What's a Christian to Do?

Daily Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1-2

You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1.9-10)

Devotional Thought: When Paul planted the church in Thessalonica (Acts 17), he had initial success.  But it was not without difficulty: “The Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar” (Acts 17.5).  Paul had to flee the city, but he later discovered that his new converts were growing in the Lord.  Paul wrote to encourage them, and in verses 9-10 he gave them and us a to-do list:

·       Turn from idols.  An idol is anything that comes between us and God.  When we come to Christ, he becomes our top priority and our primary purpose.  Everything else is secondary.

·       Serve the living and true God.  It is good for us to put Christ first in our lives, for he is the living and true God.  Nothing else can save us.  Those who depend on good works or sheer luck will be disappointed in the last day.

·       Wait for his Son from heaven.  When we see evil on the increase and injustice multiplying, we find comfort in the fact that Jesus is returning.

·       Walk with the living Savior.  Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so we too live a new life. We are not victims; we are victors!

·       Have a firm hope.  There is wrath to come, but we have been delivered from it.  We are covered by the blood of Jesus.  And, he is preparing a place for us, and will come again and receive us to himself.  Hallelujah!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your amazing grace!  I have turned from sin and death to Jesus and life.  And it's all because of God's amazing grace!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 28.6-9

6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.