1 THESSALONIANS 2:1

“For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain,”

Don’t you hate to waste time? I like to be productive. I want my time to count. So, when I do spend time on something that ends up not being used or devalued, I feel I have wasted the time and energy I spent on it.

Paul is telling the Thessalonians that they knew they came for a reason. It wasn’t a waste of time. Every moment they spent with them had purpose. Can you say that? Do your hours count? Where are you spending your time?

APPLICATION

I am not implying that leisure time is sinful. By no means! But we need to teach our children that how we spend our time is important. We can’t get those moments back. If we spend hours and hours playing video games, we can’t do anything productive. If we spend hours and hours watching tv (something I am guilty of) we can’t spend those hours in God’s Word.

Why not help your children plan their time? Show them it is important to you by turning off the tv and getting outside and playing ball with them. The years you have with your children are fleeting. Before you know it, they will be gone. Don’t live to regret those wasted moments.

Twenty-four hours a day. One hundred and sixty-eight hours a week. Eight thousand seven hundred and sixty hours a year. How will you spend them? How much time will God get today, this week, this year? Don’t let those hours be in vain.

God of all time, my time is Your time. I give You my day to do with as You see fit. Help me use every minute to glorify You.

1 THESSALONIANS 1:10

“and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

Most of the time when someone is waiting for a rescuer they are still in the midst of trouble. For example, if you are surrounded by flood waters, you are probably waiting for a boat to come. If you are in the midst of a burning building, you are looking for that fireman to appear to get you out. But with Jesus, our Rescuer, He has already rescued us. If we know Him personally as our Lord and Savior, our rescue has already occurred. He is coming back, but we have ALREADY been rescued.

I pray you know that peace. I pray you know Him as your rescuer. If you don’t, turn to Him today. Acknowledge your helplessness to rescue yourself and ask Him to rescue you. He is ready. He is able. No matter what you have gone through, He is able to rescue you.

APPLICATION

Children love a good hero story. Most of their super-heroes have a reputation as rescuers. They come in at the last second and sweep helpless victims to safety. So, the idea of Jesus being our rescuer should resonate. Ask them what super powers they think Jesus has. Now, their answers may get comical, but hear them out. Then you can correct them.

You see, your children need to know that Jesus doesn’t need super powers because He IS super power. He possesses all the power of the universe in one little finger. He speaks and things are done. He is not just fast like Flash or Superman. He is everywhere at once. Wow! That is the one who is their rescuer. 

Do you know Him? Have you experienced His super powers in your life? Do you know the peace that comes from resting in His arms? Oh, listen to me. Let Him take you in His arms to a safe place. Let Him console you. Let Him love you.

Rescuer of my soul, I thank You for delivering me from the wrath to come. I  have no fear of what lies ahead because I know WHO is before me.

1 THESSALONIANS 1:9

“For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,” 

Do you ever get turned around on a trip? I remember years ago a co-worker and I were driving back from North Carolina to Florida. We stopped for lunch and got back on the highway headed home (we thought). After about an hour we both saw some construction on the highway that we both thought we had seen before, but it had been on the OTHER side of the highway.  Sure enough, we had made a wrong turn and had traveled over an hour in the WRONG direction.

The Thessalonians had made the RIGHT turn. They had turned from the false gods, from idols, and had turned to serve “a living and true God.” They were finally traveling in the right direction. They were done wasting their time and energy worshipping idols that were lifeless. 

APPLICATION

The next time you go on a road trip with your children, get them to help you plan the trip. I don’t mean punching in the coordinates on the GPS. I mean get a road map and plot your course. Find your current location and your destination. Then help them determine your route. 

Make sure they know that the length of your trip depends on the route they pick. Some routes are better than others, and some are just wrong. For instance, they don’t want to head south if they need to drive north. Now, explain the same is true in their relationship with Christ. We must travel WITH Him. We have to let Him direct our course.

I pray you are on the right road. I pray you are serving “a living and true God.” I pray you have dropped all your idols in the trash pile and determined to follow Jesus. Only He can take you home.

Master and Lord, I trust You to get me to Your home. I ask you to forgive my stubbornness in trying to get there on my own. I will submit to Your leadership and guidance today.

1 THESSALONIANS 1:8

“For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.”

I do not mean to imply that we are to actually roar for Jesus. Let me explain. The words “sounded forth” are one Greek word which is actually only used here in this verse in the New Testament. It means to make a loud, clear sound. It comes from the word which can mean to roar. So, Paul is telling the Thessalonians that the world is hearing their testimonies clearly.

Some people think it is the Pastor’s duty to preach. Well, that is part of his job. But every believer should be telling the story. We should all be sounding forth the message clearly. The Pastor should be the backup, not the first string. We should be telling our world about Jesus.

APPLICATION

Boy, it seems Paul is telling us a lot about sharing. So, we must teach our children that. I’ve got to say it again, though. We, as the parents, must be setting the example. Show your children, by your actions, what is involved in “sounding forth for Jesus.” 

One of the best ways to “sound forth” is to tell someone what He has done for you. Through that you can share the gospel. Through telling your story you can share the Word. You don’t have to preach, just sound forth.

I want to encourage you to find someone to roar to about Jesus. Be the mouthpiece God uses to deliver the message of salvation. You never know how they may respond. They may turn you away, but they may just yield to the drawing of God spoken through you. 

Father, let me sound forth. Help me roar today. I want the world to know I love You.

DIECAST

1 THESSALONIANS 1:7

“so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”

When I was a boy I collected and played with Matchbox cars.  I loved those things. I literally played for hours with my cars, trucks and construction vehicles. I was careful when I bought them to not buy a duplicate. But there were thousands produced of each one I bought. They were diecast from molds based on an original prototype.  

The word here for “example” is typos, which means example, model or diecast. Get the picture. Paul is telling the Thessalonians that they are the diecast model of the prototype from which they have been cast. They are replicas of Jesus.  Wow! That still applies today.

APPLICATION

The next time you buy your child a toy that is a replica of something, explain this verse to them. Explain how, as followers of Christ, we are to be the example for others to follow. Sometimes the only Jesus they will see is us. So, we need to make sure all they see is Jesus in us.

How can your child do that? By talking like Jesus. By acting like Jesus. By loving like Jesus. Simply by being the best look alike of Jesus they can be. Our prayer should be that all anyone sees when they see us is Jesus. When they see us, they should want to be closer to Him.

Take a look in the mirror today. The person you see in the reflection is going to be your biggest obstacle of looking like Jesus. Our flesh gets in the way. Our desires get in the way. Our wrong motives get in the way. Put that all aside and simply be Jesus today.

Lord God, stamp Your image on me today so that other only see You. I want others to be drawn to You through me. Let nothing of me get in the way of them discovering You.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,” 

I can still remember when my son was little (around 2 or 3).  He would follow me around outside and literally try to do everything I did. If I was working on the car he would get his little step stool and climb up next to me.  If I was in the garden, he would have his little bucket and help me pick the vegetables.  He would imitate me in just about every way.  

The most flattering, however, was watching him imitate my preaching.  Even before he could talk well, he would come home after I had preached at the Children’s Home Chapel and grab his little step stool, get up on it with his little Gideon New Testament, raise it up in his tiny, little hand and say, “Ooo Ah, Ooo, Ah, Ooo Ah!”  I never knew I sounded like that.  Lol

APPLICATION

We don’t necessarily want our children to imitate everything we do, however.  Am I right?  We mess up sometimes.  But because they are watching, we need to make sure when we do mess up, we make it right quick.  Our ultimate goal is to teach them to imitate, not us, but Christ in us.  Paul said that in this verse.  He said “imitators of us and of the Lord.”  Paul knew that he was not worthy of imitation, but the Lord certainly was.

So, what of the Lord in you do you want your children to imitate?  “Oh Carl, I can’t think of anything.”  Well, that’s a problem.  Your children are going to imitate or model their life on someone.  You need to do all you can to point them to the only prototype worthy of imitation – Jesus Christ.  If they can’t see Him in you, you must correct that.

Do you love others selflessly?  Do you put others before yourself?  Do you give to others without expectation of repayment?  Do you…you fill in the blank.  As long as we have children in our home, we are to be mindful of the lessons we are teaching.  We teach because we want them to learn.  So, teach Christ.  Teach them to model their lives in His image.

Father of all, reshape me into the very image of Christ so others will only see Him in me.  Let the first thing they see in me be Christ.  Let the last thing they see in me be Christ.  

VERSE OF THE DAY: 1 Thessalonians 1:5

“for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake”

Notice these words spoken by Paul. Sharing the gospel isn’t just about what you share. It has to do a lot with how you share it. Paul shared it “in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” You see, by doing this he proved who he was in Christ.

Sharing the gospel with power is important. This doesn’t mean yelling and screaming. It means with confidence, with determination. You can’t share the most powerful story ever told with meekness. And that power comes only through the Holy Spirit. Your power won’t cut it. You have to believe in its truth.

APPLICATION

How do you teach your children to share the gospel? By letting them see you do it, that’s how. You may say, “But Carl, I’m no preacher.” Didn’t say you were. But we must all tell the story. If you believe it’s true you have to. It’s our obligation to share. And your kids will watch you and learn.

Help your kids start small. Help them talk to their friends about Jesus. Teach them to tell the stories to their believing friends. They will receive it. Then they will have the confidence to share it with their lost friends. Oh, the joy of seeing others come to Christ.

With whom have you shared lately? Who are you “preaching” to? Tell it with power. Tell it in the Spirit. Tell it with conviction. Then leave the results to our Father who does the drawing.  

Lord, today allow me to share this great story with someone who needs to hear it. Lead me to those lost souls who need the gospel. I will celebrate with the angels at the result.

VERSE OF THE DAY: 1 Thessalonians 1:4

“knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;”

Now, before you stop reading – I am not going to get into a discussion about predestination or “the elect.” No, I am just going take this verse as it is written. God wills that all men be save. Once we are His, we are His beloved. He chose that. He chose us. He desires us all. Isn’t that the best thing you have ever heard?

Paul knew that the Lord had chosen to extend His salvation to the Gentiles, which included these Thessalonians. He wanted to reassure them here at the beginning of this letter that they were His. Are you? Are you beloved by God? Are you one of His chosen? I pray you are. I pray you are.

APPLICATION

Here is the bad news. Your faith is NOT your child’s faith. Your choice to follow Jesus does NOT guarantee they will. However, you must do everything you can to lead them toward Him. He will do the drawing. He will speak to them. Teach them to listen. Talk to them about how you hear Him.

There is no greater joy for a parent than to hear these words from their child, “I asked Jesus into my heart.” That can happen at any age. Be ready for it. Don’t doubt their decision. Just do all you can to help them grow. Do all you can to help them know they are beloved by God and His choice.

Who can you encourage today with these words? You may have a friend who needs to hear these words today. Be the one to tell them. And then invite others to join you in His family. Don’t you want everyone you know to be called beloved?

O Lord, I know I am beloved. I know I am chosen by You. I am blessed to be a part of Your great family.

VERSE OF THE DAY: 1 Thessalonians 1:3

“constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,”

This is a loaded verse. Look at all Paul says to the Thessalonians here. When he says “constantly,” he means without ceasing. In fact, he uses this same word two other times in this letter. My favorite is in chapter 5, verse 17 when he says, “pray without ceasing.” The same word!

But then Paul tells them what he has not stopped doing. He is remembering all they have done. He lists them: work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of hope. And all of this is “in our Lord Jesus Christ” in God’s presence. There is no use doing those things if that’s not the case.

APPLICATION

How do you apply this verse to your own life or the life of your children? It’s the word “constantly.” We must never stop. We must never stop praying. We must never stop seeking God for the lost. We must never stop remembering all He has done for us through others. We simply must never stop.

“Come on, Carl. I can’t physically or spiritually do that.” Of course, you can’t. But Christ can through you. Just let Him have complete control, and He will do the rest. Just as Paul was remembering their faith, love and hope, you can do the same. And let them know you have done that.

Let me ask you this question. Can others say that about you? Can they constantly remember your works of faith, labors of love and steadfastness of hope? If not, ask yourself what it will take to be noticed in this way. It’s not about others seeing you. It’s about standing out for Jesus.

O Heavenly Father, I praise You for saving me. Give me the strength to be bold and courageous as I face my biggest challenges.