Category Archives: Witnessing

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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 DOES GOD POINT?

1 THESSALONIANS 4:7 

“For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.”  

Do you ever have any doubts about where God wants you to go or how He wants you to live? If you do, this verse should put those doubts to rest. Look at the verse. It’s pretty simple. God calls us to be holy and sanctified. He never calls us to impurity or anything unholy. Why? Because He wants us to look like Him. 

Everything we do, say or think should be directed toward our sanctification. Do I mean you have to be perfect? Well…yes! But before you panic, that’s not me saying that. God tells us to be holy like He is. He tells us to be perfect like He is. The good news is that it is not up to us to make ourselves holy or perfect. He does that, if we will just surrender to Him. 

APPLICATION 

Don’t you wish you had perfect kids? Wouldn’t it be fantastic if your Elrod or Gertrude never misbehaved? Of course, if you had perfect kids, you would think it was because you are the perfect parent. You would probably write a book on being the perfect parent. You would probably go on a book tour and sign the books and give speeches on how to be the perfect parents. 

That is EXACTLY what God did. He is perfect. He wrote a book to tell us how to be perfect. He sent His Son to us to tell us how to be perfect. His Son gave speeches on how to be perfect. We just need to listen to Him. All the answers we need to parent our children perfectly are contained in His Word.  

Will you ever be perfect? Not until you reach eternity. Then and only then will you be perfected. Then and only then will you cease to sin. Then and only then will you achieve holiness. God knows that, but we are still to strive to be like Him every day. Will you today? 

O Perfect One, make me like You. Show me all my faults and failures. Help me perfect myself to live just how You want me to. 

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DO YOU USE PEOPLE?

1 THESSALONIANS 4:6 

“and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.”   

There was a song in the 70’s that talked about using things and loving people, rather than loving things and using people. Which are you? Pau is warning us in this verse not to take advantage of or step over others. This was especially true in the context of this verse – sexual immorality. Sexual sin always hurts others. 

In our daily lives as Christians we should never do anything that hurts another person, whether they are believers or not. Our goal should always be to bring them along the path to righteousness, to point them to Christ. If we are “using” them, we are not doing that.  

APPLICATION 

Children can get into this habit of manipulation of people if we don’t guide them. Your little Susie will see how other girls get boys to like them. Of course, she wants to fit in with her girlfriends, so she learns to “use” the boys to get what she wants. 

Your Johnny may see girls as just a conquest. He hears the other guys talking and wants to play the same game. Listen to me, Mom and Dad. You must teach your children this truth. Everyone is loved by God and is precious to Him. He longs for each and every one of them to come to Him. Our job is to teach our children to see them as brothers and sisters in Christ or as potential “family members.” 

Are you guilty of transgression against your brother or sister? Have you defrauded or stepped over someone? Confess that as sin and ask the Lord to help you make it right. As the verse says, “the Lord is the avenger in all these things.” You certainly don’t want the Lord avenging your wrong against them. Make it right today. 

If I have wronged someone today, Lord, please forgive me. Give me the opportunity to go to them and make it right. I truly want to be a witness for You. 

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ARE YOU PASSIONATE?

1 THESSALONIANS 4:5 

“not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; “ 

I will never forget telling my son to pursue his passion, in regards to choosing a career. Passion is a good thing, if focused on the right thing. That’s why I find it so interesting that Paul used these two words, “lustful passion” here in this verse. Every word used by any of the authors of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16), so these words were not an accident. 

“Passion” literally means to eagerly desire and want something. It can be good or bad. I have an intense passion for God’s Word. That’s good. But “lustful” is where we get the word  “pathology.” It’s only used three times in Scripture, and all three times it’s bad.  It refers to a lust or desire not from God. THAT’S what Paul is warning against. 

APPLICATION 

I bet your little Johnny or Susie have a passion for something. If it lines up with God’s Word, encourage it. If it doesn’t, squash it now. Seriously! Don’t let an unhealthy passion for something fester in your child’s life. It will only bring sorrow and pain down the road. 

As Christian parents, we want to encourage our children to pursue those healthy passions. We don’t want them chasing ungodly passions, like the world. Just as Paul warned the Thessalonians, we need to be alert to our children’s passion.  

What are you pursuing today? How would God classify your passions? Are they lustful (not godly) or pure and healthy (godly)? It’s easy to figure that out. Just ask Him. He’ll tell you. If it brings Him glory, go for it. If it only brings you satisfaction and attention, you had better look closer. 

My desire, O God, is to desire only You. My heart yearns for a deeper knowledge of You and a more intimate relationship. Show me how to pursue that passion and give You the glory. 

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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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SUPER GLUED


1 THESSALONIANS 3:13

“so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

That may sound silly – super glued! But I love that stuff. When something needs to be held tight and not move, pull out the super glue. Just make sure you have it set in the right place, because once the glue is applied, it’s not moving.

That’s the meaning behind the word “establish” in today’s verse. God will super glue your heart “without blame in holiness.” Of course, everything God does is eternal. He doesn’t mess around with temporal stuff. So, if He establishes your heart, He intends it to last for eternity.

APPLICATION

How do you apply this verse to yourself and your family? God can only establish your heart if it is yielded to Him. He won’t force you. As bad as you want your children to follow Christ, it is only possible if they surrender to Him. 

Our job as parents is to prepare our children’s hearts to be established by the Lord. That means we are consistently teaching them God’s Word. We know it won’t come back void. We are consistently teaching them to pray, so when the Holy Spirit draws them to surrender, they will know His voice. 

Have you fully, and I mean fully, surrendered your heart to Him? Does He have it all? If you are holding back, He can’t establish you as blameless or in holiness. If we insist of handling part of our heart ourselves, it will not be secure. Allow the Lord today to have it all.  He can handle it. He can secure it.

You are the Maker of my heart, therefore, You are the only one who can establish it. Thank You, Lord, for super glueing my heart today.

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MORE THAN ENOUGH


1 THESSALONIANS 3:12

“and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;” 

Paul is making a wish here – that the Thessalonians would increase and abound in love. Now, even though this was a wish he hoped to see come true, it was a pretty, sure wish. Paul had confidence that they would do just what he hoped. Why? Because he knew their love first hand. He had experienced  their love. He knew they were quite capable.

These two words, “increase” and “abound,” mean very similar things. They can both mean more than enough, overflowing or abundant. Paul was simply trying to overemphasize the point to them. But it is important to remember that they could only “overflow” what was in them. This love came from an unending source – God.

APPLICATION

Tell me this – do you ever run out of love for your children? Of course, not. And let me tell you, it’s even more true with your grandchildren. I have four (as of this writing), and the love I have for them just gets stronger each day. I don’t have that capacity in myself. Any love I feel for anyone comes from the love the Father has shown me.

I want to challenge you to let that love you have for family extend to your church family, to your neighbors and even to strangers. Teach your children to love abundantly. Teach them to overflow with love. Show them what that looks like, not just to them but with others. 

If you will commit to love like that, you will experience an even deeper love of the Father. I know the Lord is well pleased when we love well. When He sees His love poured out on others through us, He smiles. After all, He still uses us to spread His Word and His love on this earth.

God of love, thank You for using me to love others. Help me to love those whom I find it hard to love. You can love them through me.

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I‘M NOT DONE WITH YOU YET


1 THESSALONIANS 3:10

“as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?”

Paul’s training of the Thessalonians wasn’t done yet. He had so much more to teach them. That’s why he longed to see them again. He wasn’t just desiring fellowship. He wanted more time to complete his teaching, so they could walk with Christ with more confidence.

I love to teach. Being able to share what the Lord has taught me gives me joy. I understand Paul’s heart here. When someone sends me a note or tells me after I get through teaching that they learned something new, that just blesses my heart. Not because I taught – NO! Because the Holy Spirit spoke through me.

APPLICATION

When do you get through teaching your children? Never! I learned from dad up until the day he died. In the last few years of his life I asked him for advice. I pray I can continue to advise my son and daughter as they get older. But I know any wisdom I impart is not mine. It all comes from the Lord.

But I also learn from my children. Don’t you? Think about a time when your child has said or done something which gave you a new insight into something. Encourage your child when that happens. Tell them that they just helped mommy or daddy to learn something new. 

Is there someone in your life right now to whom you go for advice? Does someone seek you out for advice? Advice is just advice unless it is bathed in prayer and is centered upon His Word. As you receive or give it make sure that is your source. That kind of advice will last for a lifetime.

You are the perfect advisor, God. Your words are always right. Your advice is holy and righteous. I can always trust it.

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PAYBACK


1 THESSALONIANS 3:9

“For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account,”  

Most of the time when you hear the term “payback” you think about getting back at someone for something they have done to you. That is NOT what Paul meant in this verse when he said “render to God.” The word “render” means payback. So, what did Paul mean?

Paul was caught up in a moment of praise and thanksgiving to God for these Thessalonians. As he is reflecting on his memories of them and on the report he had received from Timothy, he erupts in thanks to God. He is literally paying back God for all He has done in and through the Thessalonians. Paul just lost it in praise!

APPLICATION

Have you ever seen your children “lose it” when they got overjoyed about something? They get so excited they can’t even talk, and then they scream and yell and shout! Right? Maybe you have surprised them with that long, awaited trip to Disney World. They can’t put the words together to thank you. They want to “render” to you the thanks they feel, but they don’t know how.

The next time that happens, stop and get them to calm down. Then lead them in thanking God for the blessing they have received. Make sure they know that all praise goes to Him. He is the only one who deserves it. Paul knew that. So should we.

Who are you thanking? Who are you giving praise to today? Point all your praise to your heavenly Father. When we do that the Word says He inhabits it. Now that is incredible. He loves our praise so much He lives in it. What are you waiting on? Praise Him!

I praise You, O Lord. There is no other one I can thank for all that has come to me. I give You the glory!

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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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