1 Thessalonians 3: 7 So, in all our trouble
and suffering we have been encouraged about you, friends. It was your faith
that encouraged us, 8 because now we really live if you stand
firm in your life in union with the Lord. 9 Now we can give thanks to
our God for you. We thank him for the joy we have in his presence because of
you. 10 Day and night we ask him
with all our heart to let us see you personally and supply what is needed in
your faith.
============
Assessing my life,
I felt dead. I was in a dead end job, alone and piles of debt. No longer did
the parties make me “happy.” “Is this it?” I asked myself, because at the time
life really stunk.
- I felt like I was dead.
- I thought that there should have been more to life than a rotten job and bills.
- I had run out of options when trying to make myself “happy” during difficult circumstances.
Paul, Silas and
Timothy were encouraged in the middle of their suffering. Timothy had brought back “welcome news” about the faith of the Thessalonians. While Paul was the
teacher, he needed to hear some news that other people were standing firm. He
says “now we really live.”
My Observations
- Hearing that other people are standing firm in the middle of their trials makes me see that I can stand firm in GOD, just like him or her.
- After deciding to stand firm for the LORD, I can praise HIM for what HE is doing in other folks lives.
- GOD wants me to also ask for HIM to supply my needs as well as the needs of others.
Feeling empty or
dead happens to some of us. I mean, when things are not going as I expect for an
extended time, I can run out of gas. BUT GOD wants me to run out of gas. Why?
Because HE wants me to rely on HIS power.
HE brings me
through trials and HE delivers others from theirs. When I see what HE is doing
in the lives of others, I get encouraged to stand firm and patiently wait on
the LORD. I am grateful, HE is working everything out in HIS way and time.
Challenge
- Why do you think the writers were encouraged?
- Have you ever felt that life was not going as well as you expected?
- Will you be encouraged by what GOD is doing in other people’s lives and know HE has a wonderful plan for you as well?
- Will yu stand firm for JESUS today?
No comments:
Post a Comment