Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, June 14, 2018
Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-06-14-2018
This is devotional thought number 59 in our devotional series titled, “The Gospel According to Paul.”
“We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia. And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4–10, NLT).
Do you want the formula for earning the confidence and trust of our youth (or anyone else, for that matter), which more times than not, will lead them to a stable relationship with God? Give keen attention to what Paul says and does in our theme text. It’s a model for success.
First, he endears the people to God and himself by assuring them of God’s love and holy calling in their lives. So many of our youth are not convinced of God’s love for them because of the way they have been treated, their self-perception, misguidance from certain entertainment, etc. Some need to be consistently reassured.
Secondly, Paul shows that He forged a relationship with these folks as he shared the gospel of Christ. Did you get that? He did not just talk about the gospel of Christ; he also lived it out among them with power from the Holy Spirit. He was not aloof and merely instructional. He, Silas, and Timothy lived a holy example among them. He was honest with his new friends about the sufferings they would endure for Christs’ sake, which, since they had learned to be faithful would make them models for moral endurance and holiness for persons far and wide to emulate. Clearly, they fully embraced the good news of Jesus Christ, which is how they were able to become such great examples.
Thirdly, and final, Paul encouraged them concerning their testimony that they were eagerly awaiting the return of their risen Savior who rescued them from the coming judgment. When our youth are eagerly awaiting Jesus’ arrival, encourage them! Tell them that it will not be long now. Soon, the One who shall come will come, and not delay.
If you want to reach youth for the kingdom, demonstrate genuine love, encourage their faith, encourage their success, join in close relationships with them, and pray for them always as people from around your church, community, and around the world recognize God’s good work in their lives.
I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, are you?—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)