Your daily goal:
Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
(Monday-Friday, from my daily study time, I will write a short thought for that day which I pray God will use to motivate you to ‘GO’ for that day. Your objective is simple…to GO…to GO OUT and share the love of Christ with someone in that day….to GO and bear fruit …to be light to the world.)
Today’s Daily Light
This is from earlier in the week from my friend and pastor David from his daily quiet time and study. He uses and teaches the S.O.A.P. method of spending time with the Lord through the word. Study, Observe, Apply, Pray. This particular S.O.A.P. spoke to me and I wanted to share it with you.
3-21-18 1Thes 1:2-3 Faith, Hope and Love
1Th. 1:2 “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul recognized in them the qualities of maturity – faith, hope and love. He also describes these in 1Cor 13 and Col 1. They were important and discernable. He saw good works in their church, but it wasn’t the works alone that impressed him, it was that theycame from faith – confidence that Jesus was God and coming again and it was all worth it. They labored – hard work- not out of duty, or for human praise, but because of the love of God in their hearts. Love for Him and for one another. They were being transformed to a truly loving group of people. People who had been selfish, were loving others.
And they had a steadfastness that came from hope – the confidence that Jesus was coming back. The word “endurance” or steadfastness literally means to “remain under the load” – a picture of a donkey with a heavy load in his back, but that does not roll over to get rid of it, but who trusts the master will remove it at the right time. There will be many circumstances that produce anxiety, impatience and frustration in us, but if we have confidence in His return for us, we can endure with calmness and serenity. We can, and must maintain confidence in a great God or we will focus on the circumstances around us and become discouraged.
Lord, I pray for those same qualities in me that Paul saw in the Thessalonians – faith, hope and love. Help me work hard, because of faith in You and because Your love has deeply touched me. Help me look forward to your return so that I have the endurance to never give up. I pray for unmistakable evidence of Your life in me, that shows I am maturing in Christ! Amen
(Red highlight is provided by me to make it my deepest prayer as well)
(Next week we will continue in ‘The Search For Significance…have a blessed weekend).
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