13May
28Nov
It’s Time To Really Live!
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.O-bservation:
For St. Paul, to move from just living to "Really Living" meant that his faith was being reproduced in other people. Because the people of the Church at Thessalonica were standing firm, Paul was "Really Living."A-pplication:
When our sons were little, my wife and I were concerned about two things. First, were they physically healthy. Second, were they maturing from boys to men in their FAITH. I can tell you that in our home there was never real peace until the latter concern had been satisfied. When the children were standing strong in their FAITH, their Mother and I were then ... "Really Living!" For every believer, "It's Time To Really Live!"P-rayer:
Dear Jesus, I pray this AM for my friends who are new in the faith to be strengthened to the point that they "Stand Firm In Jesus!" Amen
15May
An Ambition For Quietness
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
1 Thessalonians 4:11 And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.O-bservation:
St. Paul was very concerned that the young church at Thessalonica had become a church full of busybodies. They were known for talking about each other's business. Paul told them they needed to work for a living, and pursue a life of quietness, minding their own business.A-pplication:
It's true that this group of people Paul was writing to had quit their jobs and were waiting for the coming of the Lord. Once a person is idle and not working, they have a tendency to start talking. Certainly I've known people in my life who were known as the "Town Gossip." Work has always been the antidote for a "busy mouth." When one’s attention is on detail and getting a job done, at the end of the day there's no time for gossip. It is God’s will that each of us develop "An Ambition For Quietness." In this regard, it would mean we have developed a passion for hard work and and a purposeful conclusion to our work. At the end of the day, it's every Believer’s ambition to one day stand before Jesus and hear Him say, "Well DONE, my good and faithful servant."P-rayer:
Dear Jesus, I'm asking you this AM, to help me stay on point with my mouth shut. Help me honor You in the Quietness of effort today. Amen
13May
The HEART Tester
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:4b We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.O-bservation:
So often the Apostle Paul had to defend his ministry in one way or another to the churches he had planted throughout Asia Minor. Sometimes he defended his authority as an Apostle. Other times he defended his work ethic when questioned about whether or not he was working hard enough. Here, in this letter to the Thessalonians, he said with emphasis, "We're not here to please people, we're here to please the Lord who tests the heart!"A-pplication:
The question all of us must come to grips with is, will we yield to the pressure of people or will we follow hard after the Word of God? In the final analysis, one day we will stand before the God we say we serve. On that day we won't be saying, "Where's so and so? They're the one that made me do it." And even if we lived a perfect life (in our own eyes), God tests the HEART of each and every one of us. He looks beyond the surface. He probes deep into our very heart. He knows what we're thinking before the words spring from our lips. That's why the scripture says, "Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart." Remember, don't be impressed by other people, find your security and joy in Jesus. He's ... "The HEART Tester!"P-rayer:
Dear Jesus, I ask You to search my heart today. I don't want to be a people pleaser. I'm really concerned however, about pleasing YOU! I realize … You're "The Heart Tester!"
29Nov