Love is Patient

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;⁶it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸Love never ends.

Love is Patient.

So what does it mean when it says that love is patient? The dictionary defines being patient as:

• waiting calmly for however long is needed
• to bear pains or trials calmly or without complaint
• manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
• not hasty or impetuous
• steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity
• able or willing to bear
• bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like
• characterized by or expressing such a quality: a patient smile
• quietly and steadily persevering or diligent, especially in detail or exactness: a patient worker

To have patience is

• the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
• an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.
• quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience.

When I read all these definitions what pops out to me is a quality of time. Patient folks are willing to take their time.... whether that means bearing a load, or helping someone, or dealing with something on their own. Patient people don't fear time. They simply take something and work with it regardless of how long it takes.

People often say that I am patient ... when I have a hard time seeing it in myself. I always feel inside like I'm rushed, wanting things done now, but when it comes to other people... there I'm willing to take my time for the most part I think. Start small....work your way up. I wonder why I am more patient with others than I am with myself?

So what does the bible say about patience?

Gal 5:22 tells us that patience is a fruit of the spirit

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

In Thessalonians we learn that we are to be patient with each other

¹⁴And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (5:14)

In Hebrews 12:1 we see that patience is an active choice, it is something that we work with

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Psalm 37 encourages us to be patient and not to fret.

Patience is often linked to steadfastness, and this is a learned trait. We learn it from going through trials, we learn it through seeing it in others and how they respond, the prophets in the Old Testament had to be patient, Abraham had to be patient... we can learn from these folks.

If one takes a good look at what it means to be patient then you can see how it is of benefit. If you are patient you are less inclined to get bent out of shape over things. It keeps you at a more even keel because you see how things are OVER TIME.

The more I think about this the more I see the greatness of God. God is so everlastingly patient with us. He is HOLY. We are a sinful people. Holiness can't stand being around sin, and yet what does God do? He bears with us, he waits with us, he teaches and trains us, he works with us, and he LET HIS SON DIE for us so that we can be brought back to him.

See this folks, take a good hard look at it. God did this for us! He really takes the long view. He knows what we can be for him.

And then let us learn to be more like him.

I need to learn to be more like him. To take the long view and just relax into the knowing that in time....things will all be better. Jesus will return and all things will be made right. So the little "achs" of the day are not worth being stressed over. :)

Greetings to you

23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

These are the last verses from 1 Thessalonians 5. They are Paul's final words in his letter to his church that he so loved.

First he offers a prayer for them. That the God of peace himself will sanctify them completely, and that God might keep them blameless. God, who is faithful, will do this.

Wesley from e-sword, explains this suchly:

And may the God of peace sanctify you - By the peace he works in you, which is a great means of sanctification. Wholly - The word signifies wholly and perfectly; every part and all that concerns you; all that is of or about you. And may the whole of you, the spirit and the soul and the body - Just before he said you; now he denominates them from their spiritual state. The spirit - Gal_6:8; wishing that it may be preserved whole and entire: then from their natural state, the soul and the body; ...... wishing it may be preserved blameless till the coming of Christ.

Matthew Henry from e-sword, on God's faithfulness to us:

The kindness and love of God had appeared to them in calling them to the knowledge of his truth, and the faithfulness of God was their security that they should persevere to the end; and therefore, the apostle assures them, God would do what he desired; he would effect what he had promised; he would accomplish all the good pleasure of his goodness towards them.

Paul then asks the Thessalonican church to pray for him, to share his letter with other believers, and to greet each other in a holy manner. He then closes this letter with a benediction of "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

Love each other

Continuing in 1 Thessalonians 5 we find these verses:

14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.

Yesterday we learned that we are to respect and love those who lead and teach us within the church. And we are love each other.

Today Paul expands a bit on that theme. What does it mean to love each other?

• admonish the idle
• encourage the fainthearted
• help the weak
• be patient with all
• see that no one repays evil for evil
• seek to do good to everyone
• rejoice always
• pray without ceasing
• give thanks in ALL circumstances
• do not quench the Spirit
• do not despise prophecies ... but test what is good.
• hold fast to what is good
• abstain from every form of evil
  

That's quite the list isn't it?
And I have to say, it makes sense doesn't it? That loving our leaders and loving our fellow-believers encompasses all these things.

I could admittedly probably talk about each of these things forever. Because there's lots to be said about them all. But that would never get me out of 1 Thessalonians, so how's that for laziness today. :)

But love overall is not easy. It takes effort. Just think about it.... love means admonishment and encouragement. It means being patient. It means not shrugging things off. It means working at knowing what is good and holding on to it. It means standing in the way of someone who wants to get revenge, and standing in the way of yourself when you want to do stuff you aught not. It means listening to the Spirit of God within ourselves. This is not for the lazy! It's work, real work.

But then again recall that love is not a feeling, it's an act of the will.

Respecting the Leadership

In the last section of 1 Thessalonians I find these verses:

12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.

I know that I won't get through this all today. :) So will just take the first couple of verses.

I read a statistic somewhere that being a pastor is considered one of the most dangerous jobs out there for the mental health of a person. There are HUGE numbers of pastors who are forced out of ministry due to poor health, mental breakdown, and so forth. Some pastors are driven out of churches that are known to be pastor killers. So when I read this verse:

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

I had to wonder if too many people have forgotten this. We are commanded of God, it's just Paul saying it here, to respect those who teach us, those who have been placed in authority over us by God. They are there to teach, to lead, and to admonish. And we are to respect them and love them because of the work they do for us.

Of course, to respect one's leadership one needs to know who they are. Do I know who all the leaders are in my church? I'm fortunate in that I attend a small church, but even so, sometimes I'm left wondering....who are the elders this term? who are the deacons? Of course I know who my pastor is.... I live with him. :) But it's a good thing to think on....how well do I know my pastor and the other church leadership? In that knowing, do I come with an attitude of wanting to respect them for what they do? For what God has called them to? For make no doubt about it, GOD puts them in the position that they are in.

How do I show my love to them? Do I criticize? Do I compliment? Do I acknowledge the good that they do? Do I see them for the men of God that called has called them to be? How do I keep myself from helping to add to the statistic of pastor burn-out and stress? Just how do I show love? Do I want to get to know them -- to get to know more how to offer support, and to know more how to offer love in meaningful way?

A pastor's job is more than preaching a sermon. A deacon's job is more than counting money. An elder's job is more than doing a yearly house-visit and shaking the pastor's hand. They are there to teach and to admonish and to work among us. Not just for us, but among us. They don't do all the work, but the work they do should be respected. And they should be loved for doing it.

We are to love one another. And that's what it all comes down to. Let's love each other.

Children of the Light

The ESV breaks this chapter down into two large sections, 1-11 and 12-28. I don't know if I will be able to get through all those sections in one day, but I'll see what I get to. :) With that said, here's the first section.

1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Hmm... A closer reading of this chapter seems to say less to me about what the coming of the Lord will be and more about how we should live as Christians.

Paul reminds his readers of what the coming of the Lord will be:

For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

But he goes to tell his readers that they are not night dwellers to be surprised by a thief, they are people of the day. They are the Children of the light.

And what are Children of the light? They are awake and sober, they are watchful, they are people who put on the breastplate of faith and love, the helmet of the hope of salvation, they are a people destined to obtain salvation through Christ! That is who they are so now all they need to do is encourage each other and build each other up as they await the return of the Lord.

I had to ask myself, what does it mean to put on a breastplate and a helmet? When I went to the e-sword commentaries, they told me they are a sign of battle. So Christians must be prepared for battle. And what is our protection? Our armour is faith, love and hope of salvation. JFB told me that:

The helmet and breastplate defend the two vital parts, the head and the heart respectively. “With head and heart right, the whole man is right” [Edmunds]. The head needs to be kept from error, the heart from sin.

So then, let me protect ourselves with faith, love and the hope of salvation. Let me be alert and be ready for the Lord's return. He is coming, I can be ready, and in the meantime I can encourage my fellow believers and I can build up his church. This is what I am called to in this passage. So let me walk as a Child of the light. :)

Intro to 1 Thess 5

Today I will be taking a look at 1 Thessalonians 5. It is the last chapter in this book. As normal, today I will be just doing an overview of the chapter, tomorrow I will start looking at it more in-depth.

As I read Chapter 5 I see that it continues with the theme from ch. 4, where Paul is talking about the end times. Paul's approach to it is a bit different though. Rather than assuring his readers of the hope they have in Christ, he reminds them that they should not be surprised when Christ returns, but awake and ready for his return. He again reminds them to show brotherly love toward each other.

This line leads into his next section where he tells them how to live as brothers to each other. He covers such things as respecting the church leadership, and helping our fellow believers in a variety of ways from delivering admonishment to just being patient.

He then closes off the letter by greeting then and making them promise to read the letter to the whole church.

Hope in death for the believer

today we will cover the last 5 verses of 1 Thessalonians 4.

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This summer we had a young man die, he was not part of our congregation, he was not, as far as we know a believer, his mom knows there is a god, but she doesn't attend church except occasionally, so it's not like there's a lot of depth to her belief. Her grief is very deep. She hopes that her son is "in a good place". But she doesn't know, and this adds to her pain of loss. When I read these verses I think of her. And then I think of cousins of mine who lost their son, just a lad, and the grief they feel and they are a bible-believing family, they have this loss but mixed with it they have some hope that their son is in heaven.

There is that joy when a believer dies, mixed with sorrow yes, that death has occurred, but joy that this one soul is resting now with Christ.

Paul wants his church, these Thessalonican believers to fully be informed about what happens to believers when they die. As Clarke tells us:

1. He asserts, as he had done before, that they who died in the Lord should have, in virtue of Christ’s resurrection, a resurrection unto eternal life and blessedness.
2. He makes a new discovery, that the last generation should not die at all, but be in a moment changed to immortals.
3. He adds another new discovery, that, though the living should not die, but be transformed, yet the dead should first be raised, and be made glorious and immortal; and so, in some measure, have the preference and advantage of such as shall then be found alive.

Believers will be with the Lord when they die. Believers who have died will be raised first, and then those who are left. Believers will always be with the Lord. We will. God's word promises it. Therefore we need to encourage each other.

Death, for a believer is not something to be feared. There is hope. So our sadness at the time of death need not be over-whelming, as if there is nothing to joy in, to hope in, but a time of knowing that this believer is now with the Lord.

Dealing with the Angst within

Moving along in 1 Thessalonians 4, we come to these verses:

9Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Paul tells this group of believers that he doesn't have to tell them how to love each other. They already do what they have learned from God. In fact, they show brotherly love to all the believers throughout Macedonia. BUT Paul adds this plea....do it more and more and more. And as you show brotherly love more and more and more...make it a goal to live quietly and to not be gossips and busybodies, and to work hard. If they do this then they will be walking properly with God and not be dependent on anyone.

When I was reading over what Matthew Henry had to say about this passage in e-sword I realized that this fits in well with a query I had of Jim last night. 1. is having angst sin? (yes) 2. why? (because shows you are not trusting God) 3. so how does one not have angst? (he didn't answer that as it was rather late at night).

BUT when I read over what Matthew Henry said, I thought you know...this makes sense. Here are his words concerning vv 9-12

Of quietness and industry in their callings. Observe, 1. The apostle exhorts to these duties: that they should study to be quiet, 1Th_4:11. It is the most desirable thing to have a calm and quiet temper, and to be of a peaceable and quiet behaviour. This tends much to our own and others' happiness; and Christians should study how to be quiet. We should be ambitious and industrious how to be calm and quiet in our minds, in patience to possess our own souls, and to be quiet towards others; or of a meek and mild, a gentle and peaceable disposition, not given to strife, contention, or division. Satan is very busy to disquiet us; and we have that in our own hearts that disposes us to be disquiet; therefore let us study to be quiet. It follows, Do your own business. When we go beyond this, we expose ourselves to a great deal of inquietude. Those who are busy-bodies, meddling in other men's matters, generally have but little quiet in their own minds and cause great disturbances among their neighbours; at least they seldom mind the other exhortation, to be diligent in their own calling, to work with their own hands; and yet this was what the apostle commanded them, and what is required of us also. Christianity does not discharge us from the work and duty of our particular callings, but teaches us to be diligent therein.

He has more to say, but I thought this would do. :)
We need to be quiet within. If we work at it, then we are mindful of ourselves, not of others. We are mindful of what God wants and not busy-ing ourselves with concerns of others that aren't our concerns. And if we do that...than our "angst" within will decrease.

Pretty cool I thought. Neat how God puts a thought in our brains and then helps us answer it too! :) So I need to work more on being quiet inside as that will help me keep my focus where it aught to be and that will reduce the angst I feel in life. I can do this! Not overnight mind you...but I am only 42...I have a few more years left in me. :)

Personal or Other?

Okay, yesterday I left off feeling very dissatisfied with not knowing JUST the right answer or perspective to take. Can't say I feel a whole lot better today. So I thought I would take a look at the entire passage to see what it would have to tell me.

1Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Is this word that the ESV translates as body meant to be personal or directed toward your spouse? We already know from Gill that it could mean either, so...as I continued to read through this passage, praying that God would help me understand better this verse popped out at me.

6that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.

This made me think of how God in the OT treated fornication and such like severely, and how he would warn people from even thinking about it. (i.e. Abram with Sarai when some king wanted her as part of his harem, not knowing that Sarai was Abram's wife). So in that light I would tend to think that this passage speaks more about how one treats one's spouse rather than just how one treats one's own body.

Given too that the next section in this chapter goes on to talk about how well they already show love toward each other. This section would just cover an area that they were struggling with based on how they lived prior to knowing Christ.

Wesley (via e-sword) tells me that verse six pulls all the preceding verses together:

In this matter - By violating his bed. The things forbidden, here are three: fornication, 1Th_4:3; the passion of desire, or inordinate affection in the married state, 1Th_4:5; and the breach of the marriage contract.

And then of course the closing is that God is the one who handles any violation of his command. Just don't do it folks...don't mess with other folks' marriages. Don't treat your spouse improperly...don't make your passions and your desires more important than your concern and love for them. Just don't do it...you are messing with GOD not with man.

Honour and Holiness in Sexual Relations

When reading 1 Thessalonians 4 the chapter breaks at verse 8, so today we'll do verses 1-8. It is a fair chunk, and I don't want to make this post too long, so we'll see how it goes. We didn't get all that far yesterday, so we'll repeat the experience starting at verse 2. :)

2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

So the Thessalonican church has been reminded to more and more want to live for Jesus the way they have been taught.

In verse 2 Paul reminds them that their "how-to's" come from Christ himself. So what does that mean in some practicalities?

• abstain from sexual immorality (v 3)
• control your own bodies in holiness and honour (v 4)
  
• not getting carried away but the lusts of your body (v 5)
• not transgressing or wronging a brother in that regard (v 5)
  

Why? Because GOD is the avenger in all these things. God calls us to holiness. So if we don't live lives of holiness we are disregarding God, not man, but GOD himself who has given us the Holy Spirit.

So let's go through these more slowly.
First ... sanctification: Clarke (in e-sword) says :

God has called you to holiness; he requires that you should be holy; for without holiness none can see the Lord.This is the general calling, but in it many particulars are included. Some of these he proceeds to mention; and it is very likely that these had been points on which he gave them particular instructions while among them.

I like how Matthew Henry puts it

All that is contrary to chastity in heart, speech, and behaviour, is contrary to the command of God in the decalogue, and contrary to that holiness which the gospel requires.

"abstain from sexual immorality" - In the KJV this is translated as abstain from fornication. I thought I would look up exactly what fornication means, OneLook dictionary tells me that fornication is sexual relations between persons not married to each other, and that in some cases it means deliberate sexual relations that deliberately and willfully interfere with marital relations. That last part surprised me, puts a different spin on it doesn't it? Really shows the seriousness and nastiness of what being sexually immoral is all about.

One thing many commentators pointed out was that fornication was not considered as a sin among the heathen. So new Christians would need to be reminded of this. That even if the gods of the people around didn't require sexual purity... the God of the bible did.

"Control your own bodies in holiness and honour"
Wow...now that surprised me. The bodies of the ESV in the KJV is vessels. And that word vessels is taken to mean different things by the commentators. Some think is means body as in one's own body. Others take it to mean the body one marries. Wow...that was a shocker. Gill explains the confusion:

By which may be meant, either a man's wife, or his body, and it is not very easy to determine which, for the Jews call both by this name.

To read Gill's whole explanation go here. Either way, the exhortation is still the same. Treat the body in a holy and honourable way, whether it's your own, or the one you married.

"not getting carried away but the lusts of your body"
Okay...here is where things go a bit astray depending on how one translates that word "vessel". If one translates it meaning the one you married, then this passage refers primarily to how they "come together", to not getting carried away with one's own passions when you do so, and having to be respectful of the person you are with.

But if one translates this meaning one's own body...then it gains a broader perspective. How does one live your life as a Christian. Do you give way to the things that you lust after or do you hold yourself to a higher standard? It goes beyond the marriage bed.

I have to admit...I don't know which perspective is correct. Can they both be? Or is Paul just being very specific with this church ...helping them see how God calls us to purity and holiness in all aspects of sexuality both in and out of marriage?

I'll have to think on this some more, and that said, I'll finish this up tomorrow. I feel somewhat dissatisfied not knowing "just" the right answer for this.

What do you think?

Walk and Please God

When reading 1 Thessalonians 4 the chapter breaks at verse 8, so today we'll do verses 1-8. It is a fair chunk, and I don't want to make this post too long, so we'll see how it goes. :)

1Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

We'll start with verse one:

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

Paul is giving a final exhortation to his Christian family in Thessalonica. He asks them to, in communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, to remember what they have been taught about how to walk and please God, and to live it out in their lives. And as they live it out, to do it more and more and more.

I live my life as a Christian best...well...actually only if I do it through him. I can't really do any of it on my own. All that I do is infected by the sin in my life. So only through God, through communion with Christ, and through the working of the Holy Spirit in my life, can I live a life that pleases God.

I need to learn the words of God, the will of God, by knowing what he says...that means studying the bible and trying to live by it. This is how I walk and please God. :)

What verse one entreats me to do is walk and please God, just as I am doing and as I have learned, but also to continue to do so, and to strive to do so more and more.

I really like how Clarke (as found in e-sword) explains the more and more in this verse.

God sets no bounds to the communications of his grace and Spirit to them that are faithful. And as there are no bounds to the graces, so there should be none to the exercise of those graces. No man can ever feel that he loves God too much, or that he loves man too much for God’s sake.

There are no bounds to how much I can love God. There is never too much. Just like God's grace is extended to me in ways that I can't even imagine...and so therefore can be seen as endless, so my love can be endless too. :) I like that. :)

I have to admit, I do like the word "abound" that the KJV uses. It seems to me to signify more depth. And if I look up the word abound I find it means "be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities". So not only do we as believers have this call to please God more and more, we are called to do it a way that is plentiful. See...more depth to it.

And I'll need to finish up soon as I have a wakey-wakey boy asking me if I'm done my "botions". :) Makes me smile that boy child. Well...I have to go, my boy child is wanting to colour, and one can't effectively study God's word while colouring "franks". :)

Learn to walk in Holiness

Today we get a chance to look at 1 Thessalonians 4.

Barnes, a commentator in E-sword, tells us:

This chapter, properly, comprises two parts: First, various practical exhortations, 1Th_4:1-12; and secondly, suggestions designed to console those who have been bereaved; 1Th_4:13-18

The other commentators went into greater detail, but I figure I'll catch up with all that when I actually start studying the chapter in detail.

It sounds, from initial reading it will be filled with practical ways to live out one's faith. That this chapter will be a help to learn how one "ought to walk and to please God". The importance of walking in holiness.

Thankfulness and Prayer

Moving along to the next section in 1 Thessalonians 3, we read:

6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Timothy has returned to Paul. He brought with him good news. The Thessalonican church was doing really well. :) He brought them good news of their faith, of their love, and mentioned how they as leaders are thought of fondly. We learn how they both long to see each other again. I read those words and I see "family" written all over it. The joy in knowing that family is doing well, the desire to be with each other once again. But that is what we are called to be as believers...a family. God's children. Caring, loving, being concerned for --- family.

Knowing how well they are doing is a huge comfort to Paul. I like how Matthew Henry puts it (as found in the e-sword software):

The apostle thought this good news of them was sufficient to balance all the troubles he met with. It was easy to him to bear affliction, or persecution, or fightings from without, when he found the good success of his ministry and the constancy of the converts he had made to Christianity; and his distress of mind on account of his fears within, lest he had laboured in vain, was now in a good measure over, when he understood their faith and the perseverance of it. This put new life and spirit into the apostle and made him vigorous and active in the work of the Lord. Thus he was not only comforted, but greatly rejoiced also: Now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord, 1Th_3:8.

Paul was so happy and thankful for the belief of his young Christian brothers. He hardly knew where to begin in his thanksgiving to God for them and their faith. Gill tells us:

They had given thanks to God for them before, for their faith, love, and patience; see 1Th_1:2 and now having received a further account of them, they looked upon themselves bound to give fresh thanks to God for them, for the increase of their faith and love, and for their perseverance, as they did; see 2Th_1:3 since these are gifts of God's grace; but they knew not where to begin, what to render, and when to end.

All Paul can do is pray earnestly for them day and night. He can express his gratitude for God to them, he can pray that God continue to direct their paths, he can pray that God will help them to increase in love, and to abound in love to each other, and that God will establish their hearts in holiness before him when Christ comes again.

Hmm..... I read those words and I think, now that's something I can pray about for my hubbie. I have to admit sometimes I scarce know how to pray for him. He is such a solid man of God that sometimes I wonder. But I read these words and think now this...this I can pray for. But not only for him, but other Christians that I know who are solid in their faith. That God help them love more, that God help them become more holy, and that God continues to direct their paths. I like it. :)

Response to persecution

These are the first five verses in 1 Thessalonians 3:

1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

In 1Th 3:1 Where I read "Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone", I learned through the commentaries at e-sword, that what the ESV translates as "bear it no longer" the KJV translates as forbear And I learned this from the Jamieson, Fawcett and Brown Commentary

forbear — “endure” the suspense. The Greek is literally applied to a watertight vessel. When we could no longer contain ourselves in our yearning desire for you.

Paul could hardly contain himself. His concern for the Thessalonican people was so great that he just had to send Timothy to find out what was going on. His need to know of them was greater than his need to have his companion stay with him. So he sent Timothy off to Thessalonica to find out what was going on. Timothy's job was simple enough :) He was to "establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions".

Timothy was to help build up the Thessalonican church. To help it resist the effects of persecution so that no-one be torn away by what they were going through. He would help make the church stronger (established) and he would exhort them (teach them, encourage them) in their faith.

Paul reminded the Thessalonican's that they knew persecution would happen. He had told them

For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.

So they knew, but none the less, Paul found it best in his heart to send them encouragement, so he sent Timothy to them. This would ease his heart about what may have happened to them when they faced temptation. Did they stand firm or had the tempter succeeded in tempting them you and therefore making their labor among them in vain?

I read these words and I think....this is kinda what we do when people are in struggle isn't it?

• We let them know we care.
• We encourage them to keep on keeping on in the faith.
• AND if it is necessary we exhort them....we remind them what they believe in and hold them to it. We build them up in the Lord as it were.

Paul is an example to us. He did all this for a people he dearly loved, he remembered to do this while he was facing persecution himself. He didn't focus on himself, but he focused on the needs of his people instead.

I should do likewise.

1 Thessalonians 3

Jim introduced me to this new um....bible study aid, that's the word I'm looking for. It's called e-sword. It's makes doing bible study a wee bit easier. You can download various commentaries and versions of the bible and all sorts of stuff. I can even do my study over there, print off stuff, do a really copy and paste thing, and it's just neat. :) Not sure yet if I can do different fonts and stuff, but I figure I can do my study on that, and then copy it over here and use fonting that I might like better. One of the things that I like, is that if there is something in a commentary that is relevant to the passage this little exclamation mark will show up on the tab. Means less searching and more study. :)

So anyways, go check it out. It's a neat little tool. Free to use much of it, but one can pay for stuff on it too if you so desire.

Today we start the next chapter in 1 Thessalonians. Chapter three:

1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Paul says, Folks YOU ARE LOVED! See, even when I was forced to leave you I couldn't bear not knowing how you were doing so I sent Timothy to you. Upon his return he eased our minds in regards to you telling us how things were going. I am comforted! Thanksgiving I return to God for this. And then he prays for them.

Isn't that a neat little chapter?
It does make me think that perhaps the Thessalonican people were starting to think that Paul didn't care about them since he was gone for so long. But Paul hurries to remind them that

1. he does care
2. he was forced away from them
3. he had told them previously that this might happen because trials and afflictions come to all
4. he sent Timothy to them because he couldn't bear not knowing what was going on with them
5. he was comforted when he heard the news of them
6. he prayed for them

Paul loved these folks. He wanted the best for them. He longed to know what was happening with them and found a way to keep in touch. Pretty cool I think. :)

Can your Pastor Boast of you before God?

Today we come to the last three verses of 1 Thessalonians 2.

17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20For you are our glory and joy.

Once again, Paul shows his heart for the Thessalonican people.
He had to leave then, in fact was torn away from them, and he wants to be back with them but is being hindered.
That section "torn away from you" I learned from Adam Clarke the following:

here he represents himself as feeling what an affectionate father must feel when torn from his children; for this is the import of the word aporfanisqentev, bereft of children,

Paul feels toward these people as if they were his very own children. He takes such joy and pride in them. He can boast about them to God himself. :)

He reminds them that they are his glory and joy.

So what do I learn from this? have to say, I'm really not to sure. Part of me thinks of jusy how this translates for me and I query.

• Does my pastor have this same kind of pride in me, in a spiritual sense? Would he be able to boast before God about the joy he finds in how I live my Christian life? Have any of my pastors been able to do that?
• If not....why? Have I not been open about my faith? Have I become to be cautious in how I express my belief and joy in God? Is there anything in my faith walk that would cause another person to boast to God about me?
  
• Should pastors have this same attitude toward their congregations?
• If they don't, why not? Is it hardened hearts of the people they are to serve? Is it Satan at work in them (the congregation) hindering the work of the Pastor? Is it the pastor not having the right attitude toward "the flock"?
  

Can my pastor boast of me before the Lord God himself?
I hope so. :)

Paul Gives Thanks

Moving along in 1 Thessalonians 2 we come to verses 13-16:

13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God’s wrath has come upon them at last!

Hmmm....can you imagine the gratitude Paul would have felt to the Thessalonians for how they reacted to the word of God preached to them? They listened, they understood, they turned to God. They didn't react by wanting to beat him, imprison him or any other harsh negative reaction. Their's was a reaction of acceptance. They KNEW that Paul spoke God's words.

And therefore they became imitators of other Christian believers. They suffered for their faith just as the Jewish believers did...but at the hands of their very own countrymen.

So Paul gives thanks to them. Not just once, but constantly. And he doesn't just thank them, he thanks God for them. To me it's like he's saying..."wow God, these people, these imitators of you, that have have allowed me to witness to ...they love you God! Thank you so much for letting me a be a part of this. See how they witness of who you are God? thanks!" And doing that over and over and over again.

My praise of God should be the same...particularly for how people witness of who God is. :)

What Kind of Leader??

1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 says:

9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11For you know how, like a father with his children, 12we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Love, gentleness, care and concern was the attitude that Paul and his companions had toward the Thessalonian people. They were driven by a desire to please God himself.

When I remember that....these verses make lots of sense to me.
Because God was first and foremost in their brains the rest didn't really matter to them.
I DO know that Scripture says that worker is worth his toil and that those in leadership positions should be cared for. See for instance 1 Corinthians 9:

3This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

8Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?

BUT Paul knowing this, nevertheless, works for his own living. He doesn't allow any reason to be disparaged. He did not want to be a burden to them.

So yes, church leaders should be well-cared for, but if they approach ministry in the same attitude and concern that Paul did, I wonder if it would really matter to them?

I do find this a hard one to think about though, because I know that some churches do not care for their leadership as well as they might....where the demands are high but the financial care is low...and sometimes even the care and respect for the leader himself is very low. THIS SHOULD NOT BE! and congregations who expect too much and pay too little should be disciplined for such attitude.

And yet I also find, because I can see it in my own life, that even when pastors and their families are comfortable...perhaps not well-off, but able to make well-enough do, that it's easy to want people (the congregation) to help a wee bit more or to do things in a manner that appeals to them (the pastor and family) more. This attitude is not correct either.

A proper balance must be found.

We need as pastors to have the concern and desire from God first and the trust that God will provide, and the members of the congregation need to remember that their leader is given to them by God and should treat him in accordance to that.

Paul treated the folks like a father treats his own children, with the kind of concern that leads to better behaviour and thought patterns. He and his companions

exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory

From Dictionary.com I learn give you the meaning of these words:

Exhort:

–verb (used with object)

1.	to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently.

–verb (used without object)

2.	to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings.

Encourage:

–verb (used with object), -aged, -ag·ing.

1.	to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence: His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.

2.	to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.: One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.

3.	to promote, advance, or foster: Poverty often encourages crime.

Charge: (has oodles of meanings, I chose the most relevant) :)

7.	to impute; ascribe the responsibility for: He charged the accident to his own carelessness.

8.	to instruct authoritatively, as a judge does a jury.

9.	to lay a command or injunction upon: He charged his secretary with the management of his correspondence.

32.a duty or responsibility laid upon or entrusted to one.
36.a command or injunction; exhortation.

Paul's strongest desire for these folks was that they walk in a manner worthy of God. That's the calling of a pastor, of the leaders in a church....how can they help their "followers" to walk in a manner worthy of God? How can we hold them to a higher standard?

Oh that I be held to this higher standard as well. :)

Gentleness, not glory seeking

Remembering that Paul and his companions came in the boldness that they had in God, we continue to discover their attitude as they served to Thessalonican church. Read these verses from 1 Thessalonians 2.

5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed— God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

Gentleness and Love, that is what hollers out to me from this passage.

These men did not come with flattery or pretext for greed or glory from man.
They came, like a momma comes to her baby, gently wanting to care for these people. They wanted so much to share God with these people that they shared their own selves as well. The Thessalonican people became most dear to them.

That paints such a picture in my head now that I'm a momma. Because I know how I was with my boyo Justin when he was just a wee lad (well....except when he BIT ME!) That gentleness and care that just seeped out of me toward that wee lad even when I was ever so tired and so forth. I just loved and cared for that wee boyo the best I could.

I remember those feelings, and that's what arises within me when I read how much these men cared for the Thessalonican people. They loved them. They sacrificed themselves for these people. And they came because it was, as we learned yesterday, a way to please God.

Funny how pleasing God can bring out the love in a person. :)

What other reasons could they had for coming?
1. greed....to build up their financial profile
2. flattery.... to be built up with praise
3. Glory seeking .... to make themselves look good

But these reasons are not why they came. They didn't need these things.
All they needed was to be approved of by God. (see Beckham)
All their needs were met in God already.
All they needed to do then was to focus on the Thessalonicans.

Oh my..... what a good reminder for me this day.
So often I want to make myself look good. I get something done and I say look... see what I did.
I aught not do that. I should just quietly go about fulfilling my master's duty and let the rest be. I should like I was with wee Justin....just quietly going about caring for him and that's it.

Good life lesson I think...

God sees the heart

Looking this morning at the first four verses in 1 Thessalonians 2

1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

I'm feeling a bit distracted as I approach the word of God this morning. I've had a busy little boy up with me and I got up a bit late this morning so between walking Sassy, caring for the bunnies and having a busy boy up I haven't had a chance to do my devotions before now. So....we'll see how this goes. :) Hopefully having the tube on will help a busy boy leave his mommy alone for 20 minutes or so (don't think I'll have much longer than that).

Hmmm....I read these first words of Paul in this section and I just have to smile..... His coming was not in vain. I don't know about you....but when I go some place with for a reason...not just going to visit or stopping by for whatever...but for an actual reason, and I get there and my reason for being there is not utilized...I end up feeling frustrated and out of place, kinda like I went there in vain. So Paul's presence in Thessalonica was not in vain. The people there knew it and so did Paul. His ministry was of purpose.

So....despite the ill treatment he had received earlier, he was able to be bold in his presentation of the gospel. BUT did you see it..I almost missed it...his boldness was not in the fact that he had a purpose, but his boldness was IN OUR GOD! Not in himself, not in those he was preaching/ministering too, but in our God.

That boldness in God was why Paul and his companions were able to declare the gospel of God to them....even in the midst of conflict.

Hmmm....Makes me think of how often I fail to remember God. IF I remember that God is God and chose me to be his own, and that he sent his son to die for me...than my concerns with this world aren't so great. It gives me more surety in being able to stand for Christ despite my own fears about things. Remembering God gives me boldness in him.

So why does Paul appeal to the them? To please God. For that reason alone.

so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

Not to make themselves look good. Not because they want to deceive anyone. Not because they want to promote error. Not because of anything else. They have been approved of by God. They have been entrusted with the gospel. So therefore they speak to please God. God who is the one who sees the heart of a person ever so clearly.

If I remember God, and therefore have the boldness in God alive in me, then why I speak out the gospel of Christ must be done to please God.

Not to make myself look like a good evangelist example in Church....
Not to make points with my neighbours or my hubbie or......
Not to avoid feel shame because of all those other people out there who are such good witnesses and evangelists for God and somehow what I do isn't good enough ....

BUT merely and only to PLEASE GOD. He is the one who truly sees my heart.
Everything else is just window trappings, and therefore isn't important.

God sees my heart. So therefore in his boldness I can speak out the gospel that I know to those around me. I like that. :)