how, then, shall we judge our own inhibited reserve? Do we see anything close to the sincere forcefulness of Paul’s faith today?
If Paul, then, genuinely and openly yearns to see them, why doesn’t he just go to Thessalonica? Because Satan (“the Tempter”) has hindered him. Paul is not making excuses. Satan has power on the earth and power over our bodies; he is “the ruler of this world” (e.g. John 14:30). Satan is the ultimate force behind the persecution and murder of innumerable apostles, disciples, and saints, and he torments Paul at every turn.
Killing the serpent Satan, illustrated Bible
Fighting the serpent
We see historical references to the specific hindrance, at this moment of his journeys, in the Book of Acts. (E.g., Acts 17:10-15). In his later ministry, Paul was chased for decades by groups of men throughout modern-day Greece and Turkey, finally to Judea where he was put in chains. And then to Rome!
Having assured the church that his absence from them was involuntary, Paul shares his joy at their own constancy and zeal. Spirit and emotion seem inseparable in Paul’s mind. The Thessalonians are not simply his brothers and sisters, but also his pride and joy. Pride, like every human attribute, can be sinful, neutral, or godly. Pride is so often and so perniciously sinful, we forget that it might ever be a positive trait. But Paul takes pride in the Thessalonians, in their conversion and their steadfast faith even in his absence.
We remember that our job, given to us by Christ, is to “Go . . . . and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:18) Well, this is exactly what Paul has done. Should he not be overjoyed? Should he not feel pride that he has done what God has commanded him to do?
By implication, he teaches us that we may feel pride in good works. Our works will not justify us before God, because we are sinful and imperfect; we need the atoning sacrifice of Christ. However, our works do matter. Christ himself taught that our good works will lay up treasure for us in heaven; we will have a reward for good works accomplished in sincere love of God. “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27)
Meditation
: “The resurrection is at the core of our beliefs as Christians. Without it, our faith is meaningless.”
~ Joseph B. Wirthlin
Prayer :
Good shepherd, seek me out, and bring me home to your fold again. Deal favourably with me according to your good pleasure, until I may dwell in your house all the days of my life, and praise you forever and ever with them that are there.
Amen.
from a prayer of St. Jerome, 408 A.D.
|
Archives: |
Friday, August 8, 2025 |
Friday, August 8, 2025 |
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 |
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 |
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 |
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 |
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 |
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 |
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
Friday, July 25, 2025 |
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
Monday, July 21, 2025 |
Saturday, July 19, 2025 |
Thursday, July 17, 2025 |
Tuesday, July 15, 2025 |
Tuesday, July 15, 2025 |
Monday, July 14, 2025 |
Sunday, July 13, 2025 |
Sunday, July 13, 2025 |
Friday, July 11, 2025 |
Friday, July 11, 2025 |
Thursday, July 10, 2025 |
Thursday, July 10, 2025 |
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 |
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 |
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 |
Monday, July 7, 2025 |
Monday, July 7, 2025 |
Sunday, July 6, 2025 |
Saturday, July 5, 2025 |
Friday, July 4, 2025 |
Thursday, July 3, 2025 |
Thursday, July 3, 2025 |
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 |
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 |
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 |
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 |
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 |
Monday, June 23, 2025 |
Monday, June 23, 2025 |
Monday, June 23, 2025 |
Sunday, June 22, 2025 |
Friday, June 20, 2025 |
Sunday, January 08, 2017 |
Saturday, December 31, 2016 |
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 |
Wednesday, October 05, 2016 |
Tuesday, October 04, 2016 |
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 |
Saturday, September 24, 2016 |
Thursday, September 22, 2016 |
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 |
Thursday, September 25, 2014 |
Monday, September 22, 2014 |
Monday, September 22, 2014 |
Friday, September 12, 2014 |
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 |
Monday, September 08, 2014 |
Saturday, September 06, 2014 |
Thursday, September 04, 2014 |
Wednesday, September 03, 2014 |
Tuesday, September 02, 2014 |
Monday, September 01, 2014 |
Sunday, August 31, 2014 |
Friday, August 29, 2014 |
Monday, August 25, 2014 |
Saturday, August 23, 2014 |
Friday, August 22, 2014 |
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 |
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 |
Monday, August 18, 2014 |
Sunday, August 17, 2014 |
Saturday, August 16, 2014 |
Friday, August 15, 2014 |
Thursday, August 14, 2014 |
Wednesday, August 13, 2014 |
Tuesday, August 12, 2014 |
Saturday, August 09, 2014 |
Friday, August 08, 2014 |
Wednesday, August 06, 2014 |
Tuesday, August 05, 2014 |
Monday, August 04, 2014 |
Sunday, August 03, 2014 |
Saturday, August 02, 2014 |
Saturday, August 02, 2014 |
Friday, August 01, 2014 |
Wednesday, July 30, 2014 |
Tuesday, July 29, 2014 |
Sunday, July 27, 2014 |
Saturday, July 26, 2014 |
Saturday, July 26, 2014 |
Friday, July 25, 2014 |
Saturday, July 19, 2014 |
|
|