2 Thessalonians 2:1-5; 13-17 (The Message)
Now, friends, read these next words carefully.
Slow down and don't go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him.
Don't let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master's arrival has come and gone. Don't fall for any line like that...
...Meanwhile, we've got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God!
God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God's original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth.
This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Now, friends, read these next words carefully.
Slow down and don't go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him.
Don't let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master's arrival has come and gone. Don't fall for any line like that...
...Meanwhile, we've got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God!
God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God's original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth.
This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.
So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter.
May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
The crazy lady on the bike in the front was yelling at us...
"Push it! You're stronger than you think you are!!!"
You see, I've been really back to exercising now for all of about a month. Against all my better judgment, I followed the advice of the pros at the gym and started taking the "ride" class. You know, the one where you furiously ride a stationary-bike-to-nowhere, blowing and going for all you're worth for the better part of an hour.
Here's my crazy confession: it's kind of fun. Weird.
Challenge is a good thing, when you know there is also support, encouragement and the possibility that you might just be able to do it after all.
I think our faith is supposed to work that way, too.
We're not stronger than we think we are...but Jesus at work within us...should never, ever be underestimated.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of getting to gather with some close clergy friends. The mood of the day might best have been described in a single word: tired. Yep, preachers do get tired too. Even spiritually.
But here's the great news. We're not the first, and we're not alone. The Thessalonians got tired, distracted, and forgetful of the message they had received.
I love what Paul tells them. "Jesus himself...and God our Father...will put a fresh heart in you."
Awesome. Just what we need, and its the gift we can receive.
There is always a spiritual second wind. Use this coming Thanksgiving week as that opportunity. Friendships, food, thankful hearts. May we find ourselves refreshed, stronger than we thought we could be with the heart of Christ that dwells within us.
Prayer: God our Father, we pray that you would save us from distractions. Help us to hold to the good teaching that you have given us and the experiences of your grace that happen every day. Give us the gifts of focus and faith.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Tomorrow's Scripture (No Blog): 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
No Blog Next Week --- Happy Thanksgiving Everybody -- blog will resume on November 26!
Worship this week(11/18) and next (11/25) at SOTH: One worship service, 10 AM Only with children's SS Pre-K through 2nd grade during worship.
We return to our regular worship schedule, 9 and 11 AM on the first Sunday of Advent, 12/2.
2 comments:
I am a singer/songwriter with dreams of doing that as my career. I know that is what God wants me to do but sometimes I don't see it as clearly as he does. I get bogged down because sometimes it's just so hard to write a song but then I meet people like Nathan Shaver who actually does the same thing for a career and he gave me pointers. It's not always gonna come easy...we have to be patient.
In the seminar I taught this past weekend, I spoke along these same lines. I taught about gifts to both students and adults, and one of my biggest points was that our gifts have no limit because they are God-given, and since He is infinite, so are His gifts. Its comforting to re-grasp that concept: That God is always giving us "fresh hearts." Otherwise all disciples and ministers of Christ would have an expiration date attached to them.
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