Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3; Romans 5:1-5
Thu, 10 February 2022

Eminent Characteristics of God’s People (2)

Observation:

What is “labour of love” and “steadfastness of hope” in Paul’s thanksgiving to God for the Thessalonians?

Deeper Reflection
PAUL THANKED GOD FOR THE THESSALONIANS’ “Labour of love” after their “work of faith” (v.3). Elsewhere, Paul talks about “faith working through love” (Gal 5:6), thus linking faith and love. The Thessalonians expressed their love in “hard, strenuous and exhausting labour”36. True love is far from being simply an emotion, it seeks the best for the other and labours for the other’s benefit.37 The Thessalonians’ “labour of love” “refers to any kind of self-sacrificing labour the believers engaged in as they served those both inside and outside the community”38. Let this “labour of love” be found first in our marriage and family, and then flow out into the church and the world. The Thessalonians lived as a people of hope in the God of hope (cf. Rom 15:13). Their hope was marked by perseverance, endurance and steadfastness (v.3). Perseverance, endurance and steadfastness is possible when our hope is in a person – “in our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.3). And this presupposes a growing relationship with Christ as “Lord” in our lives and seeing Him as “Lord” sitting on the throne, ruling supremely over all things. And this hope is solid confidence rooted in the expectation of Christ’s coming, the goal and end of history. For Paul, perseverance is produced through suffering, and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope (Rom 5:3-4). “Character produces hope” means that hope is character.
36 Gene L. Green, 90 37 Gene L. Green, 90 38 Gene L. Green, 90
Application:

How am I growing in “labour of love” and “steadfastness of hope”?

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 Outreach/Missions/New Life leaders: To grow deep in love and steadfast in hope
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 5:7-17
Wed, 31 May 2023

Answering God’s Call in Vocation

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
Daniel did not choose to serve Babylonian kings in Babylon. It was circumstances – a national crisis of his country – that compelled Daniel to be where he was and doing what he was doing. Daniel did not have the privilege, opportunity or freedom to pursue a career of his own desire. However, it was out of these adverse circumstances, that Daniel discovered God’s call for him: To serve God through serving Babylonian kings. And God gave him the specific competency to fulfil God’s call (Dan 1:17). After Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar about his dream and the interpretation, he was “promoted” to be “ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan 2:48).When Belshazzar gathered his wise men to interpret for him the inscription on the wall, Daniel was not among them. Daniel was not unknown to Belshazzar.59 He knew him as “one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah” and “appointed him chief ” over all the wise men of Babylon (vv.11-12). It was only when the queen mentioned Daniel to him, that Belshazzar called for him (vv.10-11). Belshazzar “deliberately ignored Daniel”60 . Daniel was sidelined. How do you respond to being sidelined? For Daniel, he felt secure. Daniel was secure because he had no ambition to climb the corporate ladder. He had no interest in rewards and promotion. Daniel said to Belshazzar, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else” (vv.16-17). But Daniel interpreted the inscription for Belshazzar. Daniel was answering God’s call for him.
59 Ernest C. Lucas, 131 60 Ernest C. Lucas, 131
Application:

What positive attitudes do I need to cultivate in my workplace?

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 the Generations: To view their vocation as answering God’s call for their lives
  • Pray for self
 

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