Day 123/260: Read 2 Thessalonians 1

Faith demands obedience.

There has long been a popular false doctrine that God saves by faith only. That concept is found nowhere in the Scriptures; in fact, it contradicts clear New Testament teaching. Using the example of Abraham, James 2:24 explicitly states, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

Faith that does not cause one to obey the will of God is not a Biblical faith. Read through the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. See how faith motivated those saints of old to act. Their works were demanded by their faith in what the Lord had said to them.

Our faith demands action today as well. When Jesus says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned,” and our initial response is not, “Let’s get down to the water right now!”, there is a problem. If we look for loopholes, or ignore the first part of the verse and focus on what He didn’t say in the second part, where is our faith?

Paul shows the importance of obedience in the first chapter of 2 Thessalonians. When Christ returns, He will come “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Have you obeyed?

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

1 Thessalonians 5:21. “Test all _____________; hold fast what is _____________.”

Pray

Pray for opportunities to faithfully obey God’s will.

Day 122/260: Read 1 Thessalonians 5

My telephone rang the other day. On the line was a man who had just been released from prison for burglary. He wanted to know if I would be home Thursday night, as he planned to break in to my home and steal my possessions.

It’s preposterous to think that such a thing would really happen, isn’t it? Yet that is what so many think about the second coming of our Lord. Look at all the natural disasters and wars and diseases…surely He is coming back soon!

Jesus, Paul, and Peter all attest to the fact that there will be no sign or forewarning, but that Christ’s return will be “as a thief in the night” (Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). We have a responsibility to “watch and be sober…putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”

Don’t fall for the shysters who claim to know the exact hour of Jesus’ return. No one knows, and there will be no extrabiblical warning. “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:38-39).

The warning is in the Word, not in the world.

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

1 Thessalonians 5:21. “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

Pray

Pray for stronger faith in the Word of the Lord, and a stronger faith in living His will.

Day 121/260: Read 1 Thessalonians 4

We live in interesting times. Everyone needs all the attention on themselves all the time. Everyone needs to fix everyone else’s problems and dictate what they do all the time. And, in so doing, everyone thinks everyone else owes them for doing so.

Inspiration commands quite the opposite. Paul says that Christians should “aspire to lead a quiet life.” One writer said, “Make it your ambition to have no ambition.” That does not mean one should be lazy; Paul just exhorted his readers to “increase more and more.” Rather, peace and tranquility are far undervalued in society. You don’t always have to be the center of attention, and you don’t always have to be busy.

Second, Paul says to “mind your own business.” Certainly, we should watch out for each other when it comes to our walk in the Lord. But matters of opinion such as where a person works or hobbies or how they raise their kids—as long as no principles of God are being violated—should be left alone. Unsolicited advice is rarely welcome or helpful.

Third, as a Christian, you are “to work with your own hands.” No one owes you anything if you don’t work for it. This does not just apply to so-called luxury items, but basic needs. “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thess. 3:10).

Our focus must be on God, not ourselves, and we should never take advantage of nor take for granted the wonderful blessing of being a part of His family.

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

1 Thessalonians 5:21. “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

Pray

Pray for a better focus on the Lord and eternity.

Day 120/260: Read 1 Thessalonians 3

Is the Christian life easy? If you listen to some of the popular televangelists of today, you might think so. But the Scriptures paint a much different story.

Paul warned the brethren in Thessalonica that they would face difficulty in this life. “For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.”

Similarly, he wrote to Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

This was not some new doctrine that Paul concocted. It was preached by the Lord Himself during His earthly ministry! “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake” (Matthew 5:10-11).

It should surprise no one when a person walks away from the faith if they were promised an easy life. Jesus doesn’t promise an easy life; rather He promises the tools to deal with the tough times when they come (Matthew 11:28-30).

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

Colossians 3:1. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Pray

Pray for the guidance of God through the storms of life.

Day 119/260: Read 1 Thessalonians 2

Some people are obsessed with pleasing people, bending over backward to make friends, and they are devastated when they learn someone, somewhere doesn’t like them.

As Christians, we should never go out of our way to offend someone and we should always be looking for opportunities to help the people around us (Galatians 6:10). In so doing, however, we must be sure we never compromise the truth.

When Paul traveled on his missionary journeys, he allowed himself to adapt to certain cultural norms as long as they did not cause him to violate God’s Word. He was careful when it came to choosing between man and God though to always choose God.

“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.”

We must never change the message that God has revealed in order to please those around us. Yes, the truth will offend some and make some mad. We should be careful that we do not present it such a way that we are offensive, keeping in mind that we cannot water it down to make it more acceptable. Anything less than the truth is not the truth.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Colossians 3:1. If then you were raised with ____________, seek those things which are above, where ____________ is, sitting at the right hand of ____________.

Pray

Pray for boldness and a gentle spirit in sharing the gospel with your friends and neighbors.

Day 118/260: Read 1 Thessalonians 1

How important is the example you set?

Paul commended the church in Thessalonica for following the example he and his companions set in the gospel, “as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.” Despite affliction, they were shown how a Christian should act.

The church also led others by example. Paul writes, “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.”

When we are young in the faith, we look to those who have been a part of God’s family for some time to set the proper example for us. In time, though, we become the example for those younger in the faith than us.

We learn so that we can teach, both in word and in example. The young evangelist Timothy received these words from the apostle: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

We learn so that we can teach, and we teach so that others can teach. Let us follow the example of Paul, who followed the example of Jesus, and set a proper example for those who come after us.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Colossians 3:1. If then you were ____________ with Christ, seek those things which are ____________, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Pray

Pray for strength in being a proper example to others in the faith.