Encourage and Bless

How do you encourage others? Do you praise them for their accomplishments? Do you tell them they can do whatever it is they are attempting? Do you encourage people in general ways? Do you encourage them by your presence? Do you encourage them through God?

Encouragement is needed by everyone. It is the encouragement of others that helps us accomplish the things we set out to do. It builds up our confidence. It lifts our spirits. We feel empowered with the encouragement of others and their belief in us.

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul did not offer just encouragement but a blessing from God. He first recognizes the love God has for us, followed by his grace being shown to us. He gives credit to God, lifting him up and reminding the people of Thessalonica that God loves them and has shed his grace upon them.

He then describes the grace they have received, which is eternal comfort and good hope. The word interpreted as comfort can also be interpreted as encourage. The meaning of the word eternal does not mean the encouraging does not occur until eternity but that it is continual, continuing into eternity.

Paul continues by blessing them by asking God to comfort/encourage and strengthen them in the good works they will do and the words they speak to one another. Blessing someone by asking God to encourage them and strengthen them can significantly boost their confidence, providing them the encouragement they need to carry the work God has set before them.

I pray we all encourage one another. I pray we bless one another by asking God to encourage us. I pray each one of us will accept the encouragement and blessing to accomplish the good works God has set before us. Encourage one another. Bless one another. Accept encouragement. Feel the blessing.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Do Not Be Shaken

Have you been shaken to your core? Has something unnerved you to the point of being immovable or unable to react? Does remembering it continue to cause you to shudder? What if you found out it was a hoax? What if the thing that shook you had all been a lie?

Horrific events can shake us, especially if they happen to us or we are in the vicinity of where they occur. Some of us will run into a burning building to save others. Some will be frozen by the horror. Some volunteer to help with disaster recovery while others don’t.

But what if the disaster was a hoax? What if it had been staged? If we discovered such a thing had been done, we would be outraged. The Apostle Paul warns the church in Thessalonica of just such a thing. Not about a disaster but about the coming of Jesus. He tells them, and us, not to be upset when they hear rumors. He explains that the lawless one, or the anti-Christ, must be revealed.

Throughout history, there have been many false accusations of someone being the anti-Christ, including Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and others. We must understand that the rebellion will be much larger than a single nation. It will be worldwide. There will be a power unlike we have seen before that will lead the rebellion. For it will be Satan’s right-hand demon leading it. Therefore, we are not to be alarmed by speculation and thoughtless rumors. Stand firm in your faith and wait patiently for Jesus’ return.

I pray we all understand the warning of Paul. I pray we are not quickly shaken by speculation. I pray each one of us will continue to stand firm in our faith and wait patiently for Jesus’ return. Understand the warning. Do not be quickly shaken. Wait patiently. Stand firm in your faith.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction.

The Lord is Near

What is true in your heart? What is it that you desire more than anything? Perceptions are often presented as truth. Perspectives are stated as truths. Desires are often for the things of this world. Chasing the next shiny object we see is the favorite pastime of many.

The Psalmist often cuts through the fog of this world and states truths we cannot argue with. If we do argue with them, we argue foolishly. The truths of the Psalms state who God is, what our relationship with him should be, and how we all should pursue God with our entire heart.

In today’s passage, the Psalmist clearly states that God is near us when we call on him. Yet, he qualifies it by saying we must call on God in truth. In other words, we must call on him with our entire heart. We must commit to him our entire being. We must trust him with every fiber of who are. There can be no falseness within us.

He goes on to say that God fulfills our desire. Again, he qualifies it by saying those who fear God. The word fear means both fear and to be in awe of. Therefore, when we have a healthy fear of God’s limitless power and are in awe of it, God will fill our desire because our desire will match his desire. In the same way, he will save us when we cry out to him.

God is all about relationship. He wants us to give our hearts to him. He wants us to be awed by his mighty power. He wants us to desire what he wants. It is when we have this kind of relationship with God that he comes near, fulfills our desire, and saves us when we cry out.

I pray we all are in awe of God’s mighty power. I pray we cry out to him in our need. I pray each one of us will seek a closer relationship with God and trust he will come near to us. Be in awe of God. Give God your entire heart. God will draw near to you. Make God’s desire your desire. Trust God will save you.

Psalm 145:18-19

The Lord is near to all who call on him, 

to all who call on him in truth. 

He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; 

he also hears their cry and saves them.

Tell Your Children About God

Do you pass along traditions to your children and grandchildren? Do you enjoy teaching them to things you have learned? Are you teaching them life skills? Are you passing down to them the wisdom you have acquired? Are you telling about God and how he has worked in your life?

Passing down traditions is important to some people. For some, those traditions have been in the family for generations. Loving parents teach their children and grandchildren life skills. We also pass on to them the wisdom we have gained, often acquired through hard lessons.

Teaching our children and grandchildren about God is the most important things we can do for them. There is so much to teach about God that we can spend our entire lifetimes teaching. Some may think they are not teachers, yet we all are. Teaching can be done through many forms.

We can teach in a traditional way, meaning through lessons. But the best way to teach our children and grandchildren is through normal discussions. As we are blessed, we can tell them about the blessing, attributing it to God. When they are experiencing challenges, we can pray with them and instruct them to pray on their own. We can show them nature and tell them God created it all. The younger we start with them, the more likely those lessons will stick with them throughout their life.

One of the best lessons we can teach our children and grandchildren is to continue to learn about God. Helping to understand that we can never know everything about God, but we can and should continue to learn about him. The gift of seeking out God is the greatest gift we can give them.

I pray we all teach our children and grandchildren about God. I pray we tell them about the blessings we have received. I pray each one of us will teach our children to pray to God in all situations. Teach your children and grandchildren about God. Tell about your blessings. Teach your children to pray.

Psalm 145:4-5

One generation shall extol your works to another 

and shall declare your mighty acts. 

They will recount the glorious splendor of your majesty, 

and on your wondrous works I will meditate.

God is Still with Us

Have you thought things have gotten out of hand? Have you wondered if our world is going downhill so fast it can never recover? Does it seem as though the “good times” are so far behind us you can’t remember them? Have you begun to lose heart?

There is no doubt we are living in times of struggle. Yet, as the author of Ecclesiastes says, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We may think our situation is unique or there has never been anything like this before. If so, we would be wrong.

It is true that we have more mechanical and technological things now than ever before. Yet, the ways of people are the same. The strong take advantage of the weak. The rich extort the poor. Those in power lord it over those who are not. It is nothing new. It has been going on for thousands of years.

Through the prophet Haggai, God asks if any of the Israelites remember his promise. He states that he is still with them. Though they may not have seen the glory of Israel under King David, God is still with them, and they are to work. He tells them they are not to fear.

We can take this same promise and admonishment. God is still with us. We are to work. What are we to work at? The things of God. We are to use the skills he has given us. We are to seek justice, love one another, show grace and mercy to others, care for the widows and orphans, and welcome those who are marginalized. These are the good works God has put before us.

I pray we all know that God is still with us. I pray we work at the good works he has set before us. I pray each one of us will seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and trust God will provide. God is still with us. Do the good works of God. Seek God’s guidance. Trust God will provide.

Haggai 2:3-5 “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.”

Desire to See

Have you ever had a desire to see someone famous? Has there been a specific famous person you would do almost anything to see? What did you do? Were you able to see them? Did it make you happy? Did you feel fulfilled? Do you desire to see Jesus in the same way?

We see people who are fanatic about seeing famous people. Some are willing to pay any price to see them. Some may even use violence to see them. Perhaps some of you have paid an exorbitant price or done something foolish to see someone famous.

There was madness when the Beatles first came to the U.S. Famous soccer players must have security details in some places in the world. There have been people who have been infatuated with movie stars and done outlandish things to be near them.

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus badly. So much so that he ran ahead to climb a sycamore tree. It was not only his curiosity but being drawn to Jesus. Jesus had an aura about Him that drew people of all types to Him—the poor, the widows, the diseased, the broken, the curious, and those who wanted to learn from Him.

We should be drawn to Jesus like Zacchaeus. But since Jesus is not physically with us, many of us are only cursorily drawn to Him. To be drawn more to Him we must learn more about Him. As we learn more and spend more time with Him, we are drawn more to Him.

I pray we all seek to know more about Jesus. I pray we spend time with Him to grow closer to Him. I pray each one of us will be drawn to Jesus like Zacchaeus was. Seek to know more about Jesus. Spend time with Jesus. Be drawn to Jesus. Desire to see Jesus.

Luke 19:2-4 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.

Notice Jesus

How often do we miss the little things? How often is our focus on something else when a small detail alludes our attention? What are we missing when we miss the minor detail? Are we missing something significant? What if we were to pay close attention? Would our lives become richer?

Missing the little can make all the difference in how we perceive something. Our perspective can be out of whack. We think we know something when we don’t really understand. It is often the little things missed that cause us to misunderstand someone’s reaction or how they feel.

Read today’s passage. It sounds insignificant. It seems to be a side note to Jesus’s travels. We may think, “So what?” Pay close attention. Jesus enters Jericho. First, remember Jericho is the city around which Joshua led the Israelites and the walls came down miraculously. It is not an insignificant city in Jewish lore.

Second, it says Jesus was passing through it. He is likely walking through on the main road. There would have been many travelers on this road. Yet, Jesus was recognized among the throngs of people on the road. He might have passed unnoticed. But someone saw Him and knew who He was. Word spread quickly.

Without noticing the small things, we often miss significant things. I know I have missed the underlying feelings of people. I have not noticed the gracious actions of others. The beauty of wildflowers growing along the highway have been unseen by me. I believe we miss many of the small things. Why? We are too focused on ourselves and our experiences to see what is going on all around us.

Zacchaeus didn’t miss Jesus passing through Jericho. He heard and had to see. Are we hearing and need to see Jesus in our lives? We might be missing Him by not fully seeing others. He may pass right by us without our noticing. Perhaps we should pay closer attention to the small things, notice what is going on around us, and not just the negative things, but the positive things.

I pray we all choose to open our eyes to see the small things. I pray we notice the good things all around us. I pray each one of us seeks to hear and see Jesus in our everyday lives. Open your eyes. Open your ears. Notice the small things. Hear Jesus. See Jesus. He is active every day.

Luke 19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it.

Works of Faith

What do you pray for? Do you pray to be worthy? Do you pray that God will grant his power to you? Do you pray for your works of faith? Do you pray that Jesus will be glorified through your works? Do you ask God to shed his grace on you? Do you know prayer is very important?

We pray for many things, often things we want. We don’t always pray that God will grant us his power or his grace. We don’t always pray that we do the works God has set before and that he will bless us in doing so. We don’t always pray that God guide us we can glorify him.

Not only do we not often pray for those things for ourselves, we also don’t pray for them for others. The Apostle Paul prayed for those things for the church in Thessalonica. He wanted them to be blessed with God’s power and grace. He wanted them to be blessed in the works God had set before them, not for their sake, but so God would be glorified.

When we pray that God’s will be done and that he provides all that is needed for it, God will do as we ask. God desires us to carry out his will, which includes the good works he has set before us to do. His power and grace will be granted to us as we go about doing his work. That work is the works of faith Paul is praying for. All of this is done to glorify God and to show God to others. So, pray for these things.

I pray we all pray that God’s will be done. I pray we ask for God’s power and grace. I pray each one of us will ask God to show us the works he has set before us and that we may glorify him. Pray God’s will be done. Ask for God’s power. Ask for God’s grace. Ask God to show you the works he has for you. Glorify God in your works of faith.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith, Love, and Thankfulness

How often do you give thanks for the people in your life? Are you thankful you have family, friends, co-workers, and disciples you attend church with? Is your faith growing in Jesus Christ? Is your love for the people in your life increasing? Are you seeing them as Jesus sees them?

We often take people for granted. We interact with them, visit with them, work side-by-side, and become accustomed to them being there. Even though we shouldn’t, we assume they will always be there, or at least for as far into the future as we can see.

Though many of us will say we are not guaranteed tomorrow, we don’t typically live that way. We plan for tomorrow, next week, months ahead, and sometimes years ahead. It is wise for us to plan ahead. Yet, we also must live in the moment. We must realize there are no guarantees. We should appreciate the people who are with us. And we should let them know.

We also should be growing our faith. We do that by reading and studying God’s Word and recognizing God working in our lives. We experience God every day, though we often do not identify it. God works through every situation, evening using what we call bad situations for our good.

As we recognize God working in our lives, we should also recognize God working in the lives of others. Seeing people as Jesus sees them will change our perspective. When we see each person as being made in the image of God, our love for them will increase. It is a challenge, at times, but it is very rewarding when we do so.

I pray we all are thankful for the people in our lives. I pray we continue to grow in our faith. I pray each one of us will see others as Jesus sees them and increase our love for them. Be thankful for the people in your life. Grow in your faith. See others as Jesus sees them. Increase your love for others.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

Trouble and Anguish

In times of trouble, we often desire help, even if we don’t ask for it directly. When we are in anguish, filled with sorrow, grief, depression, or frustration, we silently wish that someone would take it away. We may cry out in anger when in trouble or in anguish.

Experiencing troubles, regardless of the type, are frustrating. They can lead to depression or anger. Our troubles are sometimes of our own making and other times are a result of other’s actions. It doesn’t matter. They have a negative effect on us either way.

When we experience anguish, including sorrow and grief, it can seem as though it will never end. Minutes seem like hours. Hours seem like days. And days seem like weeks. It can run so deep within us that we think we will never overcome it. When a loved one is lost, a hole is left behind that nothing else can fill.

The Psalmist experiences both trouble and anguish but doesn’t allow himself to be consumed by them. Instead, he seeks out God. He acknowledges that God’s commands are his delight. He knows that they are righteous commands. He understands that those commands help him to better understand God and that understanding allows him to live.

It is not easy to do, but following the example of the Psalmist can help us get through those times of trouble and anguish. We can point to not only God’s commands but his promises. Knowing each of them, holding on to them, and trusting in God will get us through the toughest of times.

I pray we all turn to God during times of trouble. I pray we trust in God’s plan when we are in anguish. I pray each one of us know God’s commands and his promises, allowing them to guide us. Turn to God. Trust in God. Know God’s commands. Know God’s promises. God is always with you.

Psalm 119:143-144

Trouble and anguish have come upon me, 

but your commandments are my delight. 

Your decrees are righteous forever; 

give me understanding that I may live.