Note from Celeste:
Before we look at today’s lectionary reading, I’d like to draw your attention to my Advent Bible Study books.
Getting Ready for Christmas is part of the Choose This Day Multiple Choice Bible Studies series, available in paperback and ebook.
The daily devotionals take 10-15 minutes and include:
- Scripture passage (World English Bible)
- Fun, entertaining multiple choice questions focused directly on the Scripture passage
- Short meditation that can be used as a discussion starter.
Like an Advent calendar, Getting Ready for Christmas begins on December 1 and ends December 25. However, these 25 devotionals focusing on the Messiah can be used any time of year.
Use this book personally during a coffee break or with the family in the car or at the dinner table.
Order Getting Ready for Christmas today to prepare your family for this year’s Christmas season!
CLICK HERE for Amazon’s Kindle book of Getting Ready for Christmas.
CLICK HERE for Amazon’s Paperback of Getting Ready for Christmas.
And here’s the link to its puzzle companion book: Getting Ready for Christmas Word Search Puzzles for Advent.
It’s a large-print puzzle book with over 1,200 hidden words taken straight from the same 25 Scripture readings. (30 puzzles in all.)
If you’re not in the U.S., you can still order the books from your country’s amazon platform. Simply search for “Getting Ready for Christmas” by Celesta Letchworth.
Thank you for your consideration! And thank you for faithfully following Tom’s SOAR blog!
AND NOW, BACK TO TODAY’S LECTIONARY READING:
START WITH SCRIPTURE:
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM
OBSERVE:
Paul expresses his warm feelings for the Christians of Thessalonika in what is believed to be his first letter to one of his mission churches. He had visited Thessalonika during his second missionary journey, around 50-52 A.D. He may have written this letter during the winter of the following year while he was preaching in Corinth.
Paul obviously had a very positive relationship with the Christians in this city on the coast of Macedonia:
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?
He prays that he may revisit them again and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. This is perhaps a euphemistic way of saying that they still have some growing up to do in their discipleship.
On the one hand, he praises them for receiving the Gospel so readily, and he shares the report from Timothy that they are filled with faith and love.
But Paul also reminds the Thessalonians of the moral demands of the Gospel and how they are to live together in community.
And he prays for their love for each other and for others in general, because love is a real mark of Christianity.
Paul’s ultimate prayer is that God may:
….so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Paul is not merely interested in their initial response to the Gospel, but that they continue to grow in grace so that when Christ returns they may be prepared.
APPLY:
This passage is a gentle reminder that our relationship with God is dynamic, not static. What I mean by that is that even after we have turned to Christ in faith, we are to continue to grow in Christ.
The goal is holiness, and the best definition of holiness is love. We may find it hard enough to love the members of our own community, but loving those outside of the community is the real challenge. True holiness focuses on relationship with God and with people:
‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39).
One thing seems pretty clear. If we love God, we will find ourselves obeying his commandments because we are grateful for his love. And if we love our neighbor, we won’t do those things that are harmful to them, and we will only do those things that are beneficial to them.
Part of the dynamic nature of our relationship with God is the reminder that Jesus will return. And the way to be ready for his coming is to be like him — loving, holy and blameless.
RESPOND:
This passage is not only appropriate for this Advent season, it seems appropriate for our circumstances today.
I was in church on Sunday when I heard the pastor say that he believed we Americans should welcome Syrian refugees to our country, and offer them hospitality. This is despite the fears of terrorist extremists.
He went on to explain — what better witness can we as Christians offer to non-Christians about the love of Christ? What a terrific opportunity!
My reaction was mixed. I thought it was a gutsy statement to make, because I felt sure that some of his church members would react negatively to his comments. And I confess my own apprehensions about security.
But I was also convicted. I realized that he was speaking from a perspective of Christian love and holiness. And if I truly believe that Jesus is returning, as he promises to do, then we ultimately have nothing to fear!
I need to be clear about my motives for ministry — do I truly love, or do I merely fulfill a legalistic duty? Blamelessness and holiness involve being truly yielded to the One who is coming.
Lord, help me prepare for Your coming by becoming more loving, blameless and holy in your sight. Amen.
PHOTOS: "1 Thessalonians 3-12" by New Life Church Collingwood is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
SOAR Lectionary Bible Study 