Culture & Circumstances

Reading:  Philemon
My Verse:  "For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you" (7).

So often, Lord,  You give us these little glimpses into the lives of people.  Here I am intrigued by the life of this Philemon to whom Paul writes this letter.  By digging a little deeper one finds that Philemon was a wealthy  man of the city of Colosse.  He became a Christian.  He then held church in his home, as there were no church buildings in his town.  And according to Paul, he was known for his love for and encouragement towards fellow believers.

Yet, Philemon was also a slave owner.  It is hard to reconcile the fact that he was a slave owner and a Christian.  The two don't seem to go together.  His slave, Onesimus, ran away from him.  This makes you wonder what kind of a slave owner Philemon was.  Yet, according to Paul Philemon was a godly man,

Culture and circumstances play such a large part in who we are.  Paul speaks to this often.  Philippians 4:11 says.  "For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances . . . " He also speaks to slaves that they are to "submit to their masters . . . " (I Peter 2:11).

This has made me reflect on how I live in the culture and circumstances I am presently living in.  I am forced to examine my reaction to others who are "different"  from myself.  Instead of thinking they are wrong I need to stop myself and look at their circumstances, the culture they grew up in.  It is so easy to be condemning.  But as Paul has often said I too was there - unbelieving and living out of Your will.  Or living as a Christian but with so many wrong ideas of Who You are.  So, I must ask myself.  Do I live a life like Philemon?  Does my life bring "joy and comfort" to other Christians?  Are the "hearts of the saints"  refreshed and renewed"  because of the way I treat them?

Lord, I pray that I too can be a refreshing influence to my fellow believers.  Thank You for the many believers before me that despite the culture and circumstances they found themselves in - their spiritual legacies live on to encourage us.  Just thinking of a few:  Corrie Ten Boom, Fanny Crosby, Spurgeon, and so many others . . .

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Unqualified Courtesy

Reading:  Titus 3
My Verse:  "To slander or abuse or speak evil of no one, to avoid being contentious, to be forbearing (yielding, gentle and conciliatory), and to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody" (3:2)

Wow!  Talk about in your face - especially to politicians!

I was watching the PBS Newshour show when Brooks and Sheilds came on.  The narrator spoke of their receiving the Courtesy Award from a university.  They laughed about it but this is something they talk about a lot - the lack of courtesy amongst our political leaders.

Today the politician that can dish out the most trash against their opponents seems to rise in the polls.  It is so hard to understand because it is so against Your precepts, Lord.  You must understand that this is a huge problem for us because You tell us over and over  "to slander or abuse or speak evil of no one" and "to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody."

"The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool" (Proverbs 10:18 ESV).

"Do not speak evil against one another, brothers" (James 4:11 ESV).

"Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy.  Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure" (Psalm 101:5 ESV).

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16).

"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander" (I Peter 2:1).

And there is so much more!  It is said that if someone repeats something, then it must be important.  Well, Lord, if You repeat something then we had better listen up because it is of vital importance.
Verse 8 speaks of how if we are true believers then this should come out in the things that we do.  It is very hard to listen to someone claim to be a follower of You in one breath.  And in the next breath they are slandering someone they don't agree with!  "Out of the same source come praise and cursing.  This cannot be" (James 3:10). 

There are no qualifiers in this verse.  We are "to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody."

Common courtesy is a God thing!  Thank You, Lord God, for your mighty Word and the teaching it holds for us.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Salvation, Training & Hope!

Reading:  Titus 2
My Verse:  "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (2:11-13).

Paul not only gives instruction as to how Christians are to live, but he gives these wonderful reasons why.  Your grace, Lord God, brings salvation- this in itself should be transforming.  Your grace, Lord God, brings training - reshaping our thoughts, desires.  And, of course, we have that wonderful hope of Your return, Lord Jesus!

Thank You, Lord God, for "bringing salvation for all people."  You would have us all be saved.  "He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent . . ." (2 Peter 3:9).  You, through Jesus Christ made it possible for all people to come to You.

Thank You, too, Lord God, that You not only bring us to salvation but then transform us.  Your Word should be ever "training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives."  Reading Your Word brings wonderful change to my life.  It exposes my sin and changes me, trains me to better respond to You!

I also like that this occurs in the now!  I am to be living this transformed life in the "present age!"  Salvation is not just to get into heaven but to enable me to live my life in the here and now before the present world.  Yes, I am being prepared for Heaven's glories but You also want me to allow Your light to shine through me here so that others might be drawn to You!

Finally, we have that wonderful hope.  We can expectantly and eagerly look to Your return!  There is nothing so wonderful as anticipation - a looking forward to some wonderful event!  This anticipation helps me to want to be living as You would have me in this present age.

So, yes, salvation, training, and hope are all there in Your Word.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Myths & Fables

Reading:  Titus 1
My Verse:  "[And may show their soundness by] ceasing to give attention to Jewish myths and fables or to rules [laid down] by [mere] men who reject and turn their backs on the Truth" (1:14).

Paul also referred to this tendency in I Timothy 1:4.  " . . . not to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies . . .".  Lord, why do we have such a desire , a tendency to become caught up in "myths and fables" - that which is false and often even  harmful to our physical bodies.

I am reading a story that is set in 19th century China.  It is about the relationships of women there and of course the horrific practice of foodbinding.  I keep wondering how does this happen?  How are we drawn so far from You that mothers become convinced it is their duty to commit such a cruel practice on their own children.  But then I recall that there are cultures that even put their children to death.  Oh, Lord God, I do not know how You are able to be so patient with us!

Dear Lord, You tell us in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) . . ."  You want us to be free from any practice that does not glorify You.  But we are constantly drawn into it.  Every age and culture seems to have some practice that involves pain.  Today's practice is  body piercing and body tattooing. 

You told Your people in Leviticus 19:24 "You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves; I am the Lord."  I Corinthians 6:19 & 20 says, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who lives within You, Whom you received from God?  You are not your own."

You created us in Your Own image.  In all Your wisdom You created and formed us as we are.  "for You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13).  "Wonderful are Your works!"  (Psalm 139:14).

Lord, keep me from untruth - "myths and fables" that lead one astray.  Let me be as one of those children in II John 1:4 "I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking (living) in [the] Truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father [Himself]."

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

An Epitaph

Reading:  II Timothy 4
My Verse:  "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (4:7).

Talk about a most apt epitaph for Paul!  Lord God, to be able to make such a proclamation at the end of one's life would be most sweet indeed!  Throughout his writings, Paul encourages us to be like him in the way he pursued You.

"I have fought the good fight."  Have I?  Lord, I know You meet us where we are and bring us along (grow us) as we are able.  But I am so sorry that I have often been slow to respond to Your love and guidance.  There have been many missed opportunities.  I pray for discernment to know when You are telling me to act and for courage to act. Thank You, for this promise.  "Fear not, for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My right hand of rightness and  justice" (Isaiah 41:10).  Yes, You will help me to fight that good fight!

"I have finished the race."  Paul speaks here of completing the work You gave him to do.  He persevered through incredible hardships.  Again I need You to help me when I run out of steam.  I need you to help me get up when I fall flat on my face.  I know that I cannot persevere  as Paul did without Your help.  "But those who wait for the Lord shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint, or become tired" (Isaiah 40:31).  Thank You for this!

"I have kept the faith."  Oh, Lord God, I know this is impossible without You.  You alone keep me and enable me to trust and rely on You.  "Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye, hide me in the shadow of Your wings" (Psalm 17:8).  I need only turn to You and let You "keep and guard me".  I am so blessed!

I thank You and praise You, because I know that You will help me to honor You in all that I do not only today but until my life's very end.  "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, developing and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you" (Philippians 1:6).  So Paul is telling me here that I too can have such an epitaph!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

All Scripture is God-Breathed!

Reading:  2 Timothy 3
My Verse:  "Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness, (for conformity to God's will in thought , purpose and action)" (3:16)

How I need this reminding!  This teaching!  Lord God, You know me.  You know my every  need and always meet me where I am.  Your Word is Truth.  We have only to look to it for our every need.  It is dynamic and speaks to us where and when we are!

For it is "profitable for instruction."  It is my teacher in everything I need ever know for it is the book of life.  In John 6:63 You tell me. "The words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life."

Your Word is "for reproof and conviction of sin."  Through Your Word You reveal to me my errant ways.  It is often said Your Word is like a mirror, as we look into it we see ourselves as we truly are - sinful and needy.  How we need this.  We need to know that we are sinful before we can recognize how much You loved us by becoming the ultimate sacrifice in the shedding of Your own blood to wipe away our sin.  "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).

Not only does Your Word reveal to me my sin but it provides a way to set me aright, "for correction of error."  It changes me!  I am "constantly being transformed  into His very own image in ever-increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another" (II Corinthians 3:18).

You help me to be obedient for Your Word provides "discipline to obedience."   Verse seven of chapter1 tells me "For God  . . . has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." 

And finally, Your Word provides me "training in righteousness."  " . . . He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. . ." (Isaiah 61:10).  It is a wonderful thing to have one's very thoughts, purposes and actions gradually conform to Your will.  I remember when I was first told that by reading the Bible and memorizing Scripture my mind was being retrained to think more like your mind.  I remember how that thought gave me such hope, hope of being changed.

So I do not need to be like the women of verse five.  "[These weak women will listen to anybody who will teach them]; they are forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth."

Thank You, Lord, for saving me from such a dreadful life - a life of constant endless searching but never finding the true meaning to my life.  For Your Word is God-breathed and in it You tell me not only who I am but who You want me to be.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Fit & Ready

Reading:  2 Timothy 2
My Verse:  "So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work" (2:21).

This chapter is bursting with godly wisdom - godly teaching.  Lord, Your Word is indeed a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)  I am told here that I need to do that which is needed to keep from sullying myself so that I may be "fit and ready for any good work."

As a teacher I would often tell my students, "Don't handicap yourselves!"  I wanted them to realize that they themselves determined the kind of life they would have.  I wanted them to understand that all their decisions had long term consequences.

Trying that first cigarette could lead to a lifetime of addiction and disease.  Not doing their homework could lead to poor grades, failure and a resulting poor self-image and a defeatist attitude.  Not taking care of themselves, their appearance could lead to a slothful attitude in all areas of their lives.  The decisions we make are important.  We are to live with purposeful intent.

And that is exactly what Paul is saying here.  I must shun anything not of You.  I must carefully  consider all my decisions.  And this does not mean just activities but also what I allow myself to think.  "But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with)  trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels" (2:23).

I especially like the blessing imbedded in this verse.  "So whoever . . . will be a vessel . . . fit and ready for any good  work."  That is a wonderful thought; that I may be ready to be of use to You! 

Yes, thank You for this Lord.  I am ever so grateful that You have kept and guided me and that You will continue to keep and guide me so that I will be "fit and ready"  for Your purposes.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Positively Persuaded!

Reading:  2 Timothy 1
My Verse:  ". . . for I know Him Whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed [to Him] until that day" (1:12).

This is one of the things I most appreciate in Paul's writings.  He is so clear and definite of his belief in You, Lord.  Even when he is feeling lonely and facing the end of his earthly life he is able to get that point across in his writing.  He had no doubts, "I know Him Whom I have believed."

How I need to "know Him."  After all I cannot trust and believe someone I do not know.  I need to know You, Lord.  I need to know of Your eternity, Your omnipotence, Your omniscience, Your self-existence, Your wisdom, Your omnipresence, Your grace, Your holiness, Your justice, Your goodness, Your faithfulness, Your love, Your sovereignty.  I need to know all these things about You for You are the Lord God, the Creator of all that is.  "All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being" (John 1:3)

It is only by truly trusting and knowing "Him Whom I have believed" that I can pray effectively.

It is only by truly trusting and knowing "Him Whom I have believed" that I can face each day.

It is only by truly trusting and knowing "Him Whom I have believed"  that I am able to live a life of love and inner peace.

Yes, it is only by truly trusting and knowing  You  that I can live the life You would have me to live, Lord.

You and You only can "guard and keep" me.  I am persuaded of that truth!  And when I doubt I can only cry out as the man in Mark 9:24 does.  "I believe; help my unbelief!"

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

On Firm Ground

I Timothy 5,6
My Verse:  "O Timothy, guard and keep the deposit entrusted [to you]!  Turn away from the irreverent babble and godless chatter, with the vain and empty and worldly phrases, and the subtleties and the contradictions in what is falsely called knowledge and spiritual illumination" (6:20).

What an important warning!  How I needed this as a young college student.

Unfortunately, I entered college totally unprepared.  I was a Christian but did not have a good Bible background.  I was not grounded in God's Truths!  I was so much like the man that built his house on shifting sand. (Matthew 5:7)  I was bombarded with so many new ideas - different ways of thinking.  I foundered and in a short time was swept away by all the "irreverent babble and godless chatter."  Like Paul says here because I entertained these "vain and empty and worldly phrases" I "erred as regards the faith" (6:21).

Lord Jesus, I am so grateful You did not let go of me in all that.  I was so lost - so confused.  I let my curiosity draw me into realms of thought where I had no business.  It was all a mere vapor - there was nothing substantial in any of it.  It was all the very opposite of truth!  Thank You for showing me that.

 I can only look to You, Lord, and praise You for Your love, for Your grace.

I thank You that You "Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation, for You do I wait expectantly all the day long" (Psalm 25:5).

Thank You for telling us in John 14:6.  ". . . I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me."

The beautiful thing is that I can never come to the end of You.  I can search and study You to my hearts content.  "Your [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for  me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it" (Psalm 139:6).


II Peter 3:18 tells us to ". . . grow in grace and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Thank You for getting me back on firm ground.  I can be sure of my standing on Your Truth and Knowledge for You alone are my Rock.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Do Not Harden Your Heart

Reading:  I Timothy 4
My Verse:  "Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized)" (4:2).

As a young person, very young in You, Lord - I remember the dread of becoming a hypocrite.  This is because there were several characters in my midst at that time who were amazing actors.  In church they were so pious, but once out of church they would laugh and scoff at the whole "church thing."  They would applaud themselves for their skill at deception.  I remember thinking how wrong this was, and I would feel fear in my heart for them and for myself lest I do the same. 

This verse states that awful result of refusing You - constantly denying Your Lordship.  Hearts become so hardened that they "are seared (cauterized)."  Throughout Scripture You warn us not to harden our hearts.

". . . be no longer stubborn and hardened" (Deut. 10:16).

"[God] is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has [ever] hardened himself against Him and prospered or even been safe"  (Job 9:4)?

"Blessed is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity"  (Proverbs 28:14).

"Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion  (of Israel) and  their provocation and embitterment [of Me] in the day of testing in the wilderness" (Hebrews 3:8).

"But instead warn one another every day as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13).

Lord, how well You know us.  You know the danger of putting You off.  You know what happens to our hearts - we become desensitized to Your Love, to Your call.

Thank You for this warning.  Thank You for your great love for us despite our often careless attitude.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Church of the Living God

Reading:  I Timothy 3
My Verse:  "If I am detained, you  may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and stay (the prop and support) of the Truth" (3:15).

This is an amazing verse.  Paul here tells us the church is a household, a pillar and the stay or as the ESV states it the "buttress of the Truth."  Basically, this verse is stating that the church is all important to those of us that believe and to the world.  We, as Christians, must be a part of a church body for that is what keeps us from straying.  We must also look to how we behave while in church for that is why Paul wrote this that, "you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God."

I also like how it is so clearly stated here that the church is of You, Lord God.  You are the supreme authority of the church - "the church of the living God."  And You are a living God!  You dwell with us in the form of the Holy Spirit. And because You are a living God, then church should be a dynamic, exciting place - a place that we as followers of You want to be!

Oh, Lord God, You have entrusted the church to be that place where Your gospel is held up before the world.  If only we each as members of the church would keep this vital role in mind.  We have such a great responsibility!   For many people the only way they get anything of the gospel is by observing the lives of Christians. Am I representing You and Your Truth as I should?  Oh, Lord God, help me to ever keep in mind  as Paul admonishes us  how I should conduct myself "in the household of God."

You call us to worship You Lord, by gathering together with other believers. (Hebrews 10:25)  And we should meet with great expectations of Your blessing on us as we raise our spirits up to You in worship.  It is in this worship, this gathering together of believers in church that we can truly be of one mind as You call us to be. (I Cor. 1:10)  It is also only in worship that we can experience as Foster puts it, "an inward fellowship in the power of the Spirit."  This is what helps us to be united and so together form a strong pillar for Your church.  I love that visual of each of us having a part in holding up the Truth before the world.  Yes, we must meet to worship with great expectations of not only Your blessings but also of the part we play in that worship.

I am so thankful to be a part of this "church of the living God."  I pray that I do my part to be a "buttress of the living Truth."  I like how Calvin Miller put it.  "Your life and mine are where God is now doing His writing."  And this is for all the world to see!

" And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness.  He [God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the [Holy] Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, [and] taken up in glory" (3:16)

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Pray With Expectation

Reading:   I Timothy 1,2
My Verse:  "First of all then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men.  For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high -responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way" (2:1,2)

Prayer is that discipline that so many take part in - even nonbelievers cry out to God when they are in desperate times.  Yet, do we truly expect God to answer our prayers?  I am brought up short here.  For I think too often I enter into prayer out of duty or habit.  I am not praying with great expectations!

I am told here that I should be praying for those in "authority or high - responsibility."  We are even given a reason why we should be praying for our leaders, "that we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life."  Also that we would have a "peaceable" inward life.

What this tells me is that if I am dedicated fervently to praying for leaders it is more likely that I will live a peaceful life with inner contentment.  It also tells me that my prayers are effective or should be.

This is hard for me to understand - how my prayers can have any effect on large matters.  I Corinthians 3:9 tells us that "we are fellow workmen with God."  This tells me that my prayers are important.  They do effect change.  I must pray with the belief that my prayer will make an objective difference.  I think that is often my problem.  I do pray for my leaders - but often am doing so because I know this is my duty and so pray dutifully not passionately.  Lord, forgive me here.

You showed us by Your own example how important prayer is and how it should be a vital part of our Christian walk.  You have throughout scripture showed us through the lives of Moses, David, Daniel, Pal, and many others the results of effective, fervent prayer.  "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16b).

Lord, I ask You to help me.  Help me to enter into prayer for others with the expectation that change will occur.  Help me to put aside my own needs, to be so tuned in to You  that my prayers are not just vain repetitions of which You warn us.  " . . . for they think they will be heard for their much speaking" (Matthew 6:7).  I want to be praying changing prayers - prayers that are working alongside You to effect change in the lives of people.

Yes, I must pray with great expectations!

"But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord.  At an acceptable and opportune time, O God, in the multitude of Your mercy and the abundance of Your loving-kindness hear me, and in the truth and faithfulness of Your salvation answer me" (Psalm 89:13).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Stand Firm & Hold Fast

Reading:  II Thessalonians 1 - 3
My Verse:  "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions and instructions which you were taught by us, whether by our word of mouth or by letter"  (2:15).

Here it is again the -"stand firm and hold fast"  exhortation.  Paul implores us to not allow ourselves to be easily swayed by wrong teaching.  "Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here" (2:2).

He goes on to say, "Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way . . ." (2:3) 

It is so important that we hold to Your word - it alone is truth.  There are no "new" revelations.  This is it and we can depend on that.  You have even warned about adding or taking away from this Your word.  "If anyone shall add anything to them, God will add and lay upon him the plagues that are recorded and described in this book.  And if anyone cancels or takes away from the statements of the book of this prophecy, God will cancel and take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the city of holiness, which are described and promised in this book" (Revelation 22:18,19).

So, yes, we can "hold fast to the traditions and instructions"  as Paul implores us to for these traditions and instructions are the very essence of life.

The Thessalonians were worried they may have missed Your return.  This  concern goes on today.  We are constantly hearing someone say the end of the world is on such or such a day.  Paul shows very clearly here what must happen before You return.

First, "for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first."  The apostasy being a great falling away or full out rebellion against You Lord.  Second,  Paul says that "the man of lawlessness is revealed, who is the son of doom."  Oh what dreadfulness that will be.  And before these things must occur Paul points out several things that must precede even these two.  Verse 4 of Chapter 2 says "the man of lawlessness"  will set himself up "taking his seat in the temple of God."  Right now there is no temple - so that needs to be rebuilt.  The other thing Paul mentions is that before the "man of lawlessness" can be revealed "he who restrains is taken out of the way."  It is not clear exactly who "he" is here but many believe that this is the Holy Spirit indwelling the believers.   And once You take us home to be with You, then we are out of here as will be the Holy Spirit!

This is amazing stuff indeed.  But I needn't worry overmuch about all that.  I need only pay attention to You, to what You are teaching me daily in Your word so that I will not be easily deceived or beguiled.  I must "stand firm and hold fast"  to Your Word!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Be Prepared!

Reading:  I Thessalonians 4:15 - 5
My Verse:  "But we belong to the day, therefore, let us be sober and put on the breastplate of faith and love and for the helmet the hope of salvation" (5:8).

As I read through this passage I found my excitement growing.  How glorious will that day be - the day of Your return, Lord Jesus!

"Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord" (4:17 ESV).

Paul teaches of Your return to encourage us - to remind us of the great hope we have to look forward to.  But he also cautions and implores us to be ready.

I love the contrast of night and day.  We, believers belong to the day - to light - to truth.  We must prepare ourselves by putting on faith, love and hope.

He tells us we should be so ready that Your coming will not catch us unawares.  "But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise like a thief" (5:14).

He then goes on to say "For you are sons of the light and sons of day . . . " (5:5)

"Accordingly, then, let us not sleep, . . . but let us keep wide awake . . and sober . . ." (5:6)

We are to "encourage one another . . . and edify one another . . ." (5:11)

We are to "acknowledge" and "appreciate" our spiritual leaders.  (5"12)

We are to "be at peace  among ourselves. . ." (5:13)

We are to build up the weak. (5:14)

We are to be joyful (5:16)

We are to be prayerful. (5:17)

We are to be thankful. (5:18)

Yes, Lord, I must be prepared for Your return is imminent!  Thank you for this clear teaching.  We can  "Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words."  (4:18)

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!