Weekend Words

 From Be Still and Know...

"But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

One day a man came to the door asking the woman of the house for some food.  She had little food on hand but told him if he would go to the store for her, she would feed him.  She gave him a five-dollar bill and sent him for some hamburger.  Would he return?  In a short time he was back with the meat and the change.

As he thanked her, he said, "It wasn't your feeding me that touched me most.  It was your confidence in trusting me with the five-dollar bill."

God has entrusted something very special to us, the Gospel.  Have we accepted it as a sacred trust from Him to us?  His trust in us is great, for He has no other plan for reaching people for Himself. 

Paul laid down some qualifications for our lives if we are to fulfill our God-given trust.  First, our desire must be to please God.  "We do not aim to please men, but to please God who knows us through and through" (1 Thessalonians 2:4 Phillips).

The Word of God needs to be our Book of instruction and inspiration.  "The word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe - exercising its (superhuman) power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it" (v.13, Amplified).

Our walk must be worthy of the one Whom we serve.  "To live lives worthy of God" (v.12, Amplified).

We need love and concern for those with whom we serve.  "But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother nursing and cherishing her own children" (v.7, Amplified).

Paul reminded them that his reward (and ours) will be the souls in heaven because we have been faithful to our trust of the Gospel. 

 "For what is our hope or our happiness or our victor's wreath of exultant triumph when we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Are not you?  For you are [indeed] our glory and our joy!" (vv. 19-20, Amplified).

From The Bible Promise Book Devotional...

Help For Loving Others

"But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another." - 1 Thessalonians 4:9 NKJV

Christians don't need instructions from other people on how to love, when God Himself is the very best teacher of love.  He is love itself, after all!

Simply ask God for His help to love others.  Do you have people in your life who are difficult to deal with, yet you know God is calling you to show them kindness and compassion?  You don't have to take the time to read a pile of books on how to treat others well; simply ask God Himself day by day - sometimes moment by moment - to show you how to act and what to do for others, to give you the opportunities and the right words to say to share His love and point others to Him.  Philippians 2:13 (NLT) promises that "God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."

Of Corrie ten Boom's many famous words, one quote stands out at this point.  She prayed, "Dear Jesus ... how foolish of me to have called for human help when You are here."  A hearty "Amen!" to that.

Lord, I'm still trying to figure out how to love everyone like you do.  It's not easy!  Help me to keep trying.  Amen.