Belonging

Belonging

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

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

 

May grace and peace be yours.

 

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Many schools, churches and other organizations have given me a tee shirt to proudly wear. Each shirt would have the name of the organization and sometimes its colors. People have walked up to me and asked me questions about the shirt I was wearing at the time.

 

• I felt obligated to represent the organization well.
• I felt I was part of something bigger.
• I felt a sense of belonging to a group.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy sent their greetings to everyone who “belongs” to GOD the FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. They had no shirt to pass out so they gave a wonderful gift, grace and peace.

 

My Observations

• When calamity hits, GOD steps in and says to me “You belong to ME.”
• When wonderful things happen, GOD says to me “Because I love you.”
• When I need direction or feel lost, GOD says to me “Do not worry or doubt because you are MINE.”

 

Belonging to GOD is amazing! I mean, HE has all the power, knows everything and is everywhere. No person or power or situation can stop GOD’s love for me.

 

Though I may take my eyes off of GOD, HE holds me tight. In fact, HE has written my name in HIS hand and no one can snatch me out. I belong to GOD. I gratefully give my life to HIM and try to act like I belong to HIM by telling people of the grace of JESUS.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer added the word “belong?”
• Have you ever been part of an organization and wanted other people to know about it or even join?
• Do you belong to JESUS?
• Will you praise GOD for the grace and peace HE provides because you belong to HIM?

Let It Out

Let It Out

Colossians 4: ¹⁵ Give our best wishes to the believers in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. ¹⁶ After you read this letter, make sure that it is read also in the church at Laodicea. At the same time, you are to read the letter that the believers in Laodicea will send you. ¹⁷ And tell Archippus, “Be sure to finish the task you were given in the Lord's service.”
 
May God's grace be with you.

¹⁸ With my own hand I write this: Greetings from Paul Do not forget my chains!

 
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Stepping around the party, I was having “fun.” I shouted at the top of my lungs boastful chants along with the members of the group I joined. I proudly wore my group affiliation letters on my chest and mentioned the group when I could. One day, someone asked me to go to church. I did not want people to know I followed JESUS, because I was having too much “fun.”

 

• I wanted to do what I wanted to do and rely on JESUS for whatever HE was supposed to do.
• I was embarrassed about the things I said and did, so I chose to not mention JESUS.
• It was easy to shout what other people expected versus what people needed to hear.

 

In chains and physically wounded, Paul pens this letter. He was not ashamed of his affiliation with JESUS. In fact, he was imprisoned because of his beliefs. Only the king was supposed to be spoken about in the manner Paul spoke of the “King of kings.” He wanted everyone to know exactly what was on his mind so he wrote his message down.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s message should be mentioned as often as possible from me.
• I should not be ashamed of mentioning JESUS in any circle of people.
• GOD wants to be the priority in my life.

 

JESUS gave it all to me. I mean HE took embarrassing insults, temptation and beatings for me. HE then decided to be murdered for me so I could live. HE was raised from the dead with all power. This is great news! Unfortunately there are times when I do not want to mention HIM.

 

Either groups I join or jobs I work at, deter me from wanting to speak about JESUS. Don’t get me wrong, groups and jobs are not the problem, rather my choice to not mention JESUS is the root of the issue. GOD wants me and everyone who believes in JESUS to mention HIM often and remember HIM daily. I gladly say JESUS is LORD!

 

Challenge

• What instructions does the writer give and why?
• Have you ever had some good news or bad news and told many people about it?
• Have you ever been embarrassed to mention JESUS or that you follow HIM?
• Will you mention JESUS out loud or written to someone today?

Bigger Prayer

Bigger Prayer

Colossians 4: ¹² Greetings from Epaphras, another member of your group and a servant of Christ Jesus. He always prays fervently for you, asking God to make you stand firm, as mature and fully convinced Christians, in complete obedience to God's will. ¹³ I can personally testify to his hard work for you and for the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke, our dear doctor, and Demas send you their greetings.

 

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Looking outside, I could see the wind thrashing wildly against the tall bushes. Heavy rain and lightning followed. During the storm I noticed delicate items like bird food and flower pots were not moving. I drove around later and a large tree was broken at the trunk. Why did the delicate items survive?

 

• I wondered why people go through troubles.
• I pondered about people who seem to go through life easy while others seem to have nothing but storms.
• I looked at the tremendous force blowing all around and wondered why something so delicate could be protected.

 

Epaphras prays a different prayer for everyone. Knowing there were many circumstances that were out of his control, he went straight to the source and prayed for GOD to “make” them stand firm. This was a bigger prayer that included the circumstances as well as the outcome.

 

My Observations

• GOD doesn’t mind me praying for a trial to go away for me or another person.
• My growth in GOD also includes becoming mature, fully convinced and completely committed to obeying the LORD.
• GOD is the source of “making” others stand firm and becoming mature and being fully convinced that HE is the only answer.

 

Looking at the circumstance can take my eyes off of GOD. I mean, I may be praying for the storm to go away instead of marveling that GOD can protect me in the middle of strong winds that come against me. I am no match for the storms. I have no weapons and the storms are frightening. BUT GOD is the source.

 

HE is the one I can go to and ask that HE orchestrate the circumstances in his or her life so he or she will be able to stand firm. GOD owns growth and standing firm as a fragile item shows HIS protective power. I am glad HE is the source that I can go to for a bigger prayer than the circumstance.

 

Challenge

• What is the prayer style of Epaphras?
• Did he ask GOD to make the problems go away or for GOD to do something else?
• Can you take your eyes off of the circumstance for a moment and marvel at GOD’s tremendous power to protect someone as delicate as you?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please make this reader stand firm, as a mature and fully convinced believer of JESUS, in complete obedience to YOUR will. amen

Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends

Colossians 4: ¹⁰ Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have already received instructions to welcome Mark if he comes your way.) ¹¹ Joshua, also called Justus, sends greetings too. These three are the only Jewish believers who work with me for the Kingdom of God, and they have been a great help to me.

 

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“You should steal it” was the suggestion from a guy I knew. We had a few conversations because we were interested in similar groups. I explained my need and his suggestion was to steal it since I did not have the money. “Just take it. Let me do it for you.” I accepted the stolen goods.

 

• I felt something was wrong with his advice.
• I also really, really wanted to fit in.
• I did not think his action was “bad” because he did not get caught.

 

Paul mentions his true friends to everyone. These people stood with him through thick and thin. In other words they went through the trouble he faced. They did this with one major caveat, their purpose was for CHRIST and furthering the Kingdom of GOD.

 

My Observations

• Misery loves company so I have to be careful not to fall into miserable company.
• Only GOD can open my eyes to when I am on the wrong path.
• My circle of friends can be for or against the Kingdom of GOD.

 

Choosing “friends” can be tricky. I mean, if I need to “fit in” I can find all sorts of people who will allow me in their world. But is that world worth it? Sometimes no. GOD’s kingdom is the only place that matters. I can make excuses and justify my actions with a group, but without GOD, all my actions are wasted.

 

GOD’s purpose should be included in my circle of friends. I don’t mean I should isolate from people who are not believers in JESUS. I mean, I should hang with those who will pray, praise and promote who GOD is. I am grateful I have met many who bow down to the Living GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer mentions these people?
• What advice are you receiving from your circle of friends?
• Will you be a friend to someone by living your life with the purpose of GOD today?

All the News

All the News

Colossians 4: ⁷ Our dear friend Tychicus, who is a faithful worker and fellow servant in the Lord's work, will give you all the news about me. ⁸ That is why I am sending him to you, in order to cheer you up by telling you how all of us are getting along. ⁹ With him goes Onesimus, that dear and faithful friend, who belongs to your group. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

 

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Blurting out “Didn’t we have a great time at the club last night?” seemed inappropriate in church, but that’s what the guy asked me. I was trying to live a double or triple life. One segment I appeared to be one way another segment I appeared a different way.

 

• I tried living a segmented life.
• I wanted to “have pleasure” and “have CHRIST” and “have money” even though sometimes they conflict with one another.
• I was embarrassed that one segment of my life was exposed to another.

 

Tychicus and Onesimus were dear friends of Paul. He mentions both in other letters in the highest regard. They observed his life and were witnesses to his actions in CHRIST. Paul had given up his life to follow CHRIST fully. To him, it was more profitable to follow the LORD.

 

My Observations

• My life was given to me by the LORD for HIS purpose.
• Any part of my life that I may be ashamed of will be exposed painfully or easily.
• GOD uses my life to be an example one way or another.

 

“All the news” is scary to me. I mean, it seems like a huge amount of pressure to be “good” when I am not. Only GOD is good and I could never live up to any expectation that others may place on me by following HIM. Fortunately GOD does not require “good” people to mention HIM.

 

GOD uses sinners like me to say “I am forgiven by JESUS for all my sins, past, present and future!” By believing in JESUS, I have hope. I can now bring hope to the hopeless. No matter how much I have messed up, GOD is there. I am glad “All the news” includes JESUS forgiving me.

 

Challenge

• What news do you think the writer is speaking about?
• Do you feel you do not measure up to other people or are not meeting the expectations of those who have given their life to the LORD?
• Will you let go of your life and place the burden of perfection on the only one who is, namely JESUS today?

Pleasant and Interesting

Pleasant and Interesting

Colossians 4: ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. ⁶ Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone.

 

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Smalltalk did not seem natural to me. I was at a gathering where I was the guest. I did not have any conversation starters. Then someone asked me about the “game.” I did not see that sporting event so I was at a loss for words.

 

I felt awkward.

I felt embarrassed.

I did not know what to say and I wanted out of there.

 

Paul expresses the need to be “pleasant and interesting” in terms of conversation, especially toward those who are unbelievers. This was important to “make good use of every opportunity.”

 

My Observations

GOD wants me to treat everyone as special.

Conversations with strangers can be interesting within itself.

I must be ready to answer why I believe in JESUS at all times, even with strangers.

 

Speaking with strangers is not always comfortable. I mean, trying to “be interesting” could lead to awkward interactions versus natural. I may try too hard and come across in a weird way. But adding “pleasant” to my “interest” in the person makes the conversation flow.

 

Genuine interest in the wellbeing of others reduces the awkwardness. If anyone asks about my belief, GOD will give me the right answer. I am glad GOD puts interesting people in my path.

 

Challenge

What opportunity is the writer speaking of?

How do you feel talking to strangers?

Will you become interested in others so you can be ready with the Gospel when given the “opportunity?”

Make It Clear

Make It Clear

Colossians 4: ² Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. ³ At the same time pray also for us, so that God will give us a good opportunity to preach his message about the secret of Christ. For that is why I am now in prison. ⁴ Pray, then, that I may speak, as I should, in such a way as to make it clear.

 

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“Why aren’t you hanging with us anymore?” was a question posed to me. We used to go out every weekend from one club to the next. But when my life changed, I sought something in life that seemed a bit more. I could not answer the question clearly.

 

• I had a sense of purpose but could not explain it well.
• I had to learn about JESUS and how to explain what I believed.
• I had done things one way for so long that I could not tell people why my life had changed.

 

Paul asks for prayer because his life had changed. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees, meaning he was a leader of leaders. He may have been wealthy being in this position and was very powerful. BUT JESUS met him and changed his life. He had to learn how to tell people about his encounter with the one true and living GOD.

 

My Observations

• It’s hard to explain why I believe in JESUS, but I do.
• Prayer is powerful and GOD will guide me to the right words.
• I need many people to pray for me to make “it” clear.

 

“It” is JESUS. I mean, making “it” clear is making JESUS clear to those who need hope and eternal life. To me, this is everyone. Unfortunately, the enemy, Satan, wants people to live blinded lives that do not ever seek HIM.

 

GOD wants HIS people to have peaceful lives full of love and abundant joy. HE also wants HIS SON known to all of mankind. HE uses imperfect people like me to say “I believe”, so others will do the same. I am glad I can have many people pray for me to make “it” clear.

 

Challenge

• What is the writer’s request?
• What is your purpose in life?
• Will you seek opportunities to speak “as you should” about JESUS to someone who needs hope and eternal life today?