I love reading the passage about the crossing of the Red Sea. It is hard to imagine such an amazing sight - being surrounded by walls of water, likely being able to see the fish swimming on either side, while walking through on dry land. What's amazing is that God does this miracle for the people despite their doubt. How often don't we view our circumstances through our finite eyes, forgetting that no matter where we are, God has brought us to this place?
For our Thessalonians passage I'm using the SOAP method.....
S - Scripture
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
O - Observation
Paul concludes this section of his letter to the Thessalonians with a pastoral prayer. He prays that he will be able to revisit them, that they will abound in love for each other, and that they will be blamelessly holy at Jesus' second coming.
A - Application
There are several ways we can apply this to our lives. First, it is a great list of things to pray for our fellow believers. Often we want to pray for people but we don't exactly know what to pray for. This is a great start - fellowship, love, and sanctification.
Second, v13 is rather key. God is the One who will produce holiness in us. Yes, we are to be holy, but it is only through His strength that it is possible. We cannot do it on our own, and as soon as we start to rely on our own power, we fail.
P - Prayer
Dear God, thank you Paul's example of prayer. Please bring to mind people that we should be praying for. May those who follow this blog experience the blessing of the fellowship of the saints and our love for one another. Purify their hearts and keep their hearts blameless in holiness before You. We know it is only through your power that we can become more like Jesus. Thank you for your Spirit's work in our lives and hearts. May we continue to allow Him to work in every area of our lives. Amen.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Exodus 16-18, 1 Thessalonians 4
1 comment:
13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
What a great reminder that we jet need to STAND firm and the Lord will fight for us, we only need to be silent.
Post a Comment