2 Thessalonians 1
April 7, 2022
“Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” (v4)
Paul is like a proud dad, posting and “boasting” (v4) about his children, who are faithfully enduring difficult circumstances. As a father, there are few things that make me prouder than watching my children persevere through something difficult. The same is true as a pastor - when I watch one of my brothers or sisters enduring a trial. It’s hard to watch people I care about experiencing pain, but when they persevere through it, my heart is full of pride and joy.
Father, thank You for reminding me this morning of how persevering through trials brings You joy. After all, if my heart is moved to joy, watching my children endure hardship, why wouldn’t the same be true of You, my Heavenly Father? I know I am already fully loved and approved by You through Christ, but I still want to endure the hard parts of today in a way that brings You joy. Empower me, by Your Spirit, to that end!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
