Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Fri, 4 February 2022

A God-Pleasing People

Observation:

What does it mean for the Thessalonian believers to live a God-pleasing life?

Deeper Reflection
PAUL EXHORTED THE THESSALONIANS REGARDING “How you ought to walk and to please God” (v.1) in two “critical ways”10: holiness (vv.1-8) and love (vv.9-12). He addresses at length specifically about abstaining from sexual immorality in holy living (v.3). He had “solemnly warned” them about this when he was with them (v.6) and was now giving a strong reminder. We will appreciate this against the background that Thessalonians “had depraved sex lives”11. “Thessalonica had all the vices of any bustling trade city. Theatrical works slid more and more towards the violent and sexually crude. Arrival by sea and land would demand drinking, gambling and sex, and part of the economy of the city was keeping visitors satisfied. Young men in particular were expected to have an active sex life, with slaves, prostitutes or lovers. Engaging in too much sex was thought to be a sign of self-indulgence and economic wantonness, but not an offense against God or the gods. Bisexuality was more common in Macedonia and Achaia than in other parts of the [Roman] empire, especially because of the shortage of marriageable women.”12 Thessalonica was “the home of many people of the working and artisan class”13 and “a large, if not most” of these people made up the church.14 In the church were also people from “the higher social class”, like Jason (Acts 17:6, 9) and Aristarchus (Acts 20:4).15 But these social and economic differences did not keep the church from being strong in “brotherly love” (vv.9-10).
10 D. A. Carson & Douglas J. Moo, An Introduction to the New Testament, Second Edition (Zondervan, 1992, 2005), 534 11 Gary S. Shogren, 20 12 Gary S. Shogren, 20 13 Gene L. Green, 29 14 Gene L. Green, 30 15 Gene L. Green, 29
Application:

What changes do I need to make in my life with regards to holiness before God and love towards God’s people?

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 SGI leaders: To pursue a God-pleasing and God-honouring life
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 5:22-31
Sat, 3 June 2023

Walking Humbly in God’s Hand

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about God in this passage?

Deeper Reflection
Daniel’s words to Belshazzar, “You have not humbled your heart… but you have exalted yourself ” (vv.22-23a), point to a reality: We are either humble or proud. We cannot be not humble and not proud at the same time. Pride is not just self-exaltation, but self-exaltation “against the Lord of heaven”, which also means we “have not glorified God” (v.23). God is always in the picture of humility and pride. Central in true humility is God being glorified. Three theological realities give us the impetus to walk humbly before God.We cannot escape from God: “the God in whose hand are your lifebreath and all your ways” (v.23). We can commit our lives into God’s hand and be secure that “My times are in Your hand” (Psa 31:5, 15a). But even when we choose not to entrust our lives into God’s hand, we are in His hand regardless, for better or for worse before God. God examines our hearts: “you have been weighed and found deficient” (v.27). We are not to be proud or boastful, because God is “a God of knowledge, and with Him actions are weighed” (1 Sam 2:3). We need to come to a point where we can meekly say as Jeremiah, “You know me, O Lord; You see me; and You examine my heart toward You” (Jer 12:3). God can end anything anytime: “God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it” (v.26). It is foolish to withhold anything from God, as if we can. God is God enough to take away anything from us as He pleases.
Application:

What aspects of God do I need to align my life with?

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 Church Board: To know God’s heart and align their hearts to it
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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