In our journey through life, we often find ourselves at a crossroads between two paths: the way of the world and the way of the Kingdom. While the world beckons with its glittering promises of wealth, pleasure, and acclaim, there’s a deeper, more fulfilling path that leads to true joy and eternal satisfaction.
Today, may we ponder the warnings against worldliness found in Luke 6:24-26 and reflect on the profound wisdom these verses offer for our lives. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:24-26)
These words might seem harsh at first glance, but they carry a loving warning from a God who desires the best for His children. While wealth is not inherently evil, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Trust in the Lord, your Provider. He will be your supply always.
1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
How do Christians prepare for the coming of the Lord? Paul gives us five principles to guide us in this matter. Be blessed this week as you await the arrival of the Lord!
9But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. 13But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-18
How do we cope during tough times? These times come upon us and often overwhelm our sense of peace and contentment. Learning to live in these seasons of life is key for the Christian as we can often be the most vivid example of faith in Christ when we are experiencing the tribulations found under the sun.
Be encouraged today with four helps for the Christian found in 1 Thessalonians 4
**Love God and Love Others (9-10)
**Live In An Orderly Fashion by living Productive Lives (11-12)
**Live in light of Jesus’ Return (13-17)
**Comfort others with the Hope of Christ’s Victorious Return
6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:6-11
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day struggled to accept the truth about Jesus. Their inability to see beyond their traditions and preconceptions led them to oppose the very One they should have embraced. Let’s not make the same mistake. Instead, let’s open our hearts to truly know Jesus for who He is by looking at another of Jesus’ attributes from Scripture.
**Jesus is the Miracle Worker
The account of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath beautifully illustrates His miraculous power. With just four words – “Stretch out your hand” – Jesus reversed the natural course of disease and restored what was lost.
This miracle reveals several truths about Jesus:
He can reverse the natural order of things
He can restore what seems irretrievably lost
His actions are motivated by love
These truths apply not just to physical healing but to our spiritual condition as well. When we come to Christ, He reverses the curse of sin, restores our relationship with God, and pours out His love upon us.
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:10-13
How should we treat others? Who should we respond to those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ? Paul’s letters deal with this subject extensively. Here are three practices from 1 Thessalonians 2 that will help us behave towards others well.
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-9
How should we share the good news of salvation. Paul answers this question in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. As Christians, we should share the gospel……………………..
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
What are some marks that should be evident in the life of Christ’s church? Let’s examine a few today. And may God bless His church!
1One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Luke 6:1-5
Who is Jesus? That question is important and needs to be answered by everyone. We will examine a characteristic attributed to Jesus in Luke 6 today.
**Jesus is Divine
Within the span of two chapters in Luke, Jesus makes two extraordinary claims that only God Himself could make: the authority to forgive sins and lordship over the Sabbath. These weren’t vague references but clear declarations of His divinity that the religious leaders understood all too well.
This truth is foundational to our faith: Jesus is fully God and fully man. From His birth to His ascension, He never ceased being God. While His glory was veiled in human flesh during His earthly ministry, His divine nature remained intact. He is, was, and always will be God.
Dear Christian, are you serving the Lord? Are you willing to serve through your local church and your daily life? What often separates service from non-service is a willing heart in the life of the believer. God will use us for His glory if we are willing to serve.
The Word of God reveals several important truths in regards to service for the Christ-follower. Let us examine a few today.
The Bible encourages us to serve. We are commanded to serve the LORD with gladness in Psalm 100:2 and in other passages. Christians are exhorted to serve as Jesus did. (Matthew 20:28)
Believers are equipped to serve as well. Paul tells us that we are all given spiritual gifts that are to be used in service to the church. (1 Corinthians 12:11) Are you seeking to discover and use your gifts to build up the body of Christ?
God enables Christians to serve as He works in and through us. The Scriptures tell us for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) There is a measure of mystery to how God works in our lives. We will not comprehend all that God is doing at times. But, we can rest assured that He will enable us to serve in our local context.
We are encouraged to serve. God has equipped us to serve. And the Lord has enabled us to serve. May we commit to serving Christ the rest of lives!
9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright–words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments,For this is man’s all.14 For God will bring every work into judgment,Including every secret thing,Whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
What should we do based on Solomon’s teachings? After all, he searched high and low and far and wide for meaning and purpose in life. What did he finally learn about these matters and what is his final wisdom for us?
The entirety of this book is distilled in three simple and powerful life lessons. Here they are.
**Fear God! Have a healthy respect for the power, person, and preeminence of God at all times. He is God, we are not.
Fearing God in this manner requires a relationship with Christ. He gave His life to for us so that we may be forgiven, restored, and reconciled to God. We show our respect and fear for God by believing His Word and trusting Him for salvation.
**Keep his commands! Solomon declares obedience to God as the “whole duty of man.” We are called to be surrendered to God day by day. Our obedience springs from our salvation. After all He has done for us, we can seek to obey Him.
**Finally, live with a realization that we will stand before God in judgment. Our lives are not our own. Every person who has ever lived will not escape His judgment. Whether good or evil, all acts that take place will be judged by God. We are all accountable to Him.
The book ends with these three lessons. As we conclude, may we take a moment to give thanks for Jesus. Without Christ, we are hopeless, our lives have no lasting value, and life and death are meaningless. But through Christ, we have hope for the future. We have hope for heaven. And we have meaning and purpose that lasts. “To God be the glory, great things he has done.” (1 Samuel 12:24)
mrtonyfrench 