by Pastor Cecil | Feb 12, 2013 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
Some of you who are reading the Daily-E-Votional for today feel that you are at the end of your rope. The pressures of life have been crushing in on you from all directions and, one after another, your safe havens have disappeared. You may even feel that there is no place to go for help.
Hope is more than mere wishful thinking that things may get better. That concept of the meaning of the word hope seems to be all too common. It is thought of as wishing for something that probably will not happen, but we know the likelihood is very slim.
Let me correct that idea for us once and for all. The Greek word for hope as used in 1 Thessalonians 2:19 is the word elpis. It carries with it the meaning of confident expectation that God is the answer. Do you hear that? It is confidently waiting for something the Lord has prepared especially for us!
Please read that last sentence over one more time. It is not what we desire for ourselves, but what God wants to do in and through us. I think the greatest joy in life is to be used of God.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 22, 2012 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thinks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Today is November 22nd — the date that we officially celebrate Thanksgiving Day here in the United States this year. Canada celebrated its Thanksgiving Day on October 8th. Many other nations also have designated days to give thanks.
It is easy to fall into the trap of being thankful only for the material things of life . . . food, clothing, house, job, bank account . . . you get the picture. We certainly should be thankful for these things, but there are other reasons to be eternally thankful. Being thankful is not, or at least it should not be, a once-a-year thing. As members of God’s family we are to be thankful at all times. It is not our prerogative to choose when we will be thankful and what we will be thankful for.
In today’s Scripture Paul admonishes the church at Thessalonica (as well as all of us) that we are to: Be joyful always. Do you frequently look as though you have been baptized in vinegar? That, my dear friend, is not being continually joyful.
Paul’s second admonition is that we are to: Pray continually. Here is another embarrassing question: How is your prayer life? Are you continually speaking to the Lord in prayer? It is a discipline that we need to pursue.
The last admonition is in line with today’s topic. Here is what the Lord expects of us: Give thanks in all circumstances. Chew on that while you are munching on your sumptuous dinner. What if you had little or nothing to eat? Would you still give thanks? That is exactly the Lord’s will in any and every circumstance. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 5, 2012 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2
Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
While the date of this Daily-E-Votional is July 5th, I am writing it on the 4th. It is a day here in the US where we celebrate freedom. Canada celebrated their day of freedom and birth on the 1st. Mexico celebrates on May 5th. Other nations have their own day to celebrate freedom.
Years ago I heard a wise man remark that freedom is not the right to do what we want, but the choice to do what we ought. My freedom comes to a screeching halt when it imposes on the freedom of another person.
Freedom to do what we want is very self-centered. The craving of the flesh begs for something new and thrilling. When we base our life and conduct primarily on things that will satisfy only ourselves, we are guilty of using our freedom in a selfish manner.
According to the Word of God, we are to constantly keep inquiring of the Lord what He desires for us to do, to go and to be. It is not our own life that we are to live, but His life flowing through us.
I think it is way past time for true believers to stand out from the rest of the world in our freedom to serve Jesus in all that we do and say. My prayer is that we will be in touch with the Lord and truly say, NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE THROUGH ME.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 13, 2012 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
In yesterday’s E-Votional I made a glaring error. I was thinking Joseph, but typed David. It was not my lack of understanding, but perhaps just my fumbled fingers working while my thoughts were racing ahead. I am so thankful for dear friends who picked up my mistake and alerted me. Being thankful is not, or at least it should not be a rare commodity. As members of God’s family we are to be thankful at all times, even when we have made mistakes. It is not our prerogative to choose what we will be thankful for.
In today’s Scripture, Paul admonishes the church at Thessalonica (as well as all of us) that we are to: BE JOYFUL ALWAYS. It is easy to become defensive and resentful when it is clear that we have been wrong. It is important that we grab hold of Paul’s admonition and be joyful that there are friends who care enough about us to correct our errors.
Paul’s second admonition is that we are to: PRAY CONTINUALLY. Here is another embarrassing question: How is your prayer life? Are you continually speaking to the Lord in prayer? It is a discipline that we need to pursue.
The last admonition is in line with today’s topic. Here is what the Lord expects of us: GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. Our life should be different from the world. We grow in grace as we recognize that we need each other. It is like steel sharpening steel. Thanks to all of you who are faithful to keep me true to the Word of God.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 2, 2012 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
When I was growing up, many of my experiences revolved around the church. It was twice on Sunday, Wednesday night plus special services thrown in for good measure. Most of the people were a great example, but then there was the woman on the other side of the church that looked like she had been baptized in vinegar!
I can almost hear some of you yell out that you had the same woman in your congregation. Sadly, there always seems to be at least one in every crowd. They frown and complain about everything. We kids imitated the way she carried on and the horrible faces she would make. There may have been joy in her soul, but she did a good job of hiding it from her face and with her words!
What should the true Christian look and act like? According to this passage in 1 Thessalonians, our face should express joy at all times. Wait a minute! Did I just say that? Well it wasn’t me it was what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.
Be joyful always. That does not say sometimes or when we feel like it, but we are to be joyful always. Even in when we have just received devastating news we should be joyful. Not because we are like spiritual robots, but because we have the Lord in our hearts to comfort and guide us. If I stopped here it would be like leaving you in outer space. There is more we are also told, Pray continually. What are we going to do about working, sleeping and the other normal activities of life? Praying continually means that we are to maintain a close relationship with the Lord. If we can text one another we can pray.
There is a third step in today’s Scripture-we are to, Give thanks in all circumstances. This is similar to the first directive for us to always be joyful. It is our acknowledgment that we agree with what God is doing with our life. All means . . . ALL!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 8, 2011 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
As a little boy I remember (it’s really a stretch to recall that far back) mom getting after me for getting dirty just before we were ready to go to church. I could not understand why she made such a big deal about it until we had kids of our own and knew firsthand the frustration of thinking you are all ready to go, only to discover one of your offspring looking like they had rolled in the dirt.
As years progressed I also became keenly aware of those people who claimed to be committed Christians who allowed their testimony to be sullied by giving all the signs of a sinful lifestyle. In some cases I discovered they had not done anything wrong, but by their association with questionable practices they “seemed” dirty.
Today’s Scripture is one of those passages that I like to consider in reverse order. The first thought I see is the admonition to, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” When we ask ourselves how we can do that, the answer is given immediately preceding this word, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
Our failure to prove all things and hold fast to those things that are righteous and good, will result in living a life that is questionable. As faithful believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, our life should be above reproach. Let’s live above question about our conduct and behavior.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
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