This Is the New Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we’ll continue reading the Pauline Epistles.
What Is 1 Thessalonians? The book of 1 Thessalonians is Paul’s letter of encouragement to the church in Thessalonica concerning their sustained faith in the midst of suffering. The letter served to correct misunderstandings about end-time events and to remind readers that continued sanctification is God’s will for them.
How 1 Thessalonians Fits Into the Story: First Thessalonians contributes to our understanding of the second coming of Christ. Paul wrote this letter to correct the church’s misunderstandings of this teaching and, in the process, showed that Christ’s eventual return gives us true hope in all circumstances. He also speaks to the practices that make us more like Christ.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can the acts of rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving train and develop believers to become more like Christ? How does this mindset provide comfort in every season?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
Rejoice always! I see how far God has brought my son. The times I got through only because of him. The peace my relationship with God brings to me. I’m so thankful for it. I want to be able to see God in all circumstances.
It brings tears to my eyes to know that you lovely ladies take the time to pray for us. Thank you! I pray for you all each day, but I think I’m going to start a prayer journal and write them down. I used to do that and it is very helpful.
Rejoicing can be done in many ways. Just saying in the morning when when you get up, “Good morning Lord, thanks for another day.” or singing in church or to the radio or around your home. God doesn’t care how we rejoice and praise Him just that we do rejoice and praise Him and Christ. Prayer can be as quick as, “Please Lord I need help.” to as long as naming any and every person and thing you what or need help with. The Lord’s ears are always open and are always listening. You can pray at 2 pm or 3 am it DOESN’T matter to Him. Giving thanks is something we should do every day and more often than that. Yes I know you wonder sometimes what you have to be thankful for: 1.) you’re alive and breathing, 2.) you’re able to read this, 3.) you have a place to live and food to eat, do I need to go on. Just look around and you will find things to give thanks for. The Lord’s love out shines everything and we need to pass this on however we can.
I’ve been reading a Joyce Meyer book (for the second or third time) titled, “Help Me, I’m Depressed”. She has several in her “Help Me” series including “I’m Stressed” and “I’m Afraid” and “I’m Worried”. They are quick, easy reads and great for the soul and spirit.
Have a blessed, wonderful and God-driven day my sisters.
Yay! Praise God @Victoria E! @Tracy G praying for your husband.
I loved the variety of verses SRT puts together, today the combination of Matthew and 1 Thessalonians connected for me. His yoke is easy and light, our role is to; rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks and be at peace with one another. He will take care of the rest. So let us put on our armor of faith and love, and our helmets of hope of salvation, and continue to encourage one another as we are already doing.
CeeGee, ERB, Foster mama, Taylor, Angie, and everyone who prayed (I’m sure I’m leaving off people!) thank you! God is so good and faithful and he hears us when we pray! Miri am, Laura, Melanie, and Foster mama , I will be praying for each of your situations. The enemy is real and wants to steal our joy, and destroy the good things that God has given us, but prayer and praise pushes him back! Being alert to the enemy is so important! A lot of my crippling anxiety I have come to realize are thoughts from the enemy designed to make me doubt God’s goodness and faithfulness. Once I realized this and began to focus on God my anxiety is better ! Praise Him!
Amen Heidi V! I too had the same reaction reading “rejoice always” even a few months ago but now I can see that even when everything is looking bleak there is always something to rejoice about and the act of finding it and praising God has really changed my life ! Make no mistake, I still struggle with this but I can at least see the wisdom in those words !
Thank you Victoria! I wrote your words down. Thank you for your prayers.
Dear ERB, always joy in your words about God’s word. Isaiah 61, indeed so good and yes the whole chapter. Don’t you love that the clothes/garments He gives us are praise, salvation and righteousness. So lovely He dresses us, Amen, and a crown of Beauty instead of Ashes. Just reflecting on this I think how many circumstances we/I can get stuck in and dwell in the ashes of it, or what the negative is. But God, He shines even in these depths and when my eyes are on Him and what He is doing, the joy is revealed even in the sorrow. And then in the beginning where Isaiah reflects on what God calls him to, and us I believe, so much to keep in mind here as we go about our daily lives. If we need to remember all He brings to us and through us to others. Isaiah says “Because the Spirit of the Soveregn Lord is on me (I love this title for the Holy Spirit) because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. How Great is our God ERB, praying His garments, His crown for you in your sufferings that above it all you feel His joy and His healing weaving through it all. XOXO Shout out some praise to our God who saves.
Sisters, I have been praying for the many needs here. Traci Gendron praying for Tom and for you. May you feel Jesus with you, beside you. Lord God, please bring your miracles for Tom and Tanner, your peace and love so strong. Show us your hand, your touch Jesus. Gina, I have been praying for your husband and you. Healing, but also God’s provision in whatever is needed. He does provide, please know this, I can testify that money though it can enslave thoughts and bind us up. He is more than able, trust this. Bridget V praying for your family, feel God wants me to say, lay down the heaviness of this, you don’t have to carry it all. His hands are big enough His love all encompassing and His healing will come. Dear Melanie, crying out to Jesus to cast this pain into the sea, to bring His miracles, whether it is His immediate touch, giving wisdom to the right doctor, or bringing the answer right to your heart and mind. I know He knows, praying you feel His strength mighty until His healing comes. Amber R, Praying for your husband, God’s truth Jesus to come in gentle ways to reveal to his heart all that he needs. Kristine L praying for your daughter. Miriam, praying, know that you are important enough to make the decisions that are right for you, for your health, for your safety, and that God will bring you peace. Hugs to you. Emily Tyson, praise God they are new every morning. That is Who He is. Jen Brewer praying your family has no lasting issues and are completely healed from covid. Angie praying for your teens and all teens, the blatancy and desensitation of this world in media is so damaging to the minds and hearts of our young girls and boys. Praying the light of Jesus reveal the darkness. We really need to be praying daily protection, and strength, for it is the youth who when they stand up against it in Christ will be heard. Your light is shining Him for these girls, what an eternal gift Angie, thank you. Laura, praying for you. I feel God’s leading to say, your daughter is trying to survive, as so many her age are, the expectations they see in the media, in friends, in self and the lies that confront them. But God, He will pursue her with His love, you can trust this and lay down the path you see she is on to know that He chases after her and all of us, the lost sheep. What she will see is the grace she is given, only this and the faith that you have in Him. With my own daughter in the depths of her journey, I had to remove all judgement that was wrapped around me wanting to save her, because it was condemning and she couldn’t see the love in me telling her what was right and wrong. She was in her own battle and truly, though I couldn’t see it at the time, her own heart was already convicting her, because God was already working, and not because of anything I had done. And I had to release her into the hands of the Almighty and know that only He was able. Please call her what He calls her Beloved, for no matter where are children are, that is what they are to our Lord. Foster Mama, that must have been you I heard singing in my heart. God be praised, thanks for the smile. Claire B, praying you feel His light bright, and His joy abundant this day. Hugs and love to you all. Our light has come, look in the mirror for you are wearing His crown of beauty, move away from the ashes, the judgement, or whatever is trying to turn your gaze from His love and wear with grace the praise, the righteousness in Jesus, the salvation that will shine with His incredible love. Beautiful day in Colorado. Thanks for letting me go on. Thank you for your prayers,
@MAURA ♥️
Sydney… This world confuses HAPPINESS with JOY, doesn’t it?
Absolutely!! But JOY is so much more than mere happiness and how lovely it is to rest in the joy we are given by God!!
Paul’s words (“let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled.”) in Thessalonians reminds me of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane urging the guys to stay awake and pray. We may not be able to control what happens in this world but we can stay alert and in prayer against all evil. That is our calling as children of the light.
Praying along with you and PRAISING God for your report, VICTORIA E.!!! I agree with ERB’s beautiful prayer!
Thank you CeeGee!!