1 Thessalonians 1 - 5.8.23

Scripture

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT

“And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.”

Observation

This is a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. In it, they are encouraging the Thessalonians to continue to progress in their faith. Paul, Silas, and Timothy are so proud of them because despite the church’s persecution and suffering, they are still flourishing. Their strong commitment to Jesus, and their obedience to the Holy Spirit is a great example to all the believers in Greece (verse 7), and is evident with the way they live their lives (verse 8).

Application

We as Christians are all called to evangelize.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”-Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭

The church in Thessalonica were being commended by Paul because they were doing a great job with not only sharing the Good News about Jesus, but also showing them the love of Jesus by the way they lived their lives and interacted with others around them. As a result many others around them were able to hear the Good News, turn their lives to Jesus, and repent from their sinful ways. Now that my friends, is evangelism 101.

Am I living my life in a way that people are able to hear and see God’s love through me? Am I doing my part to influence my community with the Good News? 🤔

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Prayer

Father God, may You use me to be a light in my workplace, my community, and my family. May the words that come out of my mouth and my actions be honoring to You. May they point others to Jesus. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi

Colossians 4 - 5.5.23

Scripture

Colossians 4:17

Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” 

Observation

Paul is writing his final remarks in his letter to the Christians in Colossae. And right before the last line, he singles out Archippus, challenging him to make sure he completes the ministry he received from God.

That encouragement, phrased strongly almost as a command, is a reminder to me that completing things isn’t automatic. As a matter of fact, there are many people in scripture who started well but finished poorly. And I don’t want to be one of them.

Application

See to it that I complete the ministry I’ve received.

I know I can’t do anything on my own, but only through Christ in me. So for me to “see to it” means that I connect to Jesus, the “True Vine,” to continually supply the strength, grace, vision, passion, and everything else I need to finish well.

Prayer

God, thank you so much for giving me a ministry to begin with. You’ve given me a ministry to my wife, to love her and help her to experience all you have in store for her. You’ve given me a ministry to my kids, to disciple them and raise them to know and love and serve you. You’ve given me a ministry to your church, to love and serve and pastor them. Thank you for entrusting me with so much. I really want to be faithful. I really want to finish strong and complete all the ministry you have in mind for me. So I look to you today. Fill me and empower me and help me to complete the ministry I’ve received, whatever that looks like. All my hope and trust in in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

-Levi Thompson

Colossians 3 - 05.04.23

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

“Since you have been raised to New LIFE with Christ, set your sights on the Realities of HEAVEN, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”

OBSERVATION:

I am so moved by this verse for many reasons. First, God is speaking to me about the importance of the ‘one’. How many times Jesus gave us examples in His parables and talks—He will leave the 99 to go after the ‘1’.

Colossae was a church that should never have been mentioned in the New Testament. Paul never visited this city—nor did any other Apostle. A man that no one has probably ever heard of-or ever thought about—the ‘1’ —a man named Epaphras visited in Ephesus where Paul ministered. Here, two men were brought to faith-Epaphras and Philemon. Epaphras was from Colossae and became the key founder of the church there—for he shared the Gospel with his friends there (1:7). Epaphras also shared ministry in the neighboring cities of Heirapolis and Laodicea.

God used a “willing” layman to build ministry in three cities.

APPLICATION:

The ‘1’

God cares so deeply for the One. To Who and How am I ministering? I pray I will have God’s filter on and not my own. That as I go about my days I will be “heavenly focused” and eyes for God’s ‘1’--who may seem ‘unlikely’-- as Pastor Levi shared in his Powerful teaching several weeks back—

For this VERY “1” that God sees—their tender heart—has within them the possibility to change lives as they carry the Gospel message [they themselves have received] as partners in our work.

“So it happened, when they had come, Samuel looked at Eliab [the eldest son] and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:6-7 NLT)

God is in the business of redeeming and restoring the unlikely—that the Glory may belong to Him Alone. (Luke 19:1 Story of Zacchaeus)

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus,

Your heart is so tender for those that are humble and truly seeking You. You Know ALL things. You Spoke the world into creation. Everything is in complete submission to Your Will. May I hear and be in Complete Obedience to Your Will. As I get older I am more aware of time getting shorter—and although none of us know our hour—I pray I will set my eyes towards heaven—that I will have Your lens—that eternal Life with You will FILL my thoughts and I will not get bogged down by daily annoyances that seek to distract me. Your faithfulness has proven itself over and over and over in my life. My Confidence is IN You. I pray for More workers to GO into your ripe harvest field. In Jesus Name. amen.

Tina L Kudelka

“So God has given both HIS promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This HOPE [Jesus] is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us right through the inner curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” (Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT)