Category Archives: Suffering

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DON’T BE IGNORANT


1 THESSALONIANS 4:13

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.” 

Don’t be ignorant! That is what Paul is saying! He didn’t want the Thessalonians to believe the wrong stuff about the death. He says they are just “sleeping,” which was a term used to refer to someone who had died. Sleeping implies they are going to wake up, right? That’s the cool part.

You see, we know as believers that we are going to spend eternity with the Father. Our bodies will not be resurrected until Jesus returns. So, until then their bodies “sleep.” They wait for that glorious day. Waiting, waiting, waiting!

APPLICATION

What a fun verse to teach your kids. Tonight, when you tuck them in, talk about it. Just as they will go to sleep and awake in the morning, we will lay down our bodies one day, only to have it awoken by Jesus at the rapture. Our bodies will be changed and glorified. Therefore, we have no reason to grieve, as those who have no hope.

It is so important to teach our children that death for a Christian is just a passage to Jesus. When we die will be instantly in the presence of God. What could be bad about that? Our fleshly body will be buried, but WE AREN’T IN IT! It’s literally an empty shell. Death need not scare us. As believers in Christ, we are guaranteed entry to heaven. 

Are you ready? What about this worries you? It shouldn’t. Don’t let your “ignorance,” your lack of knowledge or experience about death cause you to grieve unnecessarily. The Lord Jesus can take away all the sorrow. I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Corinthians, “O death, where is your sting?”

I am thankful, Lord, that I am secure in You. My earthly death allows me to enter into my heavenly home. My body may stay behind, but I am with you. Hallelujah!

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REJECTION

1 THESSALONIANS 4:8 

“So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”  

Rejection is probably the one thing I struggle with most. When I am rejected by someone, it hurts. Most of the time it’s because my pride is hurt. It’s all about me. I know I do NOT need the other person’s acceptance to identify me, but I still don’t like that someone doesn’t like me.   

But we can expect this if we are walking with Christ. Jesus told us, and Paul is telling us in today’s verse. People who aren’t walking in the light do not like the light shining on them. It points out their faults. He exposes their sin. So, if you are walking with Christ and trying to live for Him, others will reject you because of Him. 

APPLICATION 

Teaching our children about rejection is difficult and very emotional. They will encounter this at some point. Other children can be so cruel. Some kids just love to hurt other kids. They think it makes them feel better, but it doesn’t. We have to teach our children that their identity rest in Jesus, not in the opinion of men. 

When our children grasp this truth, they will be able to withstand any amount of rejection. Sure, it will still hurt. But knowing who you are in Christ makes all the difference. Jesus can handle the rejection. He is God. Let Him take those hurled words of insult. Let Him shoulder the load of rejection. He is able. 

Have you been rejected lately? How about by someone you love? Maybe even a family member? It hurts, I know. But give it all to Jesus. Let Him take the pain away. If you are living for Him, He will comfort you in the very midst of the rejection.  

Father, I know You experienced rejection when You sent Your Son to earth to die for us. When the world rejected Him, they rejected You. So, I know You understand how I feel when I go through this. Take this emotional pain from me today. 

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WHERE ARE YOU GOING?


1 THESSALONIANS 3:11

11Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; 

You must excuse me, but I love word studies. I love to look up different words in Scripture to see what the etymology of the word is and where else it is used in the Scriptures. This verse is no exception. I had to look up the word “direct.” I found something interesting.

It is only used three times – right here, in Luke 1:79 and 2 Thessalonians 3:5. It means to direct without any deviations, to go straight to a destination. What is really interesting is in these three verses where it is used, it is directing three different things, but they must go together.  In today’s verse it directs our way. In Luke it directs our feet, and in 2 Thessalonians it directs our heart. If your heart is directed correctly, your feet will take you the right way.

APPLICATION

I bet you use a GPS when you travel. Most of us do today. It’s hard to find a road map anymore. With those you could contemplate different routes to your destination. Now, all you have to do is punch in the address, and your route is mapped for you.

The next time you travel with your family, get one of your children to set the GPS. Get them to direct your family to its destination. Then talk about this verse. Just as they just put in the address to take you to your final destination, God has punched in our eternal destination. He wants us to take the path He has chosen. But just like the GPS, when we stray, He will reroute us in order to get us back on the path.

Where are you going? Is your heart right? If it is, your feet will follow. Then and only then can you stay on the right path. Following God’s path does NOT guarantee the smoothest roads. Sometimes He takes us on bumpy roads. Sometimes He takes the scenic route. But the final destination will be worth it all.

You are in control of my life path, Lord. I give You control of mapping it out for me. I may complain from time to time when I don’t understand the route, but I will trust You.

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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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