Category Archives: Alone

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JUST WALK

1 THESSALONIANS 4:1 

“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.  

My granddaughter just learned to walk. One week she’s crawling and pulling up to stuff and the next…she’s off to the races. She looked so funny trying to get her balance and take those steps. And she looked so different standing upright, rather than crawling. Her walking changed the way she looked and acted. 

Hmmmm! That might just apply to us. Think about it. How we walk with Christ affects how we appear to others. How balanced we are in our strides can either influence others to follow us or run from us. Our walk does affect others, whether we want to admit it or not. 

APPLICATION 

Do you remember the hours you spent teaching your little Elrod or Gertrude to walk? Holding their little hands as they took their first steps. Following close behind in case they stumbled. Picking them up and drying the tears when they fell. All of those are part of helping them learn to walk. You wouldn’t have dreamed of letting them do it all on their own. 

It’s the same way with their walk in Christ. We have to hold their hand, guard against stumbles and pick them up and dry the tears when they fail. The difference between learning to physically walk and spiritually walk is eternal. Their spiritual walk will determine where they spend eternity.  

How are you doing as a parent in guiding your child’s walk? How is your walk? Paul is imploring us to walk and please God, just as he was encouraging the Thessalonians. Does your walk please God? If not, change course or change strides. Just walk to please Him. 

Walking with You, Lord, is a pleasant thing. Sometimes You take me on paths I don’t want to go, but I trust You. I will surrender to You today and allow You to point out the way. 

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Alone, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Disciplemaking, Evangelism, Family, Fatherhood, Inspirational, Mentoring, Ministry, Modeling, Motherhood, Parenting, Suffering, Witnessing

THAT’S A RELIEF


1 THESSALONIANS 3:7

“for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;” 

Upon hearing the good news from Timothy (yesterday’s verse), Paul was relieved. He had been waiting to hear how the Thessalonians were doing and was overjoyed at the report. Paul had invested time and energy to plant the church and teach them. He did not want all that effort to be in vain.

Have you ever had that same kind of relief? Today we get news almost instantaneous through text, phone calls or social media. Can you imagine having to wait weeks for someone to arrive to give you the news? Messages were hand delivered. We could learn a lot from Paul about. He waited patiently, praying for the Thessalonians and Timothy and Silas. 

APPLICATION

Are your children patient? Probably not. They are used to instant gratification. They can’t imagine waiting. So, the next time they complain about waiting for something, read them this verse and explain that Paul had to wait on Timothy to arrive to get the news. Paul was in the total dark about what was happening in Thessalonica until Timothy arrived with the report.

We are blessed to have access to information so quickly. Take advantage of that. Don’t let someone you love wait on the good news. Call them, text them or send them a private message. However you do it, do it today. Don’t let the excuse you don’t have time get in the way. It takes seconds to send a message. Relieve them with the gospel. It is the ultimate relief.

I bet as I wrote that someone came to mind. Send them a message like this: “I’ve been thinking about you today. We’ve been friends for a while, and I can’t bear the thought of not spending eternity with you. God loves you and wants you to know and love Him. Can we talk today about this?” Who knows what may happen?

Lord God, You are the deliverer of the best news. Your news of salvation certainly gives me comfort. Even in the midst of suffering, the assurance of my salvation gives peace.

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JUST GOT TO KNOW


1 THESSALONIANS 3:5

“For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.” 

Paul was concerned. Notice I didn’t say worried. That wouldn’t be like him. But he was needing to know how the Thessalonians were getting along. The “father” of this new fledgling church needed to check on his “babies” in the faith. He wanted to make sure that the afflictions they were suffering at the hand of the devil were not discouraging them in their walk with Christ.

This is so important. So many times we lead someone to Christ and then leave them on their own. No! The conversion experience is just the beginning. We must come alongside them and mentor them. They need to be discipled to walk worthy. That was Paul’s concern. That’s why he sent Timothy and Silas back to Thessalonica. They needed instruction and support.

APPLICATION

Have you ever had to teach your child to drive? Maybe your children are still too young. But after all the hours in the car beside them, there will come that moment when you hand them the keys and off they go. There has to be a release day. But you do that after hours and hours of teaching and correcting. You know they are ready.

How dumb would it be to just hand them the keys to a brand, new car the day they turn 16? They wouldn’t last long on the road. Why do we think we can pray the sinner’s pray with our children and then do nothing else? They need years of training while they are with you. In fact, we are still learning as parents how to “do this Jesus thing.” 

Will you commit today to be intentional about training your children in Christ? If your children are grown, keep investing in them. Ask they how their walk is. Find someone you can mentor and disciple. We do have that mandate (Matt. 22:36-38).

Lord, open my eyes to those around me who need to be taught. I pray for my children today that they will have a hunger and thirst for Your Word. I pray they will accept any words of encouragement from me.

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I TOLD YOU SO


1 THESSALONIANS 3:4

“For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.” 

Do you know what instantly popped into my head when I read this verse today? I thought of Jesus telling His disciples that He would suffer. In fact, in Matthew He tells them this on three separate occasions. What did they do? In one instance, Peter is rebuked by Jesus for saying this can’t be. In another it says they were deeply grieved. 

It’s still the same today as it was in Paul’s day or Jesus’ day. People don’t want to hear anything about suffering. If you tell anyone that you are willing to die for the gospel, they think you are crazy. If you say the afflictions and sufferings you face will make you more like Christ, they want to get you counseling. But it’s true. 

APPLICATION

As followers of Christ, we should expect afflictions. We should expect persecutions. We should, in fact, welcome the opportunity to suffer for Jesus. It is called a gift in Scripture. Who doesn’t want a gift? But try telling your little Gertrude you are going to get her a gift of suffering. That won’t be received well.

What you should do, however, is take the opportunity the next time there is a gift giving occasion in your family to explain this gift of suffering. Read them this verse. Read them the passages in Matthew mentioned above. It is important they know that if and when they suffer for Jesus, it is part of His plan to use them for His glory. 

Now that I’ve said all that, are you ready to suffer? I told you it’s going to come. Are you willing? Are you prepared to receive this gift yourself? I can’t say it will be easy, but it will give Him glory when we praise Him through it all.

Lord, I am not even worthy to suffer in Your name. I don’t like the idea of afflictions, but if it can be used to bring Your glory, I’m all in. I trust You in the struggle.

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DESTINED FOR AFFLICTIONS


1 THESSALONIANS 3:3

“so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.” 

I really don’t like the title today – destined for afflictions. But that is exactly what Paul said. He was telling the Thessalonians that he didn’t want anyone upset that he or others were suffering or being persecuted. He said, “we have been destined for this.

Do you want to hear something really cool? That word “destined” is used in another interesting place and translated very differently.  It is used in Luke 2:12. There it is translated “lying.” Yep, baby Jesus was lying in a manger. He too was destined for afflictions. 

APPLICATION

This is a hard truth to swallow, much less teach our children. As believers in the 21stcentury, we are destined to suffer. The world hates everything we stand for. Our righteousness in Christ goes against their worldview, their lifestyles and their agendas. We can expect to suffer. Our children can expect to be persecuted and ridiculed.

Hallelujah! We are counted worthy to suffer for Him. That’s a strange comment to make. Who wants to suffer? Who in their right mind would celebrate their children suffering? Well, we don’t exactly celebrate it, but we do understand it and thank the Lord that He is able to sustain us through it. Our suffering is nothing in comparison to His.

Are you willing to be laid down in suffering? Are you willing to be persecuted for Jesus? He calls us to that. And He promises to give us the ability to withstand anyone who comes against us because in reality they are against Him. He will defend you.

I am willing to suffer. I hate saying those words, but I trust You. It is through Your suffering that You gave me life. For that I am thankful.

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ON A MISSION


1 THESSALONIANS 3:2

“and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,”

Timothy was relatively new to all this. He hadn’t been with Paul very long and was already being sent out on his own, or at least without Paul. Was he ready? Was he up to the task? Paul must have had faith in his young apprentice in the faith to send him back to Thessalonica.

Has God sent you on a mission? If the Lord has told you to go and do something, you must be ready. Don’t delay. He would never send you where you are not prepared to go. Remember, you are not alone. He is with you, but you still have to go. You have to make the first step.

APPLICATION

Your children will have moments when they are afraid to advance. It may be that first time they have to drive by themselves. It may be when you send them to do something for you. Your job as parent is to give them the strength and courage they need to take that first step. When we prepare them we must let them go.

Your little Johnny may fall flat on his face. I bet you Timothy didn’t do or say everything perfectly when he was sent back to Thessalonica. But he went. Send your Johnny out knowing he can rely on you for support. Even better, make sure he knows He is with him.

Today, make that first step out so the Lord can show you how He plans to use you. I don’t want to see you stifle your potential out of fear. Step out! Be a Timothy. Believe in Him who sends you out.

Lord, I am thankful You have enough faith in me to place me in some sticky situations. But with You by my side, WE can accomplish anything.

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ALONE TIME


1 THESSALONIANS 3:1

“Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,”   

Sometimes, in the midst of pursuing God’s Will, we have to make tough, hard choices. Paul was faced with one here. He had to decide, probably for his safety and the future of his ministry, to not return to Thessalonica then. Instead, he remained in Athens and sent Timothy (and probably Silvanus) back to them. That meant he was left alone in Athens.

But it was in Athens where Paul made his famous speech on Mars Hill. I have stood there. It was quite humbling to know I was standing in the same exact spot as Paul as he looked at the Parthenon and city of Athens. Paul may have felt he was alone but standing there I guarantee you he felt empowered by the Lord Himself.

APPLICATION

So, what is my point from this verse for you and your children? We are never alone. Sometimes, while we are serving the Lord, we feel we are alone. You have to remind yourself that you are not. You may, in fact, have some of your greatest moments at those times. When no one is around you to distract you, you can hear God clearly.

In this day and age, however, we have to teach our children how to be alone. The digital age allows them to be in the presence of others all the time. That is not good. We need alone time. We need quiet to hear the Lord speak. The next time your little Susie says, “I’m bored,” tell her it’s a good time to pray and listen to the Lord.

Have you purposely sought out some alone time? When was the last time you did that? Do it soon. Do it today, if you can. Find a spot and some time to just get alone and listen. You may be surprised at what you hear.

Lord, I love our time with each other. It’s not alone time. I’m with You, and You fill every void of my life.

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