Daily Bread_May 22, 2014

Title: Why Everyone Needs Someone to Love and Be Loved By

Text:

1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 (HCSB)
⁶ But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love and [reported] that you always have good memories of us, wanting to see us, as we also want to see you. ⁷ Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, ¹⁰ as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?

Observation:

For some reason, probably the persecution he was facing, Paul was not able to revisit the people of the church at Thessalonica. However, he sent his trusted associate, Timothy. When you can't go and you can't do everything yourself, you don't have to dear pastor; there are others you should mentor to help you in the work of the Lord.

The ministry is always a combination of preaching of the word to the people, and taking the needs of the people to God in prayer. This balance use of time and talent has always been the most effective ways that a pastor could spend his time. Every believer can be a shepherd to someone. Love is supreme; we all need lots of it. The best way to get our need for love met is to love others first.

Acts 6:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry.

Although Paul could not go and visit the church, he sent Timothy to preach, teach, and encourage them to continue in the faith in spite of the persecution they were facing. However, Paul also did his part in helping and encouraging them; he prayed for them.

Here is one of the prayers he prayed, and I make this my prayer for my family, friends, and all who may read the word of God, and my comments.

Prayer:

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (HCSB)
¹¹ Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
¹² And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you.
¹³ May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

 

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Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/