Day 10: The Gospel

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Meto preach the gospel to the poor: He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year  of the LORD.”

Gospel [gos-puh l] noun

Definitions:

1. the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation,
2. the story of Christ’s life and teachings, especially as contained in the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
3. something regarded as true and implicitly believed,
4. glad tidings, especially concerning salvation and the kingdom of God as announced to the world by Christ.

16 For 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.
 17 Then 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.
 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Always is a very sketchy word in today’s culture. Very few things in this life rank the term always. “I will always love you … I will always be there for you … I will always be your friend.”  I have heard and believed these phrases only to be disappointed on several occasions. The promise is only as dependable as the one who utters it.

God promises there will come a day when we will be always with the Lord. Faith will become sight, no more death, no more sin, no more sorrow, and no more shame. The separation will be over and we shall forever be always with the Lord. The promise is only as dependable as the One who utters it.

To find our more about Always With the Lord, please click on the link below.

1 Thessalonians, Part 17: Always With the Lord

9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,  10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:10

Picture perfect … practice makes perfect. These well-known idioms are part of American culture.  People long for perfection. Perfectionism is a cruel task master, especially when one is … well, …imperfect.  Despite our flawed condition, we continue to seek perfection. We work, strive, and labor for perfect test scores, perfect teeth, perfect children, the perfect job, the perfect wedding, the perfect vacations,  the perfect house, the perfect outfit, etc.  We try everything except the one thing that will help achieve our goal–prayer. Prayer, however,  helps us not to be perfect, but to be perfected. Biblical perfection is very different from the human idea of perfection.

What does perfection have to do with a life of faith? The Bible does have a good deal to say about perfection,

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

Whew! That sounds like a perfect impossibility until we read,

“I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:23

and,

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Colossians 1:28

God’s plan in for man to be perfected, but Biblical perfection will not be achieved apart from Christ. To learn how to be perfected, please click on the link below.

A Life of Faith, Part 13: Pray and Perfect

“Maybe I should … maybe I shouldn’t. I think I will, but then again, maybe I won’t. Nope. Yep. Final decision. I most definitely probably won’t.”

Have you ever had a conversation like the above with a friend, co-worker, family member …  yourself? Have you ever had trouble making a firm decision; swinging back and forth from choice “A” to choice “B” like the pendulum of a clock? Tick-tock, tick-tock, yes-no, maybe so.

I must admit I have had trouble trying to stand firm concerning decisions. Most of my wobbliness could be traced back to one deadly sin: people pleasing. In the not so distant past, my “stand firm” decisions were quickly toppled by one opinion contrary to my own. I was as firm as Jello at a July picnic.

My lack of ability to stand firm has cost me plenty (stress, wasted time, consequences, REGRET). After much prayer, soul searching and the storing-up of God’s Word in my heart, I am learning to stand firm, but not on my own two feet. I now stand firm upon the Rock.

To learn what it means to stand firm, and continue our study in 1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith, please  click on the link below.

1 Thessalonians Part 12: Stand Firm

I am old enough to remember the thrill of receiving a letter in the mail. I had several pen-pals (“virtual friends” of a bygone era) when I was growing up. I invested heavily in stationary, sealing wax and stamps.

Waiting for the mailman to hand-deliver the mail was an event that marked each day like the ringing of town church bells. I anxiously awaited each delivery, looking for handwritten messages from my frien

ds. God has also given us a message, a handwritten love letter delivered down through the ages from papyrus to paper. When we read and receive God’s missives, He expects us to sound forth His truths to those around us and to the coming generations. The Good News is a message of hope and salvation for every tribe, tongue and nation. Let His Word sound forth.

To do Part 5 of A Life of Faith, please click on the link below.

A Life of Faith Part 5; Sound Forth

1 Thessalonians: A Life of Faith is an interactive Bible study series devoted to deepening your walk with God. Through repeated readings, in-depth analysis of key words and personal study questions you will draw closer to God and be transformed by the truth of His Word. Watch your life of faith will grow as you immerse your heart and mind in scripture. Start your journey today by clicking on 1 Thessalonians: A Life of Faith, Part 1 link below.

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Grace and Peace, Part 1

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Faith, Hope and Love, Part 2

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: The Gospel, Part 3

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: The Name, Part 4

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Sound Forth, Part 5

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: The Blessing of Suffering, Part 6

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Approved by God, Part 7

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: From Cherish to Charge, Part 8

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Walk Worthy, Part 9

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: The Word, Part 10

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1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: God’s Co-Worker, Part 11

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Stand Firm, Part 12

1 Thessalonians, A life of Faith: Pray and Perfect, Part 13

1 Thessalonians, A life of Faith: More and More, Part 14

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Operation Sanctification, Part 15

1 Thessalonians,  Life of Faith: The Quiet Life, Part 16

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Always with the Lord, Part 17

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Times and Seasons, Part 18