Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:13
Tue, 22 March 2022

Divine Word in Human Words

Observation:

What does it mean that the Thessalonians received Paul’s preaching of the Gospel to them as the Word of God and not the word of men?

Deeper Reflection
WHAT THE THESSALONIANS “HEARD FROM” PAUL, THEY “received” and “accepted it not as the word of men”, but “the word of God” (v.13). But what the Thessalonians “heard” were human words spoken by Paul. How then could they consider that “not as the word of men” but “the word of God” – and with the emphatic “what it really is”?The nature of the ministry of the Word is shaped by the nature of the Bible, the Word of God given as divine revelation. “The Bible is the Word of God given in the words of men in history.”31 That was how God gave us the Bible: “in the words of men” – the only way He can speak to us such that we can understand. Paul’s letters in the New Testament are considered as “Scriptures” (2 Pet 3:15-16), which he wrote as he was “carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet 1:20-21) and are thus “God-breathed” (2 Tim 3:16). But they are all written in human words, nonetheless. So, when we read Paul’s letters, we hear Paul’s voice and God’s voice through Paul’s voice.When we communicate in human words, thoughts, ideas and insights that are based on and built from the Scriptures, and we do so “not in persuasive words of [human and worldly] wisdom” (1 Cor 2:4), but by the power of the Holy Spirit with deep conviction (1 Thess 1:5), we are speaking the Word of God. Our speech can become “Scripturated” – influenced, formed and directed by the Scriptures – that we speak Scripturally, even without citing Scriptures. Jesus was like that.31 George Eldon Ladd, The New Testament and Criticism (Eerdmans, 1967), 12
Application:

How can I know that what I hear in a teaching or sermon, or what I teach others, is not the word of men but the Word of God?

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 faithfully keep a Word-centred and Word-directed ministry
  • 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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