Day 287 Bible Readings – 2 Thessalonians 2: 13 (ESV)

Jeremiah 29: 24-32, Jeremiah 30, Jeremiah 31: 1-14, 2 Thessalonians 2, Proverbs 15: 15-23

2 Thessalonians 2: 13 (ESV)

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

In verse 13 from 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul wrote to the Church of the Thessalonians that he gives thanks to God for the church members because God chose them to be saved from the beginning. In the same way, we can know that God also chose us to be saved in the beginning because of our belief and faith in Jesus Christ. God also chose and the members of the Church of the Thessalonians to be saved through sanctification. The word “sanctification” means we are “separated from the world and separated unto God.” I was listening to sermon by Pastor David Guzik on what the word sanctification, and he says there are three (3) categories of sanctification. Here’s the link to the sermon: 

The first category of sanctification is positional sanctification, which means we are automatically sanctified because of our faith in Jesus Christ. The second category of sanctification is decisive sanctification, which means we are fully surrendered to God and we choose to be set apart from the world. Pastor Guzik said we are on “Team Jesus”, but not a part of the world. Some would say we have evidence of sanctification because of our behavior and how we choose to live. And the third category of sanctification is progressive sanctification, which is the continual renewal and the growing of our surrender to God.

I like these different categories of sanctification especially the last one because in my case, surrender to God has been a continual process. I am more surrendered to God now than I have ever been in my whole life. I read the Bible daily and at the request of the Holy Spirit, I write and blog about what I’ve read so I can immerse myself more fully in God’s words. Does this mean I am saved? I don’t know because that decision will only come from the grace of God, but what I do know is that I have a deeper relationship with God that I expect to grow and deepen until the day I die. And right now, this is enough for me.

Day 286 Bible Readings – Jeremiah 29: 11 (ESV)

Jeremiah 27-28, Jeremiah 29: 1-23, 2 Thessalonians 1, Proverbs 5: 1-14

Jeremiah 29: 11 (ESV)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

In verse 11 from Jeremiah 29, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to tell the Hebrews in exile that he has plans for them even in their long season of affliction in exile in Babylon. God wanted to let his people know that his plans were for the welfare of his people and not evil. God wants to give his people a future and a hope. I love that we have assurance that God is always thinking of us even in our season of trouble. God has not forgotten us, even though in a season of trouble it often feels like God has forgotten us and will punish us even further. Our God is a good God. He has plans for our welfare so he can give us a future and a hope. God has not forgotten us, but is always drawing us closer to him in good and bad seasons of our lives.

Day 285 Bible Readings – 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-22 (ESV)

Jeremiah 25: 15-38, Jeremiah 26, 1 Thessalonians 5, Proverbs 4: 20-27

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-22 (ESV)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

In verses 21 through 22 from 1 Thessalonians 4 Paul gives the Church of Thessalonica in the closing of this letter to them, a final set of instructions for how to live if you are a person of faith. Paul first day to always be happy, because whatever comes your way comes from God. Paul then says people of faith need to pray without ceasing and give thanks for everything that happens in our life. Whatever is happening in our life is the will of Christ for us to bring us closer to God. Paul then says do not doubt the Holy Spirit, nor are we to despise prophecies. We need to test everything and pray to God for its meaning and hold on to what is good. And finally, to stay away from all evil.

The hardest part of Paul’s instructions for how to live as a person of faith is to always be happy and to rejoice in everything. I think it takes a tremendous amount of faith to regard everything that happens in our life as a part of God’s plan, especially in a season of trouble. But Paul’s advice to test everything is the answer to this kind of doubt.

Day 284 Bible Readings – 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12 (ESV)

Jeremiah 23: 9-40, Jeremiah 24, Jeremiah 25: 1-14, 1 Thessalonians 4, Proverbs 4: 10-19

1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12 (ESV)

“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

In verses 9 through 12 from 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul recommends to the Church at Thessolonica that they should want to lead a quiet life. If they lived a quiet life, they would have more time to be with God and read his words. Paul also recommended that people of faith need to take care of their own affairs and not meddle in the life of others, so they can lead a more peaceful life. Paul also advised that people that they needed to work instead of being lazy. People of faith cannot expect that life will be easy for them or that things will come to them easily or that God’s blessings are an excuse for laziness in life. People of faith must live a life so they can be example to those who do not have faith, and to be dependent on no one except for God.

Paul’s recommendations may seem daunting at first, but I see them as practical suggestions for how to live a life devoted to God and his word. If a person of faith lives according to the dictates of the culture around them which may not be focused on God, then they themselves will lose focus on God. I also like how Paul said that just because you believe in God doesn’t mean your life will be easy. Life is hard, but faith in God does make for an easier and more peaceful life. I also like how Paul says that our lives can be example to those without faith in Christ. Our life and the way we live it can point people to have more faith in God. Our actions in our life speak louder than words, and we can be shining examples to world of how wonderful life can be if you believe in God.