Category Archives: Christianity

Advice, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Christ's Return, Christianity, Commands, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, Heaven, Mentoring, Modeling, Motherhood, Obedience, Parenting, Surrender

CONSEQUENCES

2 THESSALONIANS 1:8

“dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

When you were a child did you ever get in trouble for not listening to your parents? Boy, I sure did. I could be a disobedient little booger. I would clearly hear my dad’s or mom’s instructions and do the exact opposite. I knew the risk, weighed my options and proceeded to do what I wanted. Sometimes, I got away with it. But other times, I paid for it.

You can’t read this verse separate from the previous verse. Jesus is going to return, and when He does, He will deal out retribution on those who did not listen to His instructions. That’s what the word “obey” means. It is actually a very strong verb (hupakouo). The hupon the beginning of that word intensifies the verb akouo. So, it means to really listen so you will obey.

APPLICATION

If you can’t figure out how to apply this verse to your kids, well…. Don’t we constantly deal with getting our kids to listen to us? Aren’t we always teaching them to obey our instructions? When was the last time you gave them directions on something? Two seconds ago, lol? It’s constant, but purposeful.

Why not read them this verse? Jesus expects the same, but the consequences for not listening to His instructions are eternal. There is no time out or loss of privileges. No! If your children disobey Him by not listening to His commands, they risk spending eternity without Him. That’s harsh, but it’s the truth. Remember, our teaching our children to obey is preparation for obeying their Heavenly Father.

Enough about children. Are you obeying? We, as adults, must continue to obey the Lord’s commands. We don’t graduate out of this. In fact, it is often harder for us to obey because we are adults. As a man, I don’t want anyone to tell me what to do. I want to make my own choices. And I can, but I cannot choice my own consequences. I choose obedience today.

Father God, thank You for clear instructions. Thank You for saving me from myself. I choose to follow You and obey.

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RELIEF

2 THESSALONIANS 1:7

“and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,” 

Have you ever been so stressed that you felt you were tied up in ropes? Every breath is labored. Your chest is tight. Your teeth are clinched. It is as if every fiber in your body is constricting. Well, take comfort my brother. Listen, my sister. Today’s verse should encourage you. The God of the universe is well aware of your struggle and has the answer.

He gives you relief. He promises to untie that which binds us. He frees us from our confinement. There is only one requirement. We have to trust Him. Look at the verse. Jesus is coming back with angels in flaming fire. Whoa! And we are on their side. All those who are afflicting us will be destroyed. We will be avenged by the Lord Himself.

APPLICATION

The next time you have to come to your child’s rescue you could share this verse with them. Now, you won’t be coming in a flaming fire, but you will swoop in to help them. Explain to them that just as you are willing to go to any length to keep them safe and rescue them, God will send His Son back one to defeat all our enemies. He is watching over us right now.

Children have lots of questions, and they may ask why He is waiting. Don’t make up an answer to just satisfy their question. Talk about how God is sovereign and perfect. He is waiting for just the right time to allow as many as will to come to Him for salvation. He doesn’t want to lose one of His children.

Are you looking for His return? I am! I can’t wait! But at the same time, there are many people in my life for whom I am praying for their salvation. If He returns today, they would spend eternity in hell. I definitely don’t want that. Would you join me in praying for all your lost friends and family? 

It is a relief to know that You will send Jesus with His angels to rescue us. But Father, I desire, as You do, to see all the lost saved. Give me the boldness to share with those who need You today.

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Advice, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Christianity, Commands, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Family, Fatherhood, Forgiveness, God's Will, Inspirational, Love, Mentoring, Modeling, Obedience, Parenting, Revenge, Sanctification, Suffering, Surrender

THE AVENGER

2 THESSALONIANS 1:6

“For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,”

Super heroes are popular today in the movies. Who doesn’t like seeing the bad guy defeated by the good guy? There is even a movie called “The Avengers.” Several super heroes come together to save the world. They all have their special skills, but they also have their own egos and challenges. They end up working together but not before great loss.

But look at today’s verse. God is our ultimate avenger. He repays “with affliction those who afflict you.” God doesn’t need help. He can handle it. He doesn’t have an ego that needs to be stroked. He doesn’t have any limitations. The only problem God has is us getting out of the way. We want to avenge ourselves. 

APPLICATION

Children naturally want to “get back” at someone who has hurt them. I have worked with children for forty years now. Girls are notorious for plotting their revenge. They may wait weeks, months or even years for just the right opportunity to strike back. I have seen girls in a cottage wait until the day a girl was leaving to get back at her for something she had done months ago. 

So, we must teach our children to allow the Lord to handle that “payback.” He knows exactly how to do it, while at the same time giving that person the opportunity to turn to Him. After all, that is His ultimate desire. He wants even our enemies to come to Him. 

Is there someone right now in your life whom you are plotting to get back at? Let it go! Turn it over to the Lord. Let Him handle it. He may tell you to just forgive them. In fact, the issue you are having with this person could be all on you. You might be the problem. Seek the Lord on the matter. Let Him reveal to you what He wants you to do.

Lord, I can always trust You to handle the situation perfectly. Teach me, again, to get out of the way. Allow me to place it into Your capable hands.

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WORTHY TO SUFFER

2 THESSALONIANS 1:5

“This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.” 

Did you catch that? Because they were suffering, they were worthy of the kingdom. Now, wait just a minute Paul. That’s not what I expected when I got into this Jesus stuff. I thought He would just forgive me of my sins, and I would go on living a perfect life. That’s the problem most of us have. We want to live for Jesus until it requires suffering or persecution. Then it’s too hard.

The phrase “considered worthy” is only used three times in the New Testament. In all three times, it refers to suffering or death. It means to be weighed accurately. In other words, God has you on a scale and finds that you measure up to this. He won’t put more on the other side of the scale than you can handle. He knows your limits, so just trust Him.

APPLICATION

Children don’t know their limits of suffering yet. They have to experience pain and suffering before they know how much they can take. I remember when I was in high school, I broke my ankle at football camp. I walked on that ankle for a week and half before I knew it was broken. I just dealt with the pain. I discovered then that I have a pretty high pain tolerance. 

But physical pain is a lot different than emotional or mental pain. There are all kinds of suffering. Your children will face a multitude of opportunities to “suffer” for Jesus. If you will teach them to trust Him, they will be able to endure the sufferings that come their way. As they watch you endure, they will learn.

Are you going through a time of suffering right now? Thank the Lord for the opportunity to trust Him. Let Him know right now that you are His to mold and make into whatever He chooses. I promise if you trust Him, you will come out the other side of this suffering a more useable vessel. He always perfects. He never condemns.

Knowing You are in control of my every suffering gives me peace. I trust You, Lord, to teach me through my sufferings. I count it a privilege to considered worthy of suffering for You.

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BOAST WORTHY

2 THESSALONIANS 1:4

“therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”

Notice the origin of this boasting. It’s not the Thessalonians boasting about themselves. It’s Paul and his companions boasting about them. Self-boasting is really just arrogance. But when someone else boasts about you, that is due to your character or reputation. If you are truly worthy of this boasting, you find it hard to accept, but you should.

Look at what Paul was boasting about. He was boasting about their perseverance and faith in the midst of persecutions and afflictions. If you look back at 1 Thessalonians 2-3, Paul recounts to the Thessalonians his suffering and afflictions. Now he is boasting about theirs. I wonder who they learned that from?

APPLICATION

Teach your children to brag on others, not themselves. Help them see the gifts others have or their abilities to “bear up under” and let them know it. When your little Johnny has a friend who perseveres on the ballfield, even though he isn’t as talented, tell Johnny to pat him on the back. Help him encourage him. When your little Susie has a friend who has lost a parent but still smiles and carries on with life, help her to come alongside her.

Too many children today spend way too much time bragging on themselves. We have to redirect them to brag on others. You may have heard of the J-O-Y acrostic. It says Jesus first, Others second and Yourself third. Teach your kids that. Putting Jesus and others ahead of ourselves is a great life lesson.

Who do you know today who could use a little encouragement? Take the time to send them a text or an email. Better yet, pick up the phone and call them. Let them know you are thinking about them. Let them know how proud you are of them. It will send them a message they won’t soon forget.

Lord God, You constantly encourage me. Help me encourage others in the same way. Let me see them through Your eyes.

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STRETCHY PANTS

2 THESSALONIANS 1:3

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows evergreater;” 

I think kind of strange at times. I know, shock, shock! But look at this verse – fitting (think fitting room), enlarged, grows…greater. Come on! You can see that too, right? I had this image of going into a fitting room in a store and finding out I had to go to a larger size because I had, well, grown larger. I am sure you have never had that problem, lol.

But Paul isn’t talking about clothing. He’s talking about the Thessalonians’ faith. He had received word back from the messengers stating that their faith had grown larger. What encouraging words for Paul. He was concerned about their spiritual health and had to be relieved to hear they were getting stronger.

APPLICATION

As parents, we all want our children to grown stronger. We feed them, give them vitamins and supplements, take them to the doctor and do everything necessary and within reason to ensure their physical health.  After all, who wants medical bills due to our neglect of their health? But are you as concerned about their spiritual health? Parents have said to me, “Well, I want them to make up their own mind.” Seriously, if you did that about education, what would your child decide?

We have to be more concerned about raising spiritually healthy children. Sure, we can’t MAKE them become a follower of Christ. But we have to make sure we are preparing them every way possible. We give them everything necessary to allow them to respond to His call. God wants them in His family as much as you want them in yours. But He wants us to lead them there.

Can you “double down” on your child’s spiritual growth? What do you need to do to further prepare your child to respond? Ask the Lord today what “supplement” your child needs to lead them in His direction. Give your child a spiritual checkup. Ask them the difficult questions. Then you can rest knowing you have done everything you can do. The rest is up to the Lord.

Father, help me be the kind of parent I need to be for my children and grandchildren. Help me lead them toward You. Teach me as I am teaching them.

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NO FOOLING

2 THESSALONIANS 1:2

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

God’s grace and peace are no joke. When Paul wished that upon the Thessalonians, he wasn’t making a wish that could not be kept. We do that a lot, don’t we? We tell people things that we know we can’t keep. We have good intentions, but it is just outside the realm of possibility.

Grace and peace are not like that. Why? Because we aren’t the ones giving it. Our desire, just like God’s, should be that all men be saved. When someone receives Christ as their Savior and Lord, they experience His grace and His peace. God gives it freely and liberally. Paul is desiring that for them and us.

APPLICATION

What is something you can give to your child that they cannot get for themselves? Think of something. Perhaps it is a new bike. Well…nope. They could save their money and get that. How about a new cell phone (God forbid, lol)? Nope again. They could buy that if they had the money.

You can give them a godly parent. They can’t make that happen. You can give them love and respect. They can’t earn that. You can give them discipline and direction. They will learn to self-discipline later, but only after you give it first. These are the things you need to focus on, not material things.

Is there something in your life which you are clamoring for that really doesn’t matter in the eternal order of things? We all have some things like that. Give it up. Let God take over. Let Him determine what you need in your life. He knows best anyway. Don’t you think?  Let Him give you His grace and peace today. 

They never get old.Father of grace and peace, rain down on me today. Let me experience afresh Your grace and Your peace. Then, Lord, let me share that with others.

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INSTANT REPLY

2 THESSALONIANS 1:1

“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:” 

Most scholars agree that 2 Thessalonians was written very shortly after 1 Thessalonians and was a reply to the reply Paul had received from the church about his first letter. Have you have done that? You text or email someone, and after they reply back to you, you reply back to them. That’s what this is except it was done by letter and a messenger (not Instant Message, lol).

Whatever stirred his heart to write again, Paul still held these believers as dear to his heart. He cared deeply about them and wanted to make sure they had the correct understanding of their position in Christ. Silvanus and Timothy are still with him in Corinth, so he includes them in the opening. They all cared for this young, fledgling church.

APPLICATION

We should show our children the importance of communicating clearly for the sake of Christ. When we hear of someone we know who is not walking with Christ, we should talk with them. If we really love them, we don’t want them to continue down a path that will take them further away from Christ. We should have an instant reply.

“But Carl, they may get mad at me.” So what! Isn’t it better for them to get mad at you than to not say something and watch them go off the cliff? If you are replying in love to them, they will know it. Just like Paul, respond for their good.

Is there someone in your life right now whom you need to approach in love and steer back on the right course? Do it in love. Do it quickly. Just do it. Don’t sit back and watch them follow the wrong person or do the wrong thing without at least confronting them. Let the Holy Spirit tell you when and what to say.

O Lord, I am thankful I have people in my life to confront me when I am off course. Help me do the same without the fear of rejection. I truly want those whom I love to follow You.

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BEGGING

1 THESSALONIANS 5:27

“I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.” 

Paul is begging here. That kind of surprised me. Paul doesn’t strike me as a person who would beg for anything. But he is begging them, adjuring them, trying to persuade them to share this letter. After all, there wasn’t Face Book or Instagram back then, lol. Paul couldn’t tweet out his message. He had to rely on others to pass on his words.

Have you ever been asked to help spread the word about something? Maybe someone is having a yard sale and asks you to let your friends know. Perhaps the church is hosting an event and asks all its members to invite others to come. We invite people to stuff all the time. But do we share the good news about Jesus enough?

APPLICATION

Ask your little Johnny or Susie if they have good news to share with someone? They may say, “What do you mean, Mom?” Explain to them that if they are a believer, they have the best story in the world to share. They should be telling everyone they know about how much Jesus loves them. Keeping that to themselves is…well…selfish. Don’t you think?

Help them make a list of people they want to tell about Jesus. And it’s okay for them to list people who are already saved. They may just need a little encouragement that day. We never know what people are dealing with. The words of a child to an adult can be very soothing. If needed, go with them to talk to those people. But make sure you follow up to see if they talked to those individuals.

To whom do you need to talk to today? Who, in your sphere of influence, needs to hear about the saving power of the blood of Christ? We have such wonderful news. Don’t keep it to yourself. I adjure you to share it today.

Lord, put people in my life today to whom I can share Jesus. Let me be bold and courageous as I step forward to represent You in my community.

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OUR DUTY

1 THESSALONIANS 5:25

“Brethren, pray for us.” 

Paul was a man of prayer. That is obvious as you read through all his epistles. He tells us over and over to pray for each other. He writes down prayers that he is praying for the recipients of the letters. And here in verse 25, he does it again. He commands the Thessalonians to pray for him and his companions.

Why would Paul ask for prayer? I thought he had it all together. He was chosen by the Lord to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Surely, he had God’s blessing. Why would he need prayers? Because he knew the power of prayer. He knew what could be accomplished when brothers and sisters in Christ came together in agreement to the Father. He desired that from them.

APPLICATION

Okay, here’s another easy application. Pray with your children. Do it daily. Help them formulate a prayer list to pray through. I have a daily, weekly and monthly prayer list. It is a privilege to pray for others. Lifting others up to the Lord in prayer gives me joy. Having a part in their journey as I pray encourages me to live my life pleasing Him.

It is so important to teach our children to begin with confession of their own sins so the Lord can forgive them and allow us to petition Him for others. Confession clears the “prayer line” to the Lord. Then we can come before Him with our requests for others and ourselves. But teach your children to pray for others first. God, I believe, will honor that.

For whom are you praying today? Do you have lost family members? How about sick friends? Come before the throne of God today and lift them up to Him. Come with a grateful heart. Come with a broken heart. Let the Lord use you in the lives of others through your prayer life. You may just be surprised who is praying for you.

Today, Father, I lift up all my lost family members and friends. I pray for their salvation. Draw them to You in a powerful way.

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