Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
Wed, 23 February 2022

A God-Centred Life and Ministry

Observation:

How is God-centredness evident in Paul’s life and ministry?

Deeper Reflection
FOR PAUL, THE TRUTHFULNESS OF HIS MESSAGE (VV.3, 5A), the purity of his motive (vv.3, 5) and the openness of his methods in his ministry of the Gospel stem from one fundamental reality: Godcentredness. Paul’s defence of his integrity is built on “just as we have been approved by God” (v.4). The word for “approved” is dokimazō, which means “to put to the test, examine, and especially, as a result of the examination, to approve or accept as proved to be fitting; to test to find genuine”67. Dokimazō occurs twice in the verse: in the perfect tense – “have been approved by God” and in the present continuous tense – “God who tests”. Being “approved by God” at one point of one’s life is not final. The divine testing and approving is an ongoing reality. And the object of this divine testing and approving is “our hearts”. Can we be certain like Paul about God’s approval of us? Having been “approved by God”, Paul was “entrusted with the gospel [by God]” (v.4). God trusted Paul to be a trustworthy steward of the Gospel to faithfully preach and teach it, and to do so accurately, without distorting or compromising the truth of the Gospel and turn it into “a different gospel” and “another Jesus” (2 Cor 11:4). In recent years, when I teach about God, I have to deliberately emphasise, “God, as He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures.” For oftentimes, the God Christians talk about is a cultural God created in the image of the world.
67John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 50
Application:

What does it mean for me to be approved by God and entrusted with
the Gospel?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for Singapore: To see and recognise God as the centre of the universe
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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