Bible League: Living His Word For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.When the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, it is done so by human beings. Individual human beings, one might say, take ownership of it and become responsible for it. This does not mean that the gospel is nothing more than the creation of mere humans, for the Apostle Paul says "it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16), but it does mean that those who preach the gospel become its heralds or representatives. It is in this way that Paul can refer to "our" gospel. The gospel he preached was the gospel of an individual herald of the gospel who had made it his own. As is the case for all heralds of the gospel, the effectiveness of Paul's preaching was dependent upon the activity of God. If his gospel was to be something more than mere words, if it was to have a transformative effect in the lives of its hearers, then God would have to be at work in his preaching. And Paul is saying in our verses for today that he is convinced God was indeed at work in his preaching to the Thessalonians and that this must mean God had chosen them to accept the gospel. The reason Paul was convinced that God was at work was the way he experienced his preaching of the gospel to them. He realized that the words he spoke were not mere words, mere theological information, but that they came with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. They came, that is, with the "power of God for salvation," with a sense of the presence and enablement of the Holy Spirit, and with no doubt in his own mind. Although he had made the gospel his own, he sensed that he was not alone. The Holy Spirit was with him. Every Christian is involved in some way, shape, or form, in the spread of the gospel. Today, since we can do nothing apart from Him, ask God to be involved in your part of that great enterprise, just as He was with Paul. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Samuel 27, 28, 29 1 Samuel 27 -- David Flees to the Philistines NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Samuel 28 -- Saul and the Witch of Endor NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Samuel 29 -- Achish Sends David Away NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 17:1-19 Luke 17 -- Forgiveness and Faith; Cleansing of the Ten Lepers; Second Coming Foretold NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion The LORD detests double standards;he is not pleased by dishonest scales. Insight “Dishonest scales” refers to the loaded scales a merchant might use in order to cheat the customers. Dishonesty is a difficult sin to avoid. It is easy to cheat if we think no one else is looking. But dishonesty affects the very core of a person. It makes him untrustworthy and untrusting. It eventually makes him unable to know himself or relate to others. Challenge Don't take dishonesty lightly. Even the smallest portion of dishonesty contains enough of the poison of deceit to kill your spiritual life. If there is any dishonesty in your life, tell God about it now. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Revelation 3:14 The Amen.The word Amen solemnly confirms that which went before; and Jesus is the great Confirmer; immutable, forever is "the Amen" in all his promises. Sinner, I would comfort thee with this reflection. Jesus Christ said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." If you come to him, he will say "Amen" in your soul; his promise shall be true to you. He said in the days of his flesh, "The bruised reed I will not break." O thou poor, broken, bruised heart, if thou comest to him, he will say "Amen" to thee, and that shall be true in thy soul as in hundreds of cases in bygone years. Christian, is not this very comforting to thee also, that there is not a word which has gone out of the Saviour's lips which he has ever retracted? The words of Jesus shall stand when heaven and earth shall pass away. If thou gettest a hold of but half a promise, thou shalt find it true. Beware of him who is called "Clip-promise," who will destroy much of the comfort of God's word. Jesus is Yea and Amen in all his offices. He was a Priest to pardon and cleanse once, he is Amen as Priest still. He was a King to rule and reign for his people, and to defend them with his mighty arm, he is an Amen King, the same still. He was a Prophet of old, to foretell good things to come, his lips are most sweet, and drop with honey still--he is an Amen Prophet. He is Amen as to the merit of his blood; he is Amen as to his righteousness. That sacred robe shall remain most fair and glorious when nature shall decay. He is Amen in every single title which he bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death's dark vale; your Help and your Deliverer; your Castle and your High Tower; the Horn of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all, and your Yea and Amen in all. Daily Light on the Daily Path Jeremiah 20:9 But if I say, "I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name," Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.1 Corinthians 9:16,18 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. • What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. Acts 4:18-20 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. • But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; • for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; Matthew 25:25-27 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' • "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. • Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Mark 5:19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
Click for Video Devotionals     |