Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18; 3:1-2
Mon, 4 April 2022

Passion for Building Lives

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Paul in his ministry to the Thessalonians?

Deeper Reflection
PAINFULLY SEPARATED BY FORCE FROM THE THESSALONIANS, Paul persisted in making every possible attempt to return to Thessalonica to continue his ministry of building the faith of the new believers, but was not successful (vv.17-18). And his repeated efforts “were made more frustrating by the lack of news about the church there”4 that was undergoing persecution. The burning question in Paul’s heart was, “Are they still standing in their faith?” The suspense grew until “we could bear it no longer” (1 Thess 3:1). This is godly anxiety for others.5 Paul’s godly anxiety for others was displayed on another occasion. Writing to the Corinthians, he gives a long list of his many sufferings for Christ and the Gospel (2 Cor 11:23-27), which he ends with, “And, besides all this, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?” (2 Cor 11:28-296).Paul’s godly anxiety for the Thessalonians led him to doing what is best with all the constraints and limitations upon him: “we thought it best to be left behind in Athens alone, and we sent Timothy” (1 Thess 3:1-2). Paul gave Timothy a “daring assertion” and an “exalted description”7: “God’s co-worker in the gospel of Christ.” Paul was deliberate in using “God’s”, to show that he was sending “a gifted and qualified representative”8. When Paul could not return to the Thessalonians himself, he sent the next best person for the task (cf. Phil 2:19-20).
4 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 64 5 G. K. Beale, 1-2 Thessalonians, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (IVP Academic, 2003), 95 6 Reconstruction with ESV and NLT 7 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 64 8 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 64
Application:

How do I feel and respond to people who need help, but whom I am not able to help?

Prayer:
O God of the nations, who loves mankind and desires all people to be saved, when I see the many, many poor and needy people in the world, and the injustice that they suffer, I feel so helpless, that in my limitations I cannot do much more, except to pray. I pray that You in Your sovereign mercy, wisdom and power, will intervene to help and save these people.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To see God’s flock in the church as their joy and glory
  • 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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