THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, March 4, 2024

Lord, despite persecution, the Thessalonians believers persevered in following you. To show their sincerity, and to stand apart from nonbelievers, most new believers went to the extreme to live by holy behaviors. Sadly, the greater their efforts to live holy, the greater the frustration they couldn’t do it. And their harsh persecution continued.

 The Apostle Paul outlined what God constituted as holy living. Did they object? “No way, Paul,” they may have argued. “Don’t you see the persecutions we’re enduring?”

Or, did they accept your guidelines and trust you?

“Encourage the timid. Care for the weak. Be patient—with everyone. Don’t repay evil for evil. Always do good to others, even those you don’t like. Be joyful, pray 24/7. Give thanks in bad circumstances, especially when persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Be joyful when you’re broken. Don’t get in the way when God is trying to do something you might not agree with.” And the list of character traits that are opposite our human nature extended (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22). The more they worked to be holy, the quicker they faced the fact they were far from holy.

You gave Paul this great truth: “You can’t be holy on your own, so quit trying. It’s not your responsibility to make yourself holy. It’s God’s Holy Spirit that makes you holy.”

“Now may [you allow] the God of peace [Holy Spirit] make you holy in every way and may [keep] your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless … “ (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT).

Lord, It is your Spirit living within believers that enables us to live holy lives. Help us cease our human efforts and rest in the truth your Spirit makes us holy.

Amen, Jesus.