Scripture:
Acts 17:1-10, 14-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10
Mon, 31 January 2022

Disrupted Shepherding Work

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about the situation that Paul and the Thessalonians were in?

Deeper Reflection
ANSWERING THE “MACEDONIAN CALL” DURING HIS second missionary journey, Paul and his team moved from Philippi to Thessalonica (Acts 16:6-40; 17:1). Paul preached the Gospel in the synagogue there, and “some” Jews and “a great many of the devout Greeks” – who worshipped at the synagogue, but were not circumcised to become full proselytes – and “not a few of the leading women” were “persuaded” (vv.2-4). With these new converts, Paul planted “the church of the Thessalonians” (1 Thess 1:1) around A.D. 49/50. But Paul faced strong opposition from some of the Jews, who out of jealousy “gathered some troublemakers to form a mob and start a riot” and accused him of “treason against Caesar” in proclaiming “allegiance to another king, named Jesus” (vv.5-7, NLT). Paul was then forced to leave Thessalonica, leaving behind a very young church – “only a few months old”78 – facing persecution and with his shepherding work in building up their faith abruptly disrupted (v.9). Then from Athens, Paul sent Timothy to the Thessalonians “to establish and exhort you in your faith” (1 Thess 3:1-2). And Timothy returned to Paul at Corinth (Acts 18:1, 5) with the “good news” that these young believers were “standing firm in the Lord” (1 Thess 3:6-8). In response to this, Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians. When God’s work is under threat of falling apart, God is still at work. The work of God is the work of God.
78 Gary S. Shogren, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Zondervan, 2012), 17
Application:

How does the theological truth that God is still at work even when God’s
work seems to be falling apart affect me and my ministry?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You loved Your Church and gave Yourself up for her, that You might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, so that You might present the Church to Yourself in glory, holy and without blemish.76 Thank you Lord, for Your commitment and promise to us: “I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.”77
76 Ephesians 5:25-27 77 Matthew 16:18
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

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 pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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