Audience of One

1 Thess. 2:4 "For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts."

Paul is explaining to the Thessalonian Christians that he does what he does to spread the gospel and please God. He does not do it for himself, for his glory, or to win the favor of people.

Too often I want to please people. I am a people pleaser by nature-or nurture perhaps-I'll blame it on my parents! I do know this about myself. Maybe it stems from some insecurity in my past or feelings of inadequacy? I have no idea. At times it is a strength but more often than not it is a weakness. In the past several years I have grown significantly and I feel I have overcome this weakness but it still comes back every so often. The key for me in overcoming this is knowing and owning who I am in Jesus. I am secure and founded and loved in him alone. And this is so refreshing and so easy! It's much easier serving an audience of one than an audience of many.

Dear Jesus, help me please you today. Amen.

First Things First

John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!"

Jesus is giving a bit a verbal beat down to the Jewish leaders. He points out their hypocrisy by explaining to them that they look to the scriptures for eternal life but are missing it all together. He tells them that the scriptures (the Hebrew scriptures) point directly towards him and the life he alone gives.

The Bible is an amazing text. It inspires, corrects, and gives hope. And I truly love reading the Bible and studying it. However, I must not allow the Bible to become something it is not. It is God's word, not God himself. It reveals eternal life, but does not give it. I must remember that with or without the Bible, my Jesus loves me, died for me and has a future for me. The Bible points to him and who he calls me to be. I must keep first things first.

Dear Jesus, help my life point to you and not to a book, a church, a philosophy or an idea. Amen.

Good Question

1 Thess. 4:1 "Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you."

Paul is encouraging the Christians in Thessalonica to continue to live lives that please God. They have already been doing this and Paul seems happy with them and encourages them to keep at it.

This is a good motto. "Live in a way that pleases God." Before I do or say anything I should get in the habit of asking, "Does this please God?" I have a hunch I would avoid many pitfalls and be used by God more if I asked this question. My life would be pretty sweet if I always errored on the side of pleasing God. I'll give it a shot today.

Dear Jesus, help me please you today as I work, pick up Ellie, make dinner, talk with Erin, and put the kids to bed. Amen.

A Life Worth Remembering

2 Peter 3:14 "And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight."

Peter is talking about the last days and encouraging the believers to get themselves right before God as Jesus is returning. His return may seem delayed but God is being patient so that more people may repent and turn towards him. Peter encourages the readers to live peaceful lives and be pure and blameless.

I attended a memorial service today for a friends father who recently passed. This man was a good, honest, and hard working man who cared for and provided for his family. By all accounts he tried to live a good and peaceful life. His family and friends shared great memories of him and told of his good deeds. Will people remember me as fondly as this man? Have I lived a peaceful, pure, and blameless life? What would they say at my service? I need to remember life is short, Christ is coming back, and I need to be ready. I want to live a life worthy of heaven.

Dear Jesus, help me live a life you'd be proud to remember. Amen.