Sorry for the delay in posting today's notes/thoughts. Our Internet has been down for hours.Today's passage once again reminds us that persecution and suffering are unavoidable for those who want to follow the Lord (John 15:20-21). Therefore, the fact that the Thessalonians were being allowed to suffer for their faith, and the fact that in doing so their faith, love, and hope were increasing and strengthening was evidence that God was using this persecution to show his justice. Through suffering, God’s people are strengthened. In suffering, they can remember that they would be made worthy of his Kingdom. Suffering is not a prerequisite to salvation, but suffering and subsequent faithfulness through suffering shows God’s work in believers’ lives and thus their worthiness for his Kingdom.
Paul and his coworkers kept on praying for the Thessalonian believers, just as Paul prayed for all the churches. Although the promise of future glory is sure, believers still have a battle here on earth and the need for constant prayer from fellow believers. What were Paul and his coworkers praying for? The “calling” from God is that his people become like Christ (Romans 8:29). To be worthy of this calling means to want to do what is right and good.
As chapter two begins we see once again the work of false teachers. These false teachers were saying that the judgment day had already begun. Further, they had claimed to have had a vision, a revelation to this event. When Christ didn’t come and when suffering continued, the believers were becoming shaken and troubled. These words picture unsettled minds and a continuing state of anxiety. They certainly wondered if they had somehow missed out or if they were not going to be saved.
Having just painted the picture of a world taken over by evil, Paul next exhorted the believers to stand firm in their faith. Once again, Paul and his companions paused to thank God for what he had done and was continuing to do through the Thessalonian believers. In contrast to people who will rebel against God and face eternal destruction, those who believe have a glorious future.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
1 Peter 2:21 (NIV) reminds us of this - "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."
I'm not sure any of us would willingly walk the road of suffering and pain and persecution on our own. Yet, that is the road that God chooses to use to grow us and mature us.
Remember that the next time you question the hand of God when the fat hits the fan. Remember that the next time loneliness and grieving overwhelm you.
All the worry that you're worrying about -- whatever it is -- worry is a control issue. The root behind all of your worry is a fear that you are not in control. Worry is always an attempt to control the uncontrollable. Worry is assuming responsibility God never meant for you to have. Whenever you try to control the uncontrollable (kids, U.S., economy, environment...) you're going to worry. Worry is a warning light. Whenever you start to worry the light should go off: Warning!-- you're trying to control too much. That is the root behind all worry. Every time you start to worry, you're trying to control something that you shouldn't be trying to control in the first place.
Who's in control of your life? God gives you the option. He doesn't force Himself on anybody's life. You have two options -- either you can be in control of your life or you can let God be in control of your life. God doesn't co-pilot. You'd crash and He'd get blamed. God is not going to force it on you, but either you can be in control of your life or you can let Him be in control of your life. He made you. He knows what will make you happy more than you do. He has the power to bring those things to pass. But He's still going to give you the option.
If you are in control of your life you're playing God. Playing God is the root of worry. Every time you start playing God, you're going to worry. When you start trying to control things and make them work... and force yourself to try to control many things that are out of your control then inside there's a little voice that says "Who are you kidding? You know you're not God and you and God know that you don't have it all together." It's an issue of control.
If you're running your own life without God's direction, you ought to be worried. Most of the things in your life you can't control. Then you have every reason to worry.
But if God is running your life and He's your Lord and your Shepherd you know He can control anything so you don't sweat it. I make Jesus the Lord of my life.
Begin Praying About Everything
Pray about all the stuff you usually worry about. Just talk to God. He wants your friendship, your relationship. You don't have time to pray? Do you have time to worry? If we prayed about all the things we worry about we would have an awfully lot less to worry about. Worry doesn't change anything; prayer does. Worry is stewing without doing. Prayer gets in touch with God who can change it. Whenever I'm worried I have two options -- I can panic or I can pray.
Philippians 4:6 says, "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs... if you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand."
Everything. Don't just pray about religious things. Most people, when they pray, pray prayers they think God wants to hear. Pray about everything. If it's big enough to worry about, it's big enough to pray about. God's ability is greater than your anxiety.
I Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all of your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Cast means to unload, let it go. The Greek word literally means drop. Unload it. Prayer is an incredible stress reliever. All -- whatever you're stressed out about, upset about, irritated about. Cast it all on Him. Dump it on Him. Unload. The problem is, most of us do the casting like we do in fishing. We cast our worries out and then we real them back in. Today, unload you burdens at His feet. God loves you.
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