overtaken

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

overtaken

Lamentations 1:3-6 (JDV)

Lamentations 1:3 Judah has gone into exile after misery and harsh slavery; she lives among the nations but finds no place to rest. All her pursuers have overtaken her in narrow places.
Lamentations 1:4 The roads to Zion mourn, because no one comes to the appointed festivals. All her gates are deserted; her priests are sighing, her young women grieve, and she herself is bitter.
Lamentations 1:5 Her adversaries have become her masters; her enemies are taking it easy, because Yahveh has made her suffer due to of her many transgressions. Her children have gone away as captives in the face of the adversary.
Lamentations 1:6 All the glamour has disappeared from Daughter Zion. Her leaders are like stags that find no pasture; they stumble away exhausted in the face of the hunter.

overtaken

The once beautiful and powerful city now sits defenseless like prey surrounded by predators. They have already overtaken her, and are in the midst of devouring her.

And it is her fault. This fate is hers because she has offended her God. Is there no hope?

Not yet. There will be hope, but it is important for Jerusalem to see the consequences of her choices.

Lord, help us to learn from this terrible truth. We run to you and seek help so that we are not overtaken.

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abandoned

Posted on December 4, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

abandoned

Lamentations 1:1-2 (JDV)

Lamentations 1:1 How isolated she sits, the city which was crowded with people! She who was prominent among the nations has become like a widow. The princess among the provinces has become a compulsory laborer.
Lamentations 1:2 She cries bitterly during the night, with tears on her cheeks. There is no one to offer her comfort, not one from all her lovers. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

abandoned

The Lamentations are prophetic words delivered in poetic fashion, like the Lament Psalms. Here an unknown author (I will call him the Lamenter) describes Jerusalem in exile as a princess who has been betrayed and abandoned by her former lovers — the kings of the nations. The once crowded city is now isolated, rejected, lonely. The city that was intended to draw the nations to God now mourns at night with no one to comfort her.

Lord God, our lives do not reflect your plan for us. We feel abandoned. Restore us to your favor and your intended destiny.
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read it to everyone

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

read it to everyone

1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself consecrate you completely. And may your whole breath, throat, and body be preserved sound and blameless at the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 He who invites you is faithful; he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us also.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this letter is read to all the brothers and sisters.
1 Thessalonians 5:28 The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

read it to everyone

One of the hallmarks of the Reformation was the belief that the Scriptures belong to everyone, so no one should keep their message to himself. Paul understood the importance of his letters and wanted to ensure that their words were heard and understood by the entire congregation, not just a few elite members of the clergy.

There are segments of the population of this planet who do not have access to the Bible, written in their language. Even where the Scriptures are available, there are still many obstacles keeping people from hearing their message and responding to it. If we believe the Bible’s message, we should be seeking ways to get it to those who need it but don’t yet have it.

Lord, show us ways to get your word to those who haven’t heard.
bbjv - 1

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grateful, but not gullible

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

grateful, but not gullible

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Don’t stifle the Breath.
1 Thessalonians 5:20 Don’t discredit prophecies,
1 Thessalonians 5:21 but evaluate all things. Hold on to what is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Stay away from every kind of evil.

grateful, but not gullible

Paul’s instructions for the Thessalonian Christians are designed to keep them in balance. That is why the positive attitude reflected in verses 16-18 (gratitude for everything) is balanced out with what sounds like its opposite in today’s text.

Those promoting a more supernatural approach to life are quick to quote verses 19-20 as proof-texts. It is true that we should not stifle the true work of God’s Breath (his Holy Spirit) or discredit true prophecies. They are given by the power of the Holy Spirit. But what Paul warns here is that there will be false prophets as well. Believers must evaluate all things. We are responsible to hold on to only what is good and stay away from every kind of evil — even the religious kind.

Lord, keep us grateful but keep us from being gullible.
bbjv - 1

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always, constantly, everything

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky

always, constantly, everything

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray constantly,
1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in everything; because this is God’s preference for you in Christ Jesus.

always, constantly, everything

We are used to rejoicing sometimes, praying occasionally, and giving thanks for a few things. But that is not God’s preference. Since we are in Christ, we have the ability to see God’s hand at work in the worst of times, to stay connected to our supply source constantly, and to find reason for appreciating the things the people of the world are not grateful for.
bbjv - 1

Lord, we want to stay connected to you, always.

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mutual attention

Posted on November 30, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

mutual attention

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we encourage you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort those who are discouraged, help those who are weak, be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

mutual attention

Everyone in the congregation is important and needs our attention and our ministry. Even if our ministry is specialized, we can not ignore anyone’s needs. If we see a lazy brother, we need to put on our warning hat. If we see a sorrowing sister, we need or comforting hat. The weak need us to show them strength. Everyone needs us to serve patiently.

If we chose to chase anything, it should not be personal preferences or pet doctrines. It should be one another’s good.

Lord, keep us from getting sidetracked on our pursuit for one another’s good.

bbjv - 1

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special ministry leaders

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky

special ministry leaders

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 5:12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who are working among you and leading you in the Lord and admonishing you,
1 Thessalonians 5:13 and to regard them very highly in care because of their achievement. Be at peace among yourselves.

special ministry leaders

The New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers, but it is not silent about the people called to special ministry within the congregation. They work among the believers as equals, but have special spiritual gifts which enable them to lead the believers, and admonish those who are lagging behind or failing in some way.

For these front-line leaders, Paul urges the believers to recognize their service, and to regard them highly in care because of what they are achieving.

Lord, thank you for our special ministry leaders.

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he died in our place

Posted on November 28, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky

he died in our place

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 5:9 You see, God has not appointed us for wrath, but for acquiring rescue through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Thessalonians 5:10 who died in our place, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 For this reason, encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

he died in our place

Paul is still addressing the issue of believers who have fallen asleep — that is — died and await the return of Christ for a resurrection. He now links that question (which would be categorized as individual eschatology) to the question of cosmic eschatology — what is the final state of the saved. His argument: Christ died huper hēmōn — in our place. Since these believers have died, it is obvious that Christ’s death did not result in their immortality — yet. Instead. Christ’s death resulted in the promise that believers (whether alive or dead now) will not suffer wrath. And what is this wrath? It has to be the penalty that Christ took for them. He died in our place. The wrath of which Paul is speaking is the second death.

Because he died in our place, we can live together with him when he returns.

Lord, thank you for dying in our place.

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staying awake

Posted on November 27, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
silhouette of man raising hands against a red sunset light under green clouds

Photo by Rakicevic Nenad on Pexels.com

staying awake

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 5:6 So then, let us not be sleeping, like the rest, but let us be staying awake and be self-controlled
1 Thessalonians 5:7 because those who are sleeping, sleep at night, and those who are getting drunk, get drunk at night.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, we should be self-controlled and putting on the armor of faith and care, and a helmet of the hope of rescue.

staying awake

Paul had been talking about the second coming, and explaining what it will entail for believers, whether they are alive or dead — sleeping in Christ. Now he shifts the subject to a comparison of what the second coming will entail for those sleeping in unbelief, compared to those who are staying awake and self-controlled in faith.

Both sleep and intoxication are states where people are under an influence that makes them vulnerable. By staying awake and sober, people can focus on their mission, and protect themselves from harm.

Both Christians and unbelievers will experience the second coming of Christ. For Unbelievers, his return will mean the wrath of God. But for those who are awake, self-controlled and protected by the armor of faith and care, his return will mean rescue, and permanent life.

Lord, enable us to stay awake, prepared for your rescue.

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children of the day

Posted on November 26, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
Photo by Fabian Wiktor on Pexels.com

 

children of the day

1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, causing this day to surprise you like a thief
1 Thessalonians 5:5 because you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.

children of the day

At night there is darkness all around us, so we close ourselves in and curtail our activities, to be safe. We don’t know what’s out there, so we limit our activity.

But children of the day are not limited. They are busy, and in control, and will not be surprised by a thief. They are always ready for him.

Lord, show us how to stay busy doing what you have called us to do, so that we are always ready for your return.

 

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