Rest

Rest

2 Thessalonians 1: From Paul, Silas, and Timothy—

To the people of the church in Thessalonica, who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

 

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Thinking of the many problems life had thrown at me, I laid awake at night. Knowing I had to go to work made me more anxious as I saw the hours tick away. “Maybe if I do some work” was my thought to get whatever was bugging me off my mind. I found myself working almost twenty four hours a day.

 

• I could not rest.
• I could not stop thinking about the many problems I faced.
• I could not solve or resolve any of the problems, so rest seemed elusive.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy begin another letter to the Thessalonians with a miniature prayer. They knew times were difficult. They wished for all who belong to GOD our Father and the LORD JESUS CHRIST to be given grace and peace.

 

My Observations

• Life can be difficult, BUT GOD wants me to have peace which only comes from HIM.
• My sins may cause me to lose sleep, BUT GOD wants me to know HIS grace is sufficient.
• Worry, rage, doubt and disillusion may appear all around me, BUT GOD wants me to accept HIS grace and peace.

 

Knowing I am forgiven and that my troubles are temporary gives me grace and peace. I mean, I can confess my sins directly to GOD the FATHER because I believe JESUS died and rose for my sins. JESUS volunteered to die as a human because HE created them in the first place. HIS resurrection gives me the ability to be forgiven.

 

The HOLY SPIRIT was given to me as my Comforter. HE lives inside me and pleads on my behalf due to the many sins I commit. HE convicts me once, then guides me to peace versus harassment over the sin I commit over and over. I am glad GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT are one and agree to give me grace and peace.

 

Challenge

• Why do the writers start with this miniature prayer?
• Have you ever lost sleep because of life’s circumstances?
• Will you give all of your circumstances to GOD who is willing to forgive you and give you grace and peace today?

Repairing Self-Destruction

2 Corinthians 7:1 All these promises are made to us, my dear friends. So then, let us purify ourselves from everything that makes body or soul unclean, and let us be completely holy by living in awe of God.

 

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Feeling like a failure, I needed some “fun.” With a mountain of debt, a broken down car, kicked out of school again and being dumped, I wanted to feel good for a moment. I went to a convention and there were wild parties everywhere. But for some reason, I could not get into it this particular time.

 

• I thought I could relieve myself if I did some things that I could hide.
• I felt like I was already low, so sinning wouldn’t make me any lower.
• I wondered if there was an alternative to the self-destructive path I was on.

 

Paul speaks softly regarding purity. He doesn’t rant or yell, rather tries to convince everyone that JESUS made promises that were everlasting. These eternal promises should be recognized, but sin blinds us to that well deserved recognition. Paul give a better way of looking at purity. Be in awe of GOD.

 

My Observations

• JESUS did an amazing thing by volunteering to die and be raised from the dead, just for me.
• GOD’s mercy is amazing because HE sees the sin I hold onto tightly and still forgives me.
• The HOLY SPIRIT amazingly lives in my body, seeing every thought and action and pleads on my behalf for forgiveness.

 

“Stop sinning” is easy to say when everything is going right. I mean, when the world seems to be falling apart, sin seems to knock on the door of my heart with its grimy hands at my most vulnerable time. BUT GOD sees all and loves me when I’m low.

 

HE understands every situation and cleanses me of all unrighteousness when I ask. But what if I ask and sin again? HE forgives me and cleanses me over and over and over and over and over again. He fills me with another chance each day and gives me a better path to walk on. I am in awe that GOD’s grace “is” sufficient.

 

Challenge

• Does the writer limit the boundaries of purity?
• Is there any difference between using slanderous words and sexual sin?
• What do you notice about the individual walk implied in this passage?
• Will you remain in awe of GOD’s forgiveness and allow HIM to cleanses you of all unrighteousness today and again tomorrow?

Faith Practice

Luke 7: ⁶ Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

⁹ When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” ¹⁰ And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

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“How will I ever do this?” I said to myself nervously. I had never done this before and I did not feel comfortable. As I took a deep breath, I got behind the wheel of the car. To my dismay, there were other practicing drivers sitting in the back seat. “Put the car in drive” the instructor said. I followed his instructions. After the drive was over, I felt more confident. “When will we do this again?” I said excitedly!

• Sometimes my faith is lacking.
• Sometimes I am not confident because of the unknown.
• Sometimes I need help with my faith.

One thing I noticed is the centurion never actually came out to speak with JESUS. He sent messengers to communicate between them because he did not feel worthy to be in JESUS’s presence. The centurion also believe in JESUS’s authority, so much so, that he could accept a word from JESUS knowing the healing would take place.

• JESUS wants me to practice having faith in HIM.
• JESUS wants me to believe in HIS authority over all of my situations.
• JESUS wants me to be more and more confident in HIS abilities and less confident in mine.

Just knowing JESUS is concerned about my situations is good enough. I mean once I know HE is handling the circumstance, I feel better. I praise HIM in the middle of the storm rather than when it is over, but it took practice to get there. Yes, I still question “why” and sin, BUT GOD teaches me faith daily and I trust HIM more and more.

• Do you feel your faith is lacking?
• Are you facing a huge situation that seems insurmountable?
• Can you allow GOD to have authority over your circumstance to do as HE pleases?
• Will you put your trust in HIM today?

Underestimated

Luke 4: ²⁰ Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. ²¹ And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” ²² So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

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“Where is he?” I said to myself with a touch of anxiousness. I was given the task of picking up a very wealthy man who was supposed to meet me in the lobby of the hotel, ready to go to the meeting. The only other person in the lobby was a guy in overalls.

After several minutes, another wealthy businessman came to the lobby and recognized me. “Let me introduce you” he said. He walked me over to the guy in the overalls. This was the person I was supposed to pick up.

• There were times when I underestimated people based on looks.
• There were times when I underestimated people based on their circumstances.
• There were times when I underestimated people based on their finances, desires or overt sin.

People in the synagogue said “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” as if to say “How can HE claim to be the Messiah written by the prophet Isaiah?” Many people assumed that GOD’s SON would pop out of thin air and slay those who “they” hated. BUT GOD had other plans.

• GOD wants me to know HE is not limited by my limited thinking.
• GOD wants me to know HE is all knowing, all seeing, all powerful and is everywhere.
• GOD wants me to know HE cares in spite of my misconceptions of HIM.

When GOD cursed the heavens and the earth, HE set in motion something that HE could not take back. Difficulty with relationships, painful birth and hard labor was HIS decree to all humans through Adam and Eve that still stands to this day.

HIS painful declaration was because HIS SON had to voluntarily die to fulfil an oath that only a sinless human could redeem mankind. JESUS was the sacrifice that I should not underestimate.

• Do you underestimate GOD’s power in your life?
• Do you think your sin is more powerful than GOD’s redemption?
• Can you stop thinking you are in control of your life and allow GOD to fill you with enough faith to overflow grace towards all you encounter?

Keep Calling

Mark 10: ⁴⁶ Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. ⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.

Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

⁵⁰ And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

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“Why don’t you just give up” one professor told me. I had a failing grade point average and a lot of classes ahead of me. With no guidance, I felt defeated.

• Sometimes I feel like giving up.
• Sometimes it looks as if problems will never stop.
• Sometimes it seems like there is no solution and on top of problems, people try to kick me when I am down.

With no regard of Bartimaeus’s blindness, the crowd tried to silence him as he cried out to JESUS. Bartimaeus knew this was possibly his only chance. How often would JESUS travel to Jericho? How often would JESUS be within ear shot of Bartimaeus? He probably screamed until he was horse and JESUS heard him.

• JESUS wants me to pursue HIM with conviction.
• JESUS desires that I scream for HIM when things look bleak.
• JESUS hears me when I keep calling to HIM in spite of my thinking.

“Do not be discouraged” is not a conviction from GOD; rather it is HIS cry out to me to tell me HE loves me. GOD wants to remove my spiritual blindness; all I have to do is cry out to HIM.

• Are you deserving of something?
• Are you mad at GOD about your situation?
• Can you call out to GOD today and ask HIM to remove your spiritual blindness?