Paul's Great Advice - Words to Live By

Luke 24:1-12
The Resurrection
'Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn't here. He has risen from the dead! Don't you remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day?' (5-7)
The women who went to the tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James and several others. They told the apostles what happened, but the story sounded like nonsense, so they didn't believe it. (10,11)

This passage reminds me that we are naturally 'doubters'. We must take the Lord's words and promises to heart. If this passage were alive in me, I must continue to read and familiarize myself with God's word. I ask God for continued strength in discipline and diligence to 'practicing the presence' my personal committment to spend time in the Word every day.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
Paul's Final Advice

• Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love.


• Remember to live peaceable with each other.


• We urge you to warn those who are lazy.


• Encourage those who are timid.


• Take tender care of those who are weak.


• Be patient with everyone.


• See that no one pays back evil for evil but always try to do good to each other.


• Always be joyful.


• Keep on praying.


• No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (12 -17)

Wow! These are great words to live by. Things that I can work on: 'warn those who are lazy, keep on praying and always be thankful...' I must admit that there are times when I am not particularly thankful, but everything I have is truly a blessing. I never thought to warn those who are lazy, mostly because it is "confrontational" and I don't like being that way. But there is truth in telling them if it will elicit change. I humbly thank God for all the good he has filled my life with and I ask that He continue to work in me to be an even better and faithful follower.

Leading a Faithful Responsible Life is Our Greatest Sermon

Luke 23:44-56
The Death and Burial of Jesus
It was dark from noon to 3pm. At 3pm the veil in the temple was torn and Jesus shouted with his last dying breath, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands." (44-46)
Joseph, a member of the Jewish high council asked for Jesus' body. He wrapped in linen and prepared a new tomb for Christ's body. (50-54)

This passage makes me wonder if the Sabbath is Saturday since the text alludes to preparing Christ's body on Friday, 'the day of preparation for the Sabbath' (Luke 23:54). As I sit and reflect on this text, I am envisioning the sudden darkness that falls on this land and think about how Jesus must have felt on the cross, baring our sin and shame, feeling completely abandoned and separated from God. These are feelings we all endure at some point in our lives - and for many of us, this feeling of abandonment could be felt for years. Yet Christ didn't ask for this, He did it so that we would have an opportunity to be with God for eternity. We need to be like Joseph, and cherish what Christ has done for us, despite what non-believers do. I continue to ask God to enlighten me and I entrust my spirit into God's hands.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-11
The Hope of Resurrection
But let us, who live in the light, think clearly, protected by the body armour of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. He died for us, so that we can live with him forever... So encourage each other and build each other up... (8-11)

It is evident that God loves each and every one of us. He sacrificed Christ, not out of anger, but out of love. God gives us a choice to follow Him. In turn He asks us to 'think clearly' about the choices we make. We should strive to be responsible and serve the Lord by working hard. By leading a respectful life, we will have more opportunities to share our fatih with others. We would draw attention to the Lord by our diligence - our faithful, responsible lifestyle would be our greatest sermon! Thus, I ask God to protect me with His body armour so that I may lead a life that does not bring disgrace to the Lord, but joy.

The Rapture and What We Truly Deserve

Luke 23:26-43
The Crucifixion
Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. For the days are coming when they will say, 'Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.' (27 - 31)
'Let him save himself if he really is God's Chosen One, the Messiah' (35)
'Don't you fear God even when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn't done anything wrong.' ( 40, 41)

Christ had to endure Man's wicked, evil and unfaithful nature. We don't deserve to be saved and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is truly by God's grace that we are even offered this opportunity. "Mob mentality" - it is so engrained in our nature. We see it in the news, where perfectly good, reputable honourable citizens will embrace stupid acts of violence when there is no sense of order... I suppose this is what Hell would look like... I am humbled that I know that I will be with God when I cease to breathe on this earth. If this verse were alive in me, I would cherish my life and do my best to walk with Christ and follow his ways. I ask that God fill me up and protect me from the evil one.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:3
The Hope of the Resurrection
'For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. (14)
Then together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words. (17, 18)
Disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman's birth pains begin when her child is about to be born. There will be no escape. (3)'

My husband calls this the 'rapture' - the day when Christ returns to take us home and Satan claims this planet his own. I am reminded that God has provided us a way out because He loves us and wants us to join him in Heaven. But the choice is always ours to make. This is the only way we would cherish his gift and not take it for granted. I need to live my life in a way that doesn't take advantage of others and is pleasing to God as my way of thanking him for loving me. My prayer is a song of praise to you - So I wait for you. I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me. Jesus your all this heart is searching for... Hungry, I come to you for your love it satisfies...

Jesus Suffered So We Could Have Life

Luke 23: 1-25
Jesus' Trial before Pilate
Pilate was a Roman govenor. The pharasees and the people accused Jesus of calling himself the King of the Jews, leading riots and telling others to not pay taxes. Pilate did not find Jesus guilty on 3 different occasions and wanted to release him, but the people argued. In the end, Pilate did as the people requested, releasing a murderer and insurrecter, Barabbas, and crucifying Jesus, one who loved God and performed miracles.

From the passage, I am reminded how much Jesus suffered on our account. Everyday, we deny His work - his miracles and his acts of grace and compassion to us. For many of us every day is a blessing, but yet we often take it for granted. I ask myself, "What have I done for Christ?" I can only bow my head, for I haven't done nearly enough to show my love and gratitude. If this scripture were alive in me, I would treat every waking hour as precious gold or silver and use my time to do what is pleasing in God's eyes. What is pleasing? Sharing God's love with everyone and everything, including taking care of this planet and appreciating its natural splendor and beauty. This means not marvelling over man made structures and products, but seeing the wonder in nature. God is telling me to look at the bigger picture. It's not about what can I buy with the money I have to stock my shelves, but how can I use my gifts and resources to further the kingdom of God? I ask God to forgive me for my selfish desires and give me the will power to look beyond my materialist tendencies. I ask God to give me reminders to not fall back into the selfish ways of man.

1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12
Live to Please God
"This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. Non-Christians will respect the way you live..." 11,12)
Lead a quiet life. To me, this means a life that doesn't draw attention to glitz and glamour, but rather one with things money can't buy - love, honour and respect.
Minding my own business. Perhaps this is about not being sucked into gossip and giving my two cents about how others should live their life and saying things that I would regret.
Working with my hands. This could mean, not ordering others to do my work - but appreciating and living within my own means. Ensure no one suffers on my account.
I would safely say that I do practice all of these, but I am no where near living any of these fully. I ask God to forgive me for not living up to these standards all of the time and thank God for directing me how to please Him. I pray that God will help me live out these commands.

Leading a Life Led by the Spirit

Luke 22:63-71
The Mocking of Jesus and Jesus Before the Council
After Peter denies Jesus 3 times, the guards beat, blindfold and mock Jesus for being the messiah. Jesus was charged with death by Crucifixition for admitting He was the Son of God.

God is telling me that by following Him, I too will be mocked, perhaps humiliated and alienated. This is the price of following His ways. Jesus was given an unfair trial, even death on a cross. This was how He showed His love for us. What am I willing to sacrifice for his love? If this passage were alive in me, I would not be afraid, I would be proud to be a Christian and wear this fact BOLDLY on my sleeve. I ask God to give me strength to look past the opinions of others and only seek satisfaction from God's approval.

1Thessalonians 4:1-8
Live to Please God
"God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. (3)"

The emphasis of this passage is also about living under the control of the Holy Spirit and not falling into pagan temptations. The more the Holy Spirit is in our lives, the stronger we will be to resist these temptations. God is reminding me that even lustful thoughts are not permissible. I thank God that I have a loving and faithful husband, but also ask God to continue to give me strength to live a life led by the Holy Spirit, doing things pleasing to God.

Representing Christ

Luke 22:54-62
Peter Denies Jesus

"Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times." And Peter left the courtyard crying. (61,62)

This passage shows that God knows the choices we make, even before we make them. I am reminded that I sometimes choose to ignore the fact that I am a Christian, a follower of Christ. I will make a choice to not follow His will because I want to indulge in things of this world, like materialism or "popularity". Thus, our God is one who truly loves us, as in our nature, we will do things that displease Him. If God were truly alive in me, I would need to be more bold in my faith by being a courageous follower of Christ, an activist, and not a by stander. I ask God for more courage and "thicker skin" to able to ignore nasty comments from aetheists.


1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Timothy's Good Report about the Church (cont'd)
"Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill us anything that may still be missing in your faith. (10)
May the Lord make your love grow and overflow to each other and to everyone else, just as our love overflows toward you. (12)
Christ will make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy when you stand before God our Father on that day when our Lord Jesus comes with all those who belong to Him. (13)"

Timothy is reminding us that we can reach God via Jesus. I am reminded to ask God to renew me by filling me up and strengthen me to better represent Him. I thank God for the opportunity I had to be refreshed and renewed in serving and representing Him in Cambodia last week. I ask God to keep filling me up as I return to my "normal" life and that I not fall back into bad habits whereby forgetting about prioritizing Christ to make choices that are pleasing in God's eyes.

Discipline and Strength in Faith

Luke 22:39-53
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives & Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
"Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation." (40)
"Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, I want your will, not mine." (42)
"Get up and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you." (46)

It is evident that prayer is where we can draw upon God's strength. I need to spend more time in prayer. If I were a strong prayer warrior, I would be better able and equipped to hear God calling me and better able to resist temptation. I ask that God give me a stronger sense of discipline.

1 Thessalonians 3:5-8
Timothy's Report about the Church
"It gives us new life, knowing you remain strong in your faith." (8)

This passage of scripture is about faith and about joy in knowing that our faith in God is strong. This seems so fitting as my loved one has recently told me about his renewed desire to seek the Lord's help in his suffering. God is showing me that he desires us to have faith in Him. I feel this sense of "new life" because I have greater joy knowing that my loved one is seeking God. I am to continue to pray, as God has faithful in answering my prayers. I ask God to forgive me for the times a shadow of doubt crosses my path.