TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

TODAY IN THE WORD
As the Communists forced Christian missionaries to flee Red China in 1949, believers in the West wondered if the church would survive. When foreign Christians were allowed to enter mainland China about ten years ago, they were amazed to learn that the Chinese church had grown from 10 to 50 million strong!

Chinese Christians had been forced underground. They were spied upon, harassed and persecuted. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know how many spies became Christians while eavesdropping on believers who gathered to worship? Even though believers were never quite sure how private their gatherings in house churches really were, the secret nature of their worship and the risks they were willing to take attracted the interest of the curious.

Perhaps that curiosity provides a helpful window into today’s passage. Angels evidently observe with interest the worship and order in the local church. They are sensitive to the decorum with which we conduct ourselves. In this chapter where Paul emphasizes order and dignity in the congregation and the relative position of men and women, angels seem to look for evidence that God is honored by our actions and attitudes (v. 10). This surveillance is also suggested by Paul in his first letter to Timothy when he calls his young protégé to prayerful administration of the local church: “I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels...” (1 Timothy 5:21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If there is a possibility that we might offend angelic observers by our actions, it is also possible that we might offend curious “seekers of truth” who visit our churches each week.

[Soldier4Christ]

TODAY IN THE WORD
What the “Jesus People” praise choruses were to the 1970s, Bill and Gloria Gaither’s praise gatherings were to the 1980s. In the 1990s the Promise Keepers movement has had a prominent role in guiding contemporary congregational singing.

Unless you have experienced it for yourself, it’s difficult to appreciate what it’s like to hear football stadiums full of men singing praises to the Lord Jesus Christ at the top of their lungs. At every conference, a group of instrumentalists and vocalists teach new songs and lead the men in praise. They are not performing songs to entertain those in the stands. They are prompters of the praise being offered as unto the Lord.

Revelation chapter five is one of the most electrifying praise chapters in the entire Bible—in the words of Fanny Crosby, “a foretaste of glory divine.” With the apostle John, we are caught up in the environment of endless worship in the presence of our Triune God.

After the “new song” of the twenty-four elders (vv. 8-10), the angels once again take center stage as they lead the rest of creation to worship the Lord: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (v. 12). The final praise chorus is sung by “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them” (v. 13)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What prompts your praise? Do you let the church choir or worship team “perform” as if they were entertainers? Or do you view them as using their musical gifts to lead the way in community worship? If the words to special music are printed in your bulletin, do you follow along?

[Soldier4Christ]

TODAY IN THE WORD
In the spring of 1994, Ray Rising, a missionary in Bogota, Colombia, was taken hostage by a group of guerrilla extremists. For twenty-six months prayers for his safe release went up from missions groups, churches and individual Christians around the world. Occasionally there was word on the street that he was still alive. But most were unconfirmed reports.

Several other missionary hostages were killed, and fear challenged faith among those who waited and prayed for Rising. Ray’s ninety-year-old mother wondered if she would live to know her son’s fate. This past June, Rising was released from his long captivity unharmed and healthy. While sorrow remained for the others who had died, the celebrations of God’s faithfulness went on for weeks!

In the stories Jesus told in today’s reading, we sense the longing heart of our searching God. When the lost is found, there is endless celebration. And as in the case of Ray Rising, before that moment there is suspense. What will happen? Jesus’ parables piqued the interest of his audience. Anyone who has ever misplaced something would be intrigued by these twin stories of a lost sheep and a lost coin.

It is significant that Jesus makes special mention of the angels (v. 10). Even though, as we have discovered, they do not fully understand the plan of salvation, their rejoicing mirrors perfectly the reaction of their Creator, whose joy knows no bounds when even one sinner repents and is saved. The angels are included in the “cast party” in a drama in which they play a secondary role.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How do you or your church mark the milepost of new faith in the lives of those who respond to God’s invitation to salvation? Some Christians tell new believers to write the date inside their Bibles. Some churches acknowledge a new spiritual birth by placing a white rose on the communion table. Others give a standing ovation at the conclusion of an altar call.

[Soldier4Christ]

TODAY IN THE WORD
Bill Johnson is a youth pastor in the Chicago area. A sign hangs above his desk that daily calls him to prioritize the many demands that call for his attention. The sign reads: “Keep the main thing, the main thing!”

That has been a challenge for Christians ever since Jesus reprimanded James and John for arguing over who would sit on his right and left side in heaven. In the fourth century, church leaders argued over how many angels could fit on the head of a sewing needle. In our day, students argue over whether the story Jesus told in today’s reading was historical or another parable. Do angels really carry our spirits into the presence of God when we die, or was Jesus using a figure of speech?

The problem in debating such issues is that we risk missing the message that really matters. Was Lazarus a real person? If we give in to the temptation of playing theological shuffleboard with this issue, we may never come to terms with the lesson Jesus was trying to communicate: we have a limited amount of time in which to accept and share the gospel.

Angels may very well be the limousine service God provides for our spirits when we die (see Jude 8-9), but to use this parable to make that case would not be “keeping the main thing the main thing.” Jesus would rather have us meditate on this story with other thoughts in focus. How do we treat the poor? Do we live today in light of eternity? Do we take every opportunity to share the gospel with people we know? Can we meet our Creator with a clear conscience on these issues?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you know anyone who has recently lost a loved one? Once you have identified a person still working through the grieving process, spend some moments today praying for him. You may even want to write a note of encouragement and mention that the Lord brought him to your mind today. Perhaps you’re a poet and would like to compose an original poem empathizing with his loss.

[Soldier4Christ]

TODAY IN THE WORD
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor in Germany who dared to stand up against the Nazi treatment of the Jews. His bravery was rewarded by confinement in a concentration camp. Two weeks before the Allied forces liberated the camp where Bonhoeffer was imprisoned, he was executed at the age of 39.

From his cell this brilliant Christian shared his pastoral heart in books including Life Together, Letters and Papers From Prison, and The Cost of Discipleship. From his cell he also anticipated visits from his fiancée, when authorities permitted her to come. Pastor Bonhoeffer instructed his sweetheart never to show up unannounced. For him the anticipation of her longed-for presence was nearly as meaningful as the arrival itself.

In this final day of our month’s study on angels, we find two angels telling Jesus’ disciples that He will come again. Moments after Jesus has ascended into heaven, “two men dressed in white” (v. 10) appear to them and give them (and us) something to look forward to.

The disciples had been gazing into the clouds, as if in a state of shock. The two radiantly dressed messengers help them to snap out of it, as it were. Jesus was gone, and there was no point in staring up at the empty sky. But the story doesn’t end there. He will return! He has promised to come again to rejoin those for whom He died and rose again.

At times we might grow frustrated that Christ has not yet returned, and that we do not know when He will do so. Our hope seems like “pie in the sky” and we are tempted to leave the work to which He has called us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We don’t know when Jesus will return. But if you knew that Jesus would return one week from today, what would you do differently between now and then? How would you prepare?

[Soldier4Christ]

TODAY IN THE WORD

When Paul visited Thessalonica around 49-50 A.D. on his second missionary journey, the city was a center of travel, commerce and communication. Cassander, one of Alexander the Great's army officers, had founded the city in the fourth century B.C. and named it after his wife (one of Alexander's half-sisters).

As the capital city of the province of Macedonia, Thessalonica boasted a strategically-located harbor filled with ships from throughout the Roman Empire. The main highway from Rome to the East passed through the city as well, and the nearby hot springs of Therma were world-famous.

Paul, Silas and Timothy walked into this major port city of 200ꯠ people with a revolutionary message--the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ!

The story of Paul's experience in Philippi (Acts 16) is so familiar that we often forget to read on and find out where he went next. The answer is in Acts 17:1. He headed for Thessalonica, making that city only the second place in Europe where the gospel was preached!

The wounds on Paul's back from his beating in Philippi (Acts 16:23-24) may still have been hurting when he arrived in Thessalonica. He was treated roughly there, too (17:5), eventually having to leave town under cover of darkness (v. 10).

But some great things happened first! After Paul preached Jesus as the Messiah to the Jews for three Sabbaths, many people believed (vv. 2-4). Paul may have stayed several more months in Thessalonica, ministering among the Gentiles. However long his ministry, Paul planted a church there and felt a deep love for the Thessalonian believers.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul's threefold commendation in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 is one any sincere believer would be pleased to receive.

The Thessalonians were known for their diligent work in spreading the gospel and for their endurance under severe trial--all of which were inspired by their faith, love and hope in Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

TODAY IN THE WORD
According to recent reports, British researchers working in Antarctica have mapped out a lake of unfrozen fresh water as big as Lake Ontario, buried two-and-a-half miles beneath the ice! The lake is 124 miles long and averages 400 feet in depth. Scientists believe it contains perfectly preserved samples of ancient bacteria, viruses and plant forms, making it a potentially rich resource for future research. ""People are dreaming of what might be contained in this water,"" says one researcher.

Paul and his companions found something similar in the spiritual realm when they came to Thessalonica with the gospel. Hidden under the spiritually frozen surface of this pagan port city, they found another reality--not pristine waters, but Jewish and Gentile hearts made ready to hear and respond to the message of salvation.

In these opening verses of 1 Thessalonians, Paul makes it clear that salvation is a work of God from beginning to end. The Thessalonians were chosen by God before the creation of the world (v. 4; cf. Eph. 1:4).

How did Paul know these believers were chosen of God for salvation? By their response to the gospel. Those who believed the message of Christ in Thessalonica received it for what it really is, ""the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes"" (Rom. 1:16).

The Thessalonians demonstrated the reality of their faith. They embraced the gospel despite ""severe suffering"" (1 Thess. 1:6), indicating that the mob action of Acts 17 was not just a momentary persecution.

More than that, the Christians in this great city eagerly imitated Paul as he imitated Christ. They became evangelists themselves (see v. , with the result that other believers in the region imitated the Thessalonians in their faith, hope and love.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There's nothing like a quiet walk to help put things in perspective. Why not do that this weekend? Here are two questions you might take with you to mull over as you walk.

First, is there an ""apostle Paul"" in your life--a mature believer whose godly example you can imitate? You may go on your walk alone, but the Christian life is not meant to be a solo act.

[Soldier4Christ]

TODAY IN THE WORD

Dr. Paul Freed, founder of the missionary enterprise known as Trans World Radio, tells of an occasion when he was traveling in India. He and his party were in a remote area of the Indian bush, miles from any sign of ""civilization."" Stopping at a roadside stand, one member of Dr. Freed's party asked the proprietor if he had ever heard of Trans World Radio. The man smiled, reached down, and produced his transistor radio. He was a faithful listener!

Thanks to modern technology put to work by men such as Paul Freed, the gospel message can literally go around the world. According to today's text, the Christians in Thessalonica had a similarly effective witness through their testimonies and their faithfulness to Christ.

True, the ""everywhere"" of the first century was a smaller world than today's ""global village."" But that does not dim the bright light of testimony those believers had for the Lord. Their reputation for godliness reached past Macedonia and Achaia, the two provinces of ancient Greece, and out into the Mediterranean world.

As we saw earlier, others marveled at the Thessalonians because of the manner in which they received Paul and the gospel. The fact that they ""turned to God from idols"" (v. 9) indicates that this church consisted largely of pagan Gentiles who had worshiped the gods of Greece and Rome. Such radical conversions would be quite noteworthy in the areas where Paul evangelized.

Notice the contrast he draws between serving God, which suggests activity, and waiting for the return of Christ, which suggests passivity. Paul commends the Thessalonians in both areas--but that doesn't mean that they were perfect, as we will learn later.

We cannot leave this section without pausing at verse 10 to talk about what Paul elsewhere calls ""the blessed hope"" (Titus 2:13). This is the return of the Lord to deliver us from the judgment of God, which He will pour out on the unbelieving world.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Serving and waiting may seem contradictory, but for the Christian they are complementary concepts. Nothing motivates service for the Lord more than the hope of His return!

We know that every believer is called to serve. And if your life is typical, there are plenty of places where faithful servants are needed. Has God brought a need to your attention? Determine today that you will follow through on whatever He may be calling you to do.

[Soldier4Christ]

TODAY IN THE WORD

One of the key forerunners of the Reformation was Bohemian John Hus. He devoted himself to Scripture and taught that Christ, not the Pope, is Head of the Church.

In 1414, Hus was called before the Council of Constance to defend his beliefs. He was convicted of heresy and sentenced to be burnt at the stake unless he recanted.

But Hus stood firm. On the day of his martyrdom he said: ""God is my witness that the evidence against me is false…In the truth of the gospel I have written, taught, and preached, today I will gladly die."" As the crackling flames consumed him, he joyfully sang a hymn.

Facing persecution and paying with his life, Hus championed the gospel and helped pave the way for the Reformation. Similarly, the apostle Paul also faced strong persecution in response to his teachings about Christ.

Today's text indicates that charges of doctrinal error and greed were being leveled against Paul by some in Thessalonica. This was to become a familiar story for the apostle. He would face similar accusations throughout his ministry.

The fact that 1 Thessaloni-ans may be one of the earliest of Paul's letters (second, after Galatians) shows that opposition to his ministry existed from the start. So Paul takes twelve verses of chapter 2 to defend his conduct in Thessalonica.

One evidence that the charges against Paul were false was that his mission in Thessalonica was not a ""failure,"" meaning ""without results, futile."" God doesn't bless a sham!

Paul's references to the insults and injuries he and Silas suffered in Philippi (Acts 16:16-40), as well as to their harsh treatment in Thessalonica, is another strong answer to those questioning his motives.

The idea is this: If Paul were only preaching the gospel to attract a following or to line his pockets, why would he endure such suffering? People who are insincere or dishonest don't persevere when their schemes start to backfire. If Paul was doing ministry for money, he was going about it all wrong!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

It's a blessing to be able to say we have nothing to hide. ""Integrity"" is a political and corporate buzzword these days, much like ""family values."" You can't always be sure what people mean when they use the term.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:5-9
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TODAY IN THE WORD

The story is told that in 1943 the Duke of Windsor, former British monarch Edward VIII, and his wife spent a month at a luxurious resort hotel in Virginia. As they were preparing to leave, the bill was presented. The duke looked at it blankly and asked, ""Now what do I do with this?"" Someone else had always taken care of such matters. He and the duchess left with the bill unpaid.

No one in Thessalonica could have accused Paul of skipping out on his tab. It's true that the apostle accepted gifts of support from some churches (see 2 Cor. 11:8-9; Phil. 4:14-18). He had a right to such support (1 Cor. 9:7-14). But in places where his motives for ministry were under fire, Paul worked hard at his tentmaking trade so as to remove any grounds for criticism (see 1 Cor. 9:1-14; 2 Cor. 11:12).

Corinth was not the only place where Paul's motives were being attacked. Evidently the charge of greed was also leveled against him in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 2:5). That must have hurt, because Paul's true motive could not have been more opposite.

Instead of taking from these believers, Paul had given of himself to them again and again. What metaphor could he use to explain the depth of his love for them? He turned to the most tender image on earth: a loving mother gently caring for her babies (vv. 7-8).

Here, as Dr. Charles Ryrie notes, is Paul's pastoral heart laid bare. From all indications, his ministry in Thessalonica had been marked by persecution, fierce opposition, and threats on his life. Yet, like a mother pouring out her love on her children, Paul gave spiritual birth to and then nurtured the Thessalonian believers. He appealed to their memory of his selfless service, but in the end he was content to leave his case with God (vv. 5, 9-10).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12
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TODAY IN THE WORD

In contemporary American society, ""fatherhood"" is a hot topic. Society suddenly seems to have given today's men ""permission"" to be good fathers, and legions of dads are taking society up on the offer. The National Fatherhood Institute, which is at the forefront of this encouraging movement, offers a number of suggestions for how men can improve their fathering skills. Among them: • Be a teacher• Be a role model• Earn the right to be heard• Discipline with a gentle spirit• Show affection• Realize a father's job is never done

Lay these suggestions alongside today's text, and you'll see why Paul likened his ministry among the Thessalonians to that of a father. He did all of the things listed above for these new believers--and much more!

For instance, Paul's reference to working hard night and day so as not to be a burden on his spiritual children (v. 9) reminds us of a father's responsibility toward his children. Although Paul's ministry to the Thessa-lonians was not in providing their material needs, he still worked among them with a fatherly diligence.

His example will take on additional importance as we continue our study of this letter, because the church in Thessa-lonica was plagued by some who decided either that work was beneath them or that it was for ""the other guy."" Paul prescribed some strong fatherly medicine for those lazy Christians!

Like a good father, Paul not only taught the Thessaloni-ans the truth they needed for life. He lived it out among them. Once again, he refers to the fact that his blameless behavior during his time in Thessalonica was well known (v. 10). (Notice how often the phrase ""you know"" occurs in these chapters.)

Commenting on verse 10, Dr. John Stott points out that ""holy"" has to do with our devotion and piety before God; ""righteous"" can refer to our relations with those around us; and ""blameless"" generally refers to our public reputation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Those three areas of life--our walk with God, our relationship to other believers, and our reputation in the world--are three important areas of our lives and witness today.

If you feel as though you often fail to measure up in one area or another, join the club! All of us stumble and fall on occasion, but the good news is that we don't have to stay down. Christ provides all we need for daily cleansing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16
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TODAY IN THE WORD

As most of us remember, a pipe bomb exploded during this past summer's Olympics, killing or injuring many. As emergency vehicles were taking away the injured and police were searching Atlanta's Centennial Park for more bombs, people returned to the park entrance.

What did they want? Amazingly, they demanded to be let in to continue the party. Later that day, fans lined up for Olympic tickets and the streets and shops were filled with people again.

Why this ""business-as-usual"" reaction? Unfortunately, pain and suffering are nothing new. We live in a fallen world in which these are daily realities. At any moment, they can break in on our lives. We have grown accustomed to tragedy.

Similarly, persecution was an accepted fact of life for the church at Thessalonica. We know from Acts 17 that Paul and his companions suffered at the hands of hostile unbelievers during their mission in the city. Earlier in this letter, the apostle made reference to the severe suffering inflicted on the church (1 Thess. 1:6).

No one enjoys suffering. Our humanity tells us to flee the cause in order to relieve the pain. Since the Thessalonians were as human as anyone, Paul was concerned lest their sufferings cause them to pull back from their devotion to Christ. He was doubly concerned because he had been forced to leave them abruptly (see 2:17).

How much were the Thessalonians suffering? As much as Jewish believers such as Paul suffered at the hands of unbelieving Jews in Judea (vv. 14-15). There was no doubt about the severity of that suffering! Jesus Himself wept over Jerusalem, ""you who kill the prophets"" (Matt. 23:37).

Wasn't a Gentile city such as Thessalonica worlds apart from Judea geographically and culturally? Yes, but the fact that Paul's Jewish persecutors tried to keep him from preaching the gospel to the Gentiles brought those two worlds together. Whether Jew or Gentile, Christian believers shared the experience of suffering for their faith.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

On the subject of suffering for Christ, we Westerners often feel a twinge of guilt--we live comfortably while other Christians around the world are suffering.

Both Peter and Paul tell us to expect persecution because we belong to Christ (2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:12), but we are not told to go looking for it. Instead, our prayer should be that we will be faithful to Christ whatever the consequences.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Isaac Watts is known today for his glorious hymns that have blessed the church for well over two hundred years. But Watts was also a faithful pastor who served in the same church for his entire ministry.

A sickly man, Watts would often retire to bed to recuperate after preaching a sermon. But his love for his people remained strong despite his weak health. He once wrote of his congregation: ""There is no place, no company, nor employment under heaven, that can give me such delight, as when I stand ministering holy things in the midst of you.""

As a messenger of the gospel with the heart of a pastor, Paul could have signed his name to a similar statement. Although his ministry was itinerant instead of settled, Paul loved the people under his charge intensely.

Today's verse reminds us that he felt that way about the church at Philippi. And we know that he also loved the Thessalonians with deep, parental affection. In fact, the verb translated ""torn away"" (v. 17) means ""to be orphaned.""

Verse 17 begins a different line of thought which carries through to the end of chapter 3. The background, though, is the same as that in the previous section: Paul's defense against those who accused him of wrong motives. Having defended his visit to Thessa-lonica, Paul now defends his sudden departure and the fact that he had not been able to return.

Some apparently were accusing him of not caring enough to come back, or of being afraid to do so. But Paul knew better. His desire to return was intense, but his path was being blocked by Satan (v. 18). One possibility is that when city officials made Jason and other believers post bond for harboring Paul (Acts 17:9), they legally banned Paul from returning.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Someone has said that the one thing better than going to heaven yourself is taking other people with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5
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TODAY IN THE WORD

In occupied nations such as Poland, a Nazi intimidation tactic was to cut off all communication between towns and villages. One Holo-caust survivor, who was a Polish teenager when the Nazis occupied his town, says: ""You can't imagine how isolated and desperate we felt. There were no newspapers or radio broadcasts. We had no idea what was happening in villages a few miles away. So when the Nazis took my parents and other adults away and told them they were going out to the fields to help in the harvest, we did not know different--until they did not come back.""

Isolation often breeds desperation, especially when we are cut off from those we love. Judging by today's text, Paul was desperate to know how his converts in Thessalonica were doing. Since he was not able to visit them, he sent Timothy, even though for Paul this decision meant being alone.

Paul went from Thessa-lonica to Athens, where his escorts left him (Acts 17:15). Silas and Timothy joined him later, but he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the church while he went on to Corinth (Acts 18:1). Timothy and Paul were reunited in Corinth, where Paul wrote this letter.

Why was Paul concerned about the Thessalonians? They were being persecuted for their faith, and the fire was getting hot (1 Thess. 3:3-5). Paul knew what could happen to young converts living under such conditions. The human temptation would be to seek escape from the pressure of persecution, to back off from their commitment to Christ.

Added to this were the temptations Paul knew Satan would bring that could trip up the Thessalonians. The possibility that these pressures might cause the believers there to cave in weighed heavily on Paul's spirit. Not knowing what was happening in Thessalonica made the burden even heavier.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Despite clear teaching about the inevitability of trials for the Christian, many of us still react to tough times as if God had either forgotten about us or were punishing us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10
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TODAY IN THE WORD

The success of the U.S. women's gymnastics team in the Olympics brought smiles to the faces of several publishers. While the Games were still in progress, a book about 14-year-old gymnast Dominique Moceanu vaulted onto two major bestseller lists. Even a book exposing the ""making and breaking"" of young gymnasts and figure skaters was in huge demand in bookstores last summer.

The ""performance"" of the Thessalonian church put a similar smile on the face of the apostle Paul. Of course, what was at stake was not gold medals, the world's applause, or book contracts. Instead, it was the survival and spiritual success of a fledgling body of believers living in the midst of a pagan city.

When Timothy was reunited with Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:5), his report was so encouraging that Paul seems to have sat down immediately to write this letter (1 Thess. 3:6). How good was the good news? Speaking of Timothy's report, Paul actually applied the verb that normally means ""to preach the gospel""!

The encouraging word concerning the Thessalonians was twofold. First, those believers were standing firm in their faith and love, even though they needed additional teaching (vv. 6, 10). In light of Paul's earlier fears, this was outstanding news!

The second part of Timothy's good report was that the Thessalonians still had strong affection for Paul. Given Paul's critics there and the charge that he had come only for personal glory and gain, this was also welcome news.

All of this strengthened and encouraged Paul in his own sufferings in Corinth. He was enduring physical distress and spiritual persecution (v. 7), a potent one-two punch designed to knock him out of the battle.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Paul wasn't the only one smiling when he heard of the Thessalonians' steadfastness. As we act in ways that please Him, we as God's people can also enjoy His smile.

Do you want the smile of God's pleasure on your life today? The Lord's day is the perfect time for us to talk about this, because we can please Him by the gifts and sacrifices we bring Him when we come together for worship.