Scripture:
2 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Thu, 28 July 2022

Standing Firm: God’s Righteous Judgment

Observation:

How does Paul respond to the persistence of the Thessalonians’ suffering for their faith?

Deeper Reflection
SUFFERING SHOULD BE EXPECTED IN BEING PART OF THE kingdom of God: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:10). And it is a divine necessity: “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). What does it mean to suffer for the sake of righteousness? Suffering for righteousness’ sake happens when we suffer unjustly. Living righteously is delightful, but suffering in unjustness is painful. The pain can increase as the suffering in unjustness persists, and then there is the divine silence and inactivity with regards to divine vindication. And as the divine silence and inactivity prolong, we can feel so overwhelming that we begin to wonder about or question the righteousness and justice of God.The “persecutions” and the “afflictions” that the Thessalonians suffered for their faith (1 Thess 1:6; 2:14) persisted (v.4). They were enduring the tribulations with steadfastness, but still apparently, they had been “asking questions about the rationale of their afflictions. Why were they having to suffer so much?”60 Paul answers their questions by pointing them to the two-pronged “righteous judgment of God” (v.5): God will “repay with affliction those who afflict you” (v.6) and “grant relief to you who are afflicted” (v.7). But the repayment and the relief may not come any time soon as we wish. They will certainly come “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven” (v.7). Meanwhile, as we persevere on in our suffering, we pray that God will “direct” our hearts “to the perseverance of Christ” (2 Thess 3:5).
60 John R. W. Stott, 140
Application:

What does it mean for me to suffer with a theocentric perspective and
attitude?

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 rest in God’s righteousness in suffering any injustice
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

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 power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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