Thursday Thought -- December 29, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

God’s messenger does not always have good news to bring.  Sometimes God’s message is a word of warning or even an announcement of judgment.  That’s the word that Jeremiah brought to the people of Judah.  God’s patience with them had run out.  It was time for judgment.

God had instructed them to obey Him.  That was His consistent message from the very beginning of His relationship with the people of Israel.  God told Jeremiah, “From the time I brought your forefathers up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, ‘Obey me.’  But they did not listen or pay attention; instead they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts.” (Jeremiah 11:7-8)

Instead of obedience, the people of Judah chose disobedience.  They continued to worship God in the ceremonies that He had given them, but they also worshiped false gods in clear disobedience to God’s commands.  “You have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 11:13)

Because of their disobedience, God told Jeremiah to announce the coming of judgment.  In response, instead of repenting, the people of Judah turned against the messenger!  They plotted to kill him thinking that if you get rid of the messenger then his message will not come true.

God protected Jeremiah from death, but not from all the pain of the opposition that there was to his message and to him.  God’s messengers must sometimes bring bad news and sometimes bear the hatred and opposition of those who do not want to hear that message!  God’s message is not just about peace and blessing and health and prosperity.  It’s about truth.  And sometimes the truth is hard to hear!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- December 28, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.  Correct me, LORD, but only with justice -- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.” (Jeremiah 10:23-24)

This is Jeremiah’s prayer.  He’s not asking that God make his life happy and prosperous and comfortable.  He’s not asking that God make his dreams come true and fulfill all his desires.  He’s not asking that life would go well for him at all.  Rather, he’s acknowledging that his life is not his own, it belongs to God.  When we really understand life, we know that we are God’s to use as He chooses.

He can choose to put us in positions of great power and great wealth and great influence.  He doesn’t do that for our enjoyment, but to accomplish what He desires to accomplish through us and in us.  Are you allowing God to use you in the way He wants to in the places in which He has put you?

He can choose to put us in positions of little power and little wealth and little influence, too.  He doesn’t do that to make us miserable.  He does it for the same reason as positions that are opposite -- to accomplish what He desires to accomplish through us and in us.  Will you allow God to use you and mold you through places of pain, as well as places of pleasure?

Jeremiah also recognized his own ability to stray from the path the Lord had set for him.  He asked for God’s correction.  That’s a brave and trusting request.  Are you willing to make that request of the Lord?  You can trust God to correct you with gentleness and justice.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- December 27, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.  Who should not revere you, O King of the nations?  This is your due.  Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.” (Jeremiah 10:6-7)

It’s hard for me to understand people that don’t worship and follow the Lord.  It has to be that they just don’t understand Him.  Something or someone has blinded them to the truth about who the Lord is and what He is like.  There is none like Him!

None other can compare to God’s love.  His love is perfect.  He loves us when we are unlovely.  He loves us sacrificially, giving at great cost to Himself.  He loves us just like we are, we don’t have to make ourselves better before He’ll love us.  Yet, He loves us so much that He won’t allow us to stay the way we are.  He wants us to achieve all that is possible for us, promising to conform us to the image of His own Son.

None other can compare to God’s power.  He can heal the sick -- illness has no power over Him.  He can raise the dead -- even an enemy as fierce and feared as death is powerless before Him.  He can overpower nature – in fact, He created nature and it bows to do His bidding.  Name a power and God is more powerful -- beyond compare!

None other can compare to God’s wisdom.  God is so incredibly wise that He can allow man free will and yet move His creation according to His sovereign plan.  Every scheme that Satan devises against Him and His will has already been thwarted before it is even considered by the enemy.  God is never surprised by what happens and never wonders what to do next.

Perfect love -- perfect power -- perfect wisdom -- there is none like Him!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- December 23, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

Both Mary and Joseph received clear words from the Lord about what they were to do.

Gabriel visited Mary with this message, “Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you.”  Mary was at first troubled by Gabriel’s greeting and then Gabriel continued with his message, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”  Still Mary wondered how in the world what the angel said would be accomplished and so the angel continued, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:28-37)

What an assignment God was giving to this young woman.  She was being asked to carry God’s Child.  She was being asked to set aside her reputation, put at risk her relationship with Joseph, and walk into an assignment that no one had ever been given before or would ever be given

again.  How would she respond?

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, “May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

She willingly and fully submitted to God’s plan and God’s will.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, too.  The angel’s message to Joseph confirmed the story that Mary had told him about what Gabriel had said to her.  And how would Joseph respond?

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.” (Matthew 1:24)

He willingly and fully submitted to God’s plan and God’s will.

It’s Christmas and we are celebrating God’s great Gift to the world in sending Jesus.  So, let’s respond in the same way Joseph and Mary did to the first Christmas.  Let’s willingly and fully submit to God’s plan and God’s will.

Have a Merry Christmas,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- December 22, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh -- Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and all who live in the desert in distant places.  For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.’” (Jeremiah 9:25-26)

The Jews rarely had a problem with doing the outward things that God commanded them to do.  They circumcised their young boys.  They made the required sacrifices at the Temple.  They attended the holy feasts.  They refrained from work on the Sabbath.  They followed the Law in its exacting details.  They were proud of being God’s special people and were willing to do the things that marked them as such.

Their frequent problem, however, was that they just went through the outward motions.  Frequently, their hearts were not right with God.  They weren’t in a love relationship with God, they just did what He said because it made them special.  What they did was often about them, and not about God!

Jeremiah compared that attitude -- which he called being uncircumcised in heart -- with the heathen nations that didn’t know God at all and didn’t even try to follow Him.  God’s punishment would come upon all of them.

The heathen nations were not irreligious, they just didn’t know the Lord God.  From them we learn that God does not honor religion -- He honors only a relationship with Him.

Israel knew God, they just didn’t love Him.  From them we learn that God isn’t interested in outward religious form, not even outward religious form that is connected to Him!  God is interested in the heart.  He is pleased, not with those who go through the motions, but with those who love Him!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- December 21, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

Jeremiah receives a prophecy from the Lord condemning the people of Judah for their wicked conduct.  It’s a long prophecy, consuming several chapters.  The Lord was angry with His people.  They were ignoring Him, turning to other gods, and disregarding His commands and directions for them.  All the while they went about their business thinking nothing was wrong, content that they were “right” with God because they were of the right ancestry!

In the midst of the condemnation the Lord speaks through Jeremiah there is a verse that stands out to me as so applicable to our own culture.

God says, “Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?  No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.” (Jeremiah 8:12)

They do not even know how to blush!  How true that is of the majority in our world.  People talk openly about things that past generations would not even have whispered about.  We watch on TV and in the movies, things that would have embarrassed past generations and yet they are commonplace in our day.

Has sin become so commonplace and so accepted in your own life that you have forgotten how to blush?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- December 20, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

There are two striking contrasts between two passages in Jeremiah, the first from Jeremiah 5 and the second from Jeremiah 6.

“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land:  The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way.  But what will you do in the end?” (Jeremiah 5:20-31)

“I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’  But you said, ‘We will not listen.’” (Jeremiah 6:17)

The first contrast is in the quality of the message provided “from God” to the people.  One group consists of prophets who lie and priests who lead from their own will.  The other group consists of watchmen the Lord has provided who speak His message of warning.

The second contrast is in the response of the people.  To the first group, they respond with approval.  To the second group, they respond with rejection.

There are always people willing to spout what people want to hear and claim that it is from God.  They do so for their own gain.  They like the popularity and fortune they reap from such preaching.  And there are also always God’s spokesmen.  These are the preachers willing to say what is right, no matter what the cost to them.

And there have always been people who respond to the wrong message.  In fact, usually it’s the majority that responds to the wrong message, the one that really is not from God.

The real question is:  to which kind of preachers are you willing to listen!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- December 19, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“This is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem:  ‘Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.  Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done -- burn with no one to quench it.’” (Jeremiah 4:3-4)

The people of Judah had unplowed ground in their lives.  Those are the places in which a person has hardened himself to what the Lord wants to do in that area of his life.  He’s unwilling to allow the Lord to work because it’s painful, or perhaps because he knows it would mean giving up something in which he finds pleasure.

Many people have unplowed ground in their lives.  Probably you and I do now.  It may be an area of sin that we are harboring, unwilling to acknowledge it to the Lord because that would mean we would have to change.  It might be some area of service the Lord is calling us to that we are steadfastly refusing to consider.  It might be a person God is asking us to talk to about Him and we are unwilling because of fear, pride, or any other reason.

Unplowed ground can’t produce fruit.  Seed can’t even be planted in it.  The soil can’t be penetrated without a plow.  And the plow remains under our control.  God won’t plow the hard places for us.  And God won’t force us to plow them, either.  If they are going to be opened to the Lord’s work, it will require our cooperation.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- December 16, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will not be angry forever.’” (Jeremiah 3:12)

“‘Return, faithless people,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I am your husband.  I will choose you.’” (Jeremiah 3:14)

“Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.” (Jeremiah 3:22)

If the history of Israel teaches us anything it teaches us that God will always take His people back.  Israel was faithless time and again, sometimes for short periods and sometimes for very long periods.  Each time they turned back to the Lord He was waiting to receive them.

God is the merciful forgiver.  There is no sin of which we can repent that God will not forgive.  There is no time of wandering from which we wish to return that God will not accept us back.  He longs to forgive, longs to show His mercy.  He waits only for us to turn back.

God is the faithful husband, waiting for His unfaithful wife to come back to Him.  His love never grows cold.  His hope never plays out.

God is the eternal healer.  There is no case of backsliding that He cannot cure, if we but take a small step back toward Him.  He can light a fire in the coldest heart.  He can cure the deepest backsliding.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- December 15, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“My people have committed two sins:  They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)

People seek satisfaction from a thousand different places.  They give themselves fully to something hoping that it will fill up the empty places in their lives.  But after the newness of the endeavor wears thin they recognize that the emptiness is still there.

God compares all of those other things that people give themselves to “broken cisterns.”  They look good in the beginning, but there are small, sometimes unseen, cracks through which the water seeps leaving the cisterns empty.  All of those other things are man-made and all of them are ultimately worthless.

Money and sex and drugs and fame and possessions and the thousand other man-made cisterns leave people empty.  There is only one water source that truly holds water.  The Lord Himself is the spring of living water.  He, alone, brings satisfaction and fulfillment.  He is the spring of living water that never runs dry, that constantly and eternally fills even the deepest thirsts and the deepest empty places of our lives.

Why in the world do we glance longingly at those other cisterns?

Look instead to Jesus.  He is the well of Living Water that will truly and eternally satisfy!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- December 14, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“‘Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.  They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 1:18-19)

God was telling Jeremiah that everyone would be against him.  The government would be against him – the kings and officials.  The religious leaders would be against him.  Even the general people of the land would be against him.  Jeremiah was being called by God to stand alone.

That’s a tough assignment.  It’s an assignment that I wouldn’t choose if it was up to me to choose.  I’m sure it’s an assignment that Jeremiah wouldn’t have chosen either.  But that assignment was God’s choice for Jeremiah.  He needed someone for the task – and Jeremiah’s heart was right and God chose him.  And Jeremiah was faithful to the assignment God gave to him.  When everyone else turned against him, Jeremiah still stood strong for the Lord.

And here’s why Jeremiah was able to do that – he wasn’t really alone!  “They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you.”  That was God’s promise.  And God was faithful to that promise.  He allowed everyone else to abandon Him and to abandon Jeremiah.  He allowed Jeremiah to be abused and mistreated.  But He did not leave Jeremiah alone … and He would not allow Jeremiah to be destroyed.

No matter how many people turned against Jeremiah.  No matter how hard the task he was assigned grew to be.  God never abandoned Jeremiah and God saw him through to the end.

That was God’s promise to Jeremiah.  And that is God’s promise to us.  He may ask us to do an assignment that seems impossibly hard – but He will never leave us alone and He will never allow us to be destroyed.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- December 13, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’  ‘Ah, Sovereign LORD,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.’  But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a child.”  You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:4-8)

All of us can find reasons to say “no” to what God is calling us to do.  For Jeremiah, it was his youthfulness.  There were so many people around him who were more mature, who seemed better fitted for what God wanted done.  Why would anyone listen to one so young?

But those things did not matter to God.  He had chosen Jeremiah, and He knew what He was doing.  God knew why He had chosen such a young man.  God knew the assignment was not a short one, it would require many years of faithful and difficult service.  God chose the man He needed!

The foundational encouragement that God provided Jeremiah was that if He had chosen Him, He would be with Him and empower Him.  That same encouragement is ours, too.  If God is asking you to respond to His call, you can be sure that He will not desert you as you move in obedience.  He will walk with you through whatever He calls you to do.  He will provide everything you need to accomplish His will.

When God calls, none of our excuses matter.  Trust Him, and walk the steps He lays before you.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- December 12, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.  If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him.  Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.  Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.  Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with all of you.  I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters.  This is how I write.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13-18)

The Christians in Paul’s day faced a temptation that is the same as one we face today.  There was, and is, a temptation to get tired of doing what is right and give up.  Paul urged the Galatians to avoid the same temptation:  “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

That temptation is strong because doing what is right doesn’t come naturally, it takes discipline and effort.  The natural thing to do is to give in to our flesh, not to follow God.

That temptation is strong because it often seems like we’re not making any progress.  All of us continue to struggle with sin and sometimes it seems like we’re no more righteous now than we were years ago.  Why struggle, why make the effort, if it isn’t doing anything for us.

That temptation is strong because doing good attracts the displeasure of the world around us.  In our day, as in Paul’s, there is clear opposition to the righteousness of the Lord -- the temptation is strong to stop fighting it and go with the crowd.

Then, as now, Christians need an encouraging word occasionally, a reminder of why we’re in this struggle against sin – it’s because God loves us and God has done so much for us.  He’s worth it!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- December 9, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.  We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it.  On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule:  ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’” (2 Thessalonians 3:6-10)

“Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”  That’s not a biblical statement, but it is a biblical idea.  When your mother taught you that philosophy she was on the right track.  Idleness just leads to trouble.  And it’s not just your own idleness that leads to trouble, when you surround yourself with idle people they are likely to lead you down a path that is not good for you to walk.  Paul isn’t even talking about people of the world, he’s talking about fellow Christians.  It’s idle “brothers” whose company is to be avoided.  Christians who are content to do nothing for themselves or for the Kingdom are living in contradiction to God’s work in their lives.

Paul, and those on his team, provided a positive example to follow.  They did their best to take care of their own needs, not wanting to be a burden to others.  They gave themselves wholeheartedly to the work God had called them to do.  There was nothing lazy about them, they were known for their long and hard work.  They were a model for the Thessalonians to follow -- and a model that we should follow, too.  God has called His children to join Him in the work of His Kingdom.  He has even prepared works for every believer to do (see Ephesians 2:10).

Of course, there is a balance that is appropriate in life.  There is a time to “be still” and a time to be active.  When the pendulum swings toward either extreme we are not listening to or following the voice of God in our hearts.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- December 8, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.  And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.  But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.  We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.  May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5)

As is true with most of his letters, Paul included in the early part of this letter an indication that he was praying for the Thessalonians. (2 Thess. 1:11-12)  In fact, Paul said that he was constantly praying for them.  He considered it an important ministry to pray for those to whom he ministered and for whom he felt responsible.

But prayer is not a one way ministry, with just leaders praying for followers.  In this passage, Paul makes it clear that the prayers of the Thessalonians for him were also important.  Paul believed that the success of his ministry was dependent upon the prayers of people like the Thessalonians.  Paul also believed that the impact of the opposition of unbelievers on his life and ministry would be affected by the prayers of the Thessalonians.  He was counting on their support in prayer.

The New Testament contains several instructions with respect to the response we are to have toward our leaders.  We are to follow them, obey them, support them, respect them, and here Paul adds that we are to pray for them.  What God does through the life and ministry of those who lead you will be partially determined by your prayers.

Why not take time right now to pray for those who have been influential in your spiritual life.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- December 7, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

Today is Becky’s birthday.  Just writing those words is difficult.  Today will be a hard day.  It’s her first birthday since she died.  In just three weeks we’ll observe the first anniversary of her death.

From Thanksgiving through early January there are numerous dates that have special meaning and will raise special memories.  I’ve been thinking about Becky a lot lately and crying more than I’ve done in several months.

I was thinking about how I’m feeling and that took me to a word that was spoken by Simeon when Jesus was first taken to the Temple by His parents and presented there.  Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God with marvelous words:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)

Having lifted his voice in praise to God in recognition of the great good that God was doing through His Son, Simeon then turned to Mary with a somber word for her:

“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2:34-35)

Simeon predicted that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart – and it did.  As she watched her Son from the foot of the cross it was as though her heart was being wrenched and broken.

I understand how Mary felt far better today than I did a year ago.  I know what it feels like to have your heart wrenched and broken.  And I’m reminded that Mary isn’t the only one whose heart was broken at the cross – the Father watched with tears and agony, too.  His grief was so deep that He turned off the lights and shook the earth.

And yet, it was through that which caused the Father the deepest agony that Jesus brought His greatest gift and worked His greatest good.

Sometimes broken hearts and gut-wrenching agony lead to astounding good.  Cling to that when your heart is broken – I know I am!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- December 6, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.  He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.  May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17)

God has done so much for you.  God loves you and has proven His love beyond doubt.  He saved you -- even though there wasn’t much worth saving in you -- you didn’t deserve it.  God caused the Holy Spirit to be at work in your life long before you turned toward Him.  The Holy Spirit was convicting you, softening your heart, drawing you to the Lord until you responded to Him.  God sent someone to you to share the gospel with you.  It was no accident that person came into your life and shared Christ with you, it was the plan and work of God Himself.  God loves you!

So -- stand firm.  It won’t always be easy to be a Christian.  Not everyone will understand you.  Not everyone will appreciate you.  Satan will send powerful temptations, designed to attack your weaknesses.  But stand firm -- because God loves you and has done so much for you.

So -- hold on to His teachings.  Others will ignore and reject them.  Some will reject you because you hold to them.  Sometimes God’s teachings will seem to fly in the face of what you want to do.  There will be forces that will try to pull you away from them.  But hold on -- because God loves you and has done so much for you.

When you need to be encouraged, remember this -- God loves you!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- December 5, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?  And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.  For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” (2 Thessalonians 2:5-8)

You probably understand the passage above perfectly.  You understand who the lawless one is and what it will be like when he is revealed.  You understand who the one who now holds back the power of lawlessness.  You understand what it means that this one will one day be taken out of the way.

Of course you do!  NOT!  No one understands all these things.  It’s a mystery that is not yet clear to us.  But one day it will become clear, as it begins to unfold we’ll understand the fulfillment of what God says here.

And what do we know for sure?  We know for sure that the secret power of lawlessness is being restrained.  God is not allowing Satan to act without restraint.  There will come a day when God will no longer restrain the deceiving work of Satan to bring wickedness into the world.  That’s a frightening thought.  We see the wickedness around us now and wonder how it could be worse.  But there will come a day when it will be worse.

And we know one more thing for sure:  when God allows Satan to work without restraint it will be a very short-term event and will immediately precede the coming of Jesus.  When Jesus comes, Satan’s influence and power to deceive will be destroyed -- in an instant – forever!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- December 2, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.  Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)

There is a downward spiral in our culture that has been going on for a number of years.  We keep looking for, hoping for, and praying for something to happen to turn it around, for revival to sweep America.  That’s a good hope and something worthy of praying about.  We should long for the people of America to wake up and see what they are doing to themselves and to future generations.

The revival we hope for may come, but it is not promised.  In fact, what is promised is that one generation will see the opposite of a turning back to the Lord.  That generation will see a continuing rebellion against God that will lead to the point where the man of lawlessness can come to power and exert his evil influence over the whole world.

It sounds like a horrible time, and it will be.  But take heart, the reign of evil of the man of lawlessness will not last.  It will be but the final precursor to the Second Coming.  God will deal with him and his wickedness.  And even more important -- God will gather those who belong to Him unto Himself.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- December 1, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Paul felt responsibility toward the Thessalonian Christians because he is the one who brought the Gospel to them.  They believed his testimony (2 Thessalonians 1:10).  Paul visited the Thessalonians as his travels took him near their area of the world, but that would have been very infrequent.  Paul wrote them occasionally -- at least twice -- but their postal system made writing an infrequent thing, too.  But though his contacts with them were infrequent, his concern for them was constant and it was demonstrated in his prayers on their behalf.  Paul preached over much of the known world, and almost every time he wrote, he mentioned his habit of praying for those whose lives he had touched with his ministry.  As busy as Paul was, he found time -- he made time -- to regularly and consistently pray for many others.

And the content of his prayers for others represents the best of what God wants to accomplish in us.  Paul’s prayers would be a great model to follow as we pray for others -- and a great model to follow as we pray for ourselves.

He prayed that God would count the Thessalonians worthy of the call they had received from Him.  God has called you, too.  He has called you to a relationship with Him.  He has called you to His service.  He has called you to represent Him in this world.  He longs for you to fulfill His purpose for you in that call.

He prayed that God would demonstrate His power in the Thessalonians by fulfilling every good purpose and every act prompted by faith.  Paul didn’t pray that the Thessalonians would have all of their dreams come true – but all of the “good” dreams and purposes, those dreams that come out of a sincere concern for others and not a selfish ambition for ourselves.  And it’s God’s power that can accomplish those -- we can never accomplish anything worthwhile in our own power.

He prayed that Jesus would be glorified in the lives of the Thessalonians.  There is nothing selfish there, not for Paul and not for the Thessalonians, either.  His desire in his own life and for the lives of all other believers was that God would be glorified in them.

Worthy of the call.  God’s power at work.  God receiving glory.  Now there are some things worth praying for -- and worth seeking in your life and in the lives of others.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- November 30, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“God is just:  He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.  This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.  He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.  This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)

Life is not fair.  Sometimes good people suffer and those who cause the suffering prosper.  But here is God’s promise:  there will come a day when justice will prevail.  It won’t happen because the world finally wakes up and everything becomes fair and just in this life.  It will happen when God intervenes in the world to bring His justice at the Second Coming.

I like the story of the couple returning by ship to New York after a lifetime of missionary service.  As the ship pulls in to the dock they see a crowd waiting to welcome them home and celebrate, but when they disembark they realize the crowd is for someone else, some celebrity and that no one is there to welcome them home.  The man turns to his wife and expresses his disappointment and frustration, it just isn’t fair.  The wife responds simply, “Remember, we’re not home yet.”

You work hard and don’t get the reward you deserve.  You stand up for what is right and holy and you get ridiculed and put down for it.  In some places and some times, you get imprisoned or even killed just for your allegiance to Jesus.  Children get sick and young people die.  Life just isn’t fair.  Remember, it’s not done yet.  It won’t be done until Jesus comes, and then justice will prevail.  Count on it!  If you cling to Jesus even when it hurts and is hard, in the end, it will be evident you were right.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- November 29, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:  Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.  Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” (2 Thessalonians 1:1-4)

Paul began his second letter to the Thessalonians in the same way in which he began his first:  by thanking God for them.  In both cases he looked at the characteristics of the Thessalonian church that deserved special praise and both times he pointed to their faith and their love (in the first letter he also mentions their hope).

They were known as a church of faith.  Not just static faith, either, but faith that kept growing as they matured and walked with the Lord.  Faith is important to God.  In fact, without faith no one can please God at all. (Hebrews 11:6)  And what is true in the lives of individuals is also true for whole churches.  To please God, churches must have faith.  Faith that trusts God even in the midst of trials.  Faith that is willing to step forward even when the way is not clearly laid out, trusting that when God has revealed one step He will continue to reveal each additional step as it is needed.

They were known as a church that loved each other.  Again, it wasn’t love that stayed at the same level.  It was love that kept increasing as they got to know God better and got to know each other better.  Love for others is important to God, too.  In fact, it is the very characteristic that Jesus said would be the mark by which His followers would be known. (John 13:35)  Love that is willing to keep loving even when someone isn’t very loveable.  Love that is willing to keep loving even when that love requires great sacrifice.

Faith and love -- I can’t think of any two characteristics that I’d rather have my church known for!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- November 28, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.  Brothers, pray for us.  Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.  I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-28)

The work that is happening in your life is God’s work.  He’s the one who is sanctifying you.  It doesn’t happen all at once, in fact, it won’t be completely finished on this side of heaven.  But God is now at work in everyone who has received Jesus Christ and He will continue to be at work until you draw your last breath.  You can count on that, because God has promised it and He is absolutely faithful.  It isn’t going to be easy work, in fact, it sometimes brings great pain.  Scrubbing the evil influences of sin out of the recesses of your heart is painful.  But God loves you enough to do what needs to be done even though it causes you pain.

Paul closes this letter with a challenge to the Thessalonians to do three things that will assist in the sanctifying work that God is doing in their own heart and in the hearts of those around them.

1.  When we pray for each other we join God’s work.  When we pray for others, God works in our own lives through those prayers.  When we pray for others, we assist God’s work in their lives, too.  Somehow in the divine scheme of things, our prayers release God’s work.

2.  Our fellowship with other believers also assists God’s work in their lives and in ours.  Identified by a holy kiss, it’s more than just a simple act, it’s sharing in the lives of other believers, being a part of their lives and their being a part of ours.

3.  One more way we assist God’s sanctifying work is by reading and encouraging others to read His Word.  It is the word of life, the word of growth, the Word of God Himself.  He’s given it to us so that we can grow through it and so that we can use it in the lives of other believers to help them grow.

And at the very end of it all is grace -- it was at the beginning, too (see 1 Thessalonians 1:1).  Grace is where our relationship with God starts and it’s where it will end, too!

His, by Grace,

Steve