TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 11:5-7
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart. - Ezekiel 18:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
Hugh Lattimer once offended King Henry VIII with one of his sermons, and the king demanded that the bishop publicly recant his words in the following week's message. A week later, Lattimer opened with a brief introduction in which he said that he feared God's wrath more than the king's. He then repeated the previous week's sermon word for word.

By now, parts of Hosea may be giving you a case of déjà vu. Israel's sin was repetitive, and the prophet repeatedly proclaimed the allegations against them to drive his point home. God was building His case against Israel to prove that the guilty verdict was just. No matter how many times the facts were analyzed or from what angle the story was viewed, Israel's betrayal was obvious and God's faithfulness was impeccable. If anything, the destruction and exile that awaited the nation were overdue.

Israel was “determined” to turn from God, a Hebrew phrase that could literally be translated “hung up on” or “impaled on.” Israel's pursuit of idolatry was not an occasional slip. Their hearts had a singular focus on rebellion.

The second half of verse 7 is difficult to interpret because it is difficult to translate. Scholars are divided on the correct phrasing. One interpretation is that even if Israel were to call on God, He would not lift them up. A second view is that no one in Israel would exalt God, even if they did call out to Him for help. Yet another possible reading is that Israel would call out to Baal, who was incapable of helping them in their time of need. Despite the confusion, each interpretation arrives at the same conclusion: Israel was so entrenched in their sin that genuine repentance was not going to happen, and divine help would not come.

The case against Israel was lopsided. The likelihood of repentance had vanished. God's judgment was certain. Despite all that, God's mercy continued to rain down on them. His love for His people would not allow them to be completely destroyed.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Israel's propensity for sin was not unique to them. More was expected of them because they were God's chosen people, but without an intimate relationship with Him and commitment to serving Him alone, slavery to sin is inevitable. We are not immune to falling into the same traps that ensnared Israel because we are afflicted with the same condition: the depravity of sin. Use this study of Israel's sin as an example of what life apart from God is like, and make a renewed commitment to unwavering devotion to Him alone.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 11:8-11
In his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. - Romans 3:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Citizen Kane earned a place as one of the greatest films ever made by redefining the way a motion picture told its story. The title character's life is shown out of sequence, beginning with the final word uttered from his deathbed. The camera's focus often shifts dramatically from an object in the immediate foreground to something in the background. This clever use of depth of focus photography brings key details and characters to our attention with nuances that were impossible in a conventional presentation.

Old Testament prophecy routinely uses similar techniques to shift our focus in unexpected ways and to reveal surprising truths both in God's plan for Israel and in the richness of His character. At a place in Hosea where we might expect God's pronouncement of wrath to reach a climax of vengeance, the narrative shifts perspective and puts a twist in the timeline.

In today's passage God forecasts His relenting judgment with a flashback in history to Admah and Zeboiim, the lesser-known recipients of the fierce judgment that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Deut. 29:23). God wasn't rescinding the judgment against Israel; He was indicating that His wrath would not be unleashed to its full extent and the punishment would not be permanent. If God's wrath were fully poured out on Israel, their cities would have been completely destroyed, as the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah demonstrated. God's compassion for Israel stood in the way of the wrath that Israel fully deserved (v. . His holiness is beyond human understanding, as is His mercy that extended to Israel an exemption from the full measure of His wrath (v. 9).

This was not God going soft, as the next metaphor makes perfectly clear. God was like a lion whose roar could be heard by other nations. In His time, He would inspire fear in His wayward children and bring them shivering back to their home He had given them. Judgment wouldn't be averted, but their promised return home was evidence that in His love and mercy, God withheld a harsher penalty.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God's wrath didn't dissipate into nothingness. He didn't just change His mind and decide the sin of Israel was not a big deal. Ultimately, their sins—and ours—were paid for by the blood of Christ, a sacrifice that allowed sinners to escape the punishment their sins deserved (Rom. 3:25). Spend some time today thanking God for His unexpected mercy and incomparable love. As challenges and temptations arise today, remember His sacrifice and honor Him with obedience.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 11:12-12:2
Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. - Ecclesiastes 4:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
The 1980s had its savings and loan scandal. In the 1990s, the dot-com bubble burst. Most recently, the American economy has been reeling from the subprime mortgage crisis. The details have changed, but each financial disaster has been triggered by a common element: people trusted money that didn't exist. Any time people trust in a lie, disappointment is certain to come.

All of Israel's hopes, the foundation of their culture, had been built on the false gods of other nations (11:12). They pursued vain ambitions, creating even more lies—unsurprisingly, violence followed as well (12:1).

One of their main false hopes was the confidence they placed in treaties with other nations. It was a practice that became popular during Solomon's reign, and one reason for his numerous marriages. At that time, Israel enjoyed a time of peace, so the treaties were probably pursued more out of a desire for greater riches than as a solution to the desperation in Hosea's day. True to Solomon's habit of adopting the religious practices of his wives, these treaties extended beyond political agreements. Israel's weakness for foreign gods was well-documented. Even if they hadn't given in to pagan worship, the very idea of establishing treaties with other nations was preposterous. A state governed by Almighty God needed no assurances of peace from foreign kings. It was yet another example of Israel's complete lack of direction. They pursued their own perverted desires and skewed logic instead of a firm understanding of God and His Word.

Once again, God reminded Israel that He was bringing a legal accusation against His people (12:2). Israel would receive retribution in accordance with their wicked way of life. In some ways, they were merely reaping the natural results of bad decisions. But beyond those consequences, God was making a specific judgment against them that addressed the nature of their sin throughout their sordid history.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Worries are a good indicator of the areas where we're failing to trust God and instead relying on our own strength or external factors out of our control. If you have a worry, first try to identify who or what is acting as the object of your trust. Take note for future reference not to grow too dependent on it, whether it is money, another person, or even yourself. Acknowledge that God is in control of the situation and entrust it to Him by praying that He will work both in the circumstances and also in your own heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 12:3-6
The Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name of renown! - Hosea 12:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some people have names that just fit. Andrew Parr became a professional golfer. Many Portland residents schedule their dental visits with Dr. Toothaker. The plumbing outfit of Plummer & Leek in Norfolk, England, probably maintains a constant flow of business. And Sally Ride took her apt moniker all the way into space!

In the Bible, people and places were given names that had great significance, and Israel had two of them. Hosea made subtle references to both those names in today's passage. He cited both instances when the father of the nation was given a name to suit his actions. The first took place at birth. As Jacob's brother Esau was born, the younger twin reached from the womb to grab Esau's heel (Gen. 25:26). The name “Jacob” literally means “he grabs the heel” and is a Hebrew expression for deception. It was a sign of what would become an extended struggle with Esau and a metaphor for his propensity for trickery.

The second naming episode in Jacob's life took place after his wrestling match with the angel of God (Gen. 32:28). Then he received the name Israel, meaning “he struggles with God.” Verse 3 essentially reads, “In the womb, Jacob; as a man, Israel.” Both names suited him and applied equally well to the nation of his descendants who constantly deceived themselves and never stopped contending with God. Hosea alluded to these names to draw attention to Israel's nature as a nation. Then he contrasted them with the almighty name of God.

What a contrast! Hosea stated God's name as if he were issuing a call to worship. Indeed, he was exhorting Israel to completely change the way they worshiped by returning to exclusive allegiance to God and adjusting their lives in a manner befitting the holy name of their God. They were to correct the key difference between them and their namesake. When Jacob contended with the Lord through the night and earned the name Israel, his commitment to God became stronger. The nation desperately needed to wrestle with who God really is, relent in humility, and return to a commitment to God alone.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
First John 3:1 tells us about a new name God has given to those who believe in Christ: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” On one hand, that name is reason for incredible joy and encouragement. What an amazing identity to be God's child! But bearing that name brings enormous responsibility as well. Our lives—both our actions and our hearts—should reflect the truth of who we are in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 12:7-14
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. - Psalm 139:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
Every October, shortly after the announcement of the Nobel Prize winners, a group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology hands out the Ig Nobel Prize, a tongue-in-cheek recognition of notorious achievements. In 2002, they awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in economy to “the executives, corporate directors, and auditors” of 28 different companies for “adapting the mathematical concept of imaginary numbers for use in the business world.”

Israel's accounting was similarly suspect. They claimed to be independently wealthy and sinless, but an audit of their history as a nation revealed a different story. Using dishonest scales, Israel's claim in verse 8 insinuated that they came into wealth on their own merits. But God was the One who brought them out of Egypt where they were slaves with no home, no king, and no freedom. They were wanderers, not wealthy. Their claim that no sin would be found in them was obviously false. The prophets had long spoken out against Israel's wickedness.

Was Gilead wicked? Yes! Despite Israel's claims to the contrary, their sacrifices were not enough to make them holy. Their altars may have had value if their worship was genuine, taking place in God's holy temple. But because of their rebellion, the stones of their altars were as worthless as stones in a field that got in the way of the plow (v. 11).

God looked back to Jacob to expose the real story. Jacob was a servant, a shepherd, when he was beginning his family—hardly the mark of self-made wealth. And afterward, as his descendants became a nation, they had to be cared for like sheep by the prophets of God. The verb in verse 12 describing Jacob's care for the sheep is repeated in verse 13 in reference to the prophets' guidance. Hosea made a clear parallel between Jacob's humble beginnings and Israel's propensity to wander.

Israel had the value of things completely out of balance, and they were about to experience the punishment from God in order to even the scales.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We all perform some type of self-evaluation, a sort of mental report card that gauges how well we think we are living our lives. Some people are unfairly harsh on themselves, and others persist in denial about their glaring shortcomings. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart according to His standards, not your own. Be open to His conviction for an honest look at the condition of your life. Allow Him to make the changes that truly need to be made, to free you from the burden of presenting a false exterior.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 13:1-3
I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. - Deuteronomy 2:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mike Tyson was once the most feared boxer in the world. Onlookers could see the fear in the eyes of the men who faced him, and that fear often proved justified when he knocked them out in 90 seconds or less. But that image of Tyson has disappeared after a series of bad financial decisions, criminal actions, and other allegations knocked him out of the boxing world.

Israel also suffered from a punishing downfall from its perch as a feared power. They once were a formidable nation that terrified other kings. But when they abandoned God, they had no strength. They adopted the gods of the foreign nations that feared them—the ones they had watched God destroy! God revealed His domination over the false gods of foreign lands, and Israel somehow decided to join the losing side. That foolish betrayal ultimately destroyed them (v. 1). They began to worship the idols they themselves had made (v. 2).

Once again we see the importance of proper worship. There's no greater insult to God than to equate His majesty with the work of human hands. It is essentially proclaiming that God is the product of our own craftsmanship. Of course their insolent idolatry angered God. He is the Creator! Israel forgot that, and they paid the price. In God's eyes, they were dead to Him the moment they worshiped another god (v. 1). Those immediate spiritual ramifications would later be complemented by bodily harm as well.

It appears that Israel may have actually resorted to human sacrifice, although the translation in verse 2 is again difficult. It's unclear whether Hosea was indicting the men for offering sacrifices or indicating that people were offered as sacrifices. Either way, Israel's acts were an abomination to the Lord and His law.

Hosea outlined the nature of their destruction. Like the morning dew, they would not last long. Their existence as a nation was fading. Like the chaff, they were swept away. And like smoke, Israel would become the poisonous byproduct of destruction by fire.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We must give God the credit for all that He does. Because of the conditioning of our surrounding culture, you may not feel comfortable praising God publicly when good things happen or when He helps you achieve your goals. But it is far worse to withhold glory from God than to make other people uneasy by speaking His name. Let people know that you put your trust in God to care for you and provide for you. Don't be ashamed to give Him the glory!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 13:4-11
I will come upon them like a lion. - Hosea 13:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
On October 3, 2003, an audience of 1,500 shocked people saw magician Roy Horn grabbed in the jaws of a white tiger and carried helplessly offstage. Siegfried and Roy had appeared to have complete control over the animals in their famous act. Animal-rights activists thought the attack was the result of the tiger's stress, while the show's producers insisted the animal was trying to protect Horn as if he were one of its cubs. One thing was undisputed: the cat showed who was really in power.

As worshipers of Baal, the people of Israel ascribed to the belief that this false god exercised control over the animals. It was similar to the belief by the ancient Egyptians that several gods controlled animals of all different kinds. When God delivered Israel from Egypt, He used the plagues to demonstrate to Pharaoh and his religious leaders that He was in control of all things. He was superior to the gods of other nations. Egypt learned that, and Israel was supposed to know that quite well (v. 4). But long after the Exodus, the Israelites still needed to be taught the same lesson.

We remember that Israel complained in the wilderness because of their hunger. But God pointed to the opposite reaction that came after He provided—Israel was satisfied, and they still forgot God (v. 6). In doing so, they joined in the worship of Baal and the false claims about his reign over the animal kingdom. By describing Himself as a lion, leopard, and bear, God was emphasizing His superiority once again. Only this time, it wasn't the Egyptians who were afflicted with plagues; the nation of Israel itself would be ripped apart. They would be destroyed by the One who had always been available to help (v. 9).

The destruction referred to here is predominantly figurative for the dissolution of the government of Israel. Their desire to be like other nations brought them a king in the first place (1 Sam. 8:5), and it was motivated by a rejection of God's direct kingship over them (1 Sam. 8:7). Now they had rejected Him as their God, and it cost them both their human king and the false security brought by his throne (v. 11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When we fail to recognize that God is in control, our hearts can easily be broken when the things we trust most completely turn out to be the things that hurt us most deeply. If you trust in your career, it can fail. If you trust in money or possessions, you can lose it all or see it destroyed. Even health and medicine can become a source of false security. But if you trust in the Lord, He will never leave you. Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:38-39). We must never confuse the Giver with His good gifts to us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 13:12-16
Where, O grave, is your destruction? - Hosea 13:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the late stages of pregnancy, women anxious for the birth of their child often hear the advice, “The baby will come when he's ready.” Especially when the due date has come and gone, expectant mothers usually would prefer to hear, “The baby's ready now!” But no mother ever wants to hear the message Hosea delivered to Israel.

Israel was like a baby that didn't have the sense to be born (v. 13). The pain they suffered as a nation should have led them to an obvious conclusion: return to God! Nothing should have come more instinctively, but Israel had reached the pinnacle of stubbornness.

Verse 14 marks another translation difficulty, and the possible options are direct opposites. If you're reading the niv, it will appear that God was promising Israel deliverance from the grave in an apparent reference to the resurrection (“I will ransom them”). A look at the nasb would indicate that God was promising death through a series of rhetorical questions (“Shall I ransom them?”) that ultimately had the last phrase as their answer: “Compassion will be hidden from My sight.” The New Living Translation takes it one step further, interpreting the questions to death and the grave as invocations for them to come (“O death, bring on your terrors!). Given the context of the verses that follow, the nasb and nlt versions are probably closer to the original text. Culminating in verse 16, this is the most violent and disturbing description of judgment in Hosea. God wasn't sending a message of hope here; He was issuing Israel's death sentence.

So why the confusion? Because both translations have merit in Scripture. Israel did suffer death as a nation. Their later subservience to other nations is historical fact. But that death was not final. The resurrection of Christ and the reunification of Israel under His reign promise to bring new life to that which has died. In Paul's quotation of this verse, the answer to the rhetorical questions is completely different (1 Cor. 15:55). The following verse states that the sting of death is sin. Christ delivers us not only from destruction, but also from the sin that brought it on.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
First Corinthians 15 is the definitive passage for explaining the doctrine of the resurrection. Spend time reading that chapter and then think and pray through its rich, deep truth. Consider especially how the hope of the resurrection contrasts with the hopelessness of sin. Take note of the admonition in verse 34. Even people in the church are susceptible to being ensnared in sin and becoming ignorant about God. Avoid that trap by heeding Paul's command to devote yourself fully to the work of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 14:1-3
Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! - Hosea 14:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dorothy got back to Kansas with a click of her heels and the phrase, “There's no place like home.” Alice sent the house of cards flying as she woke up from her Wonderland adventure. Lucy walked back through the woods and the wardrobe to return to the Professor's house. And Hansel and Gretel let bread crumbs mark their return trail. Like so many children's stories, Israel's main need was as simple as finding their way home.

They needed God to show them how to return to Him. Israel didn't get to their miserable condition by a cyclone or magical portal. Sin was the gateway to their destruction, and their sin needed to be addressed and eliminated before God would welcome them back. They needed new hearts in order to utter words of repentance that would lead them to forgiveness.

Israel first needed to ask God to forgive their sins, which would include admitting they had sinned in the first place. Such confession was the key component missing from their plea in chapter 6. Once they had received forgiveness, they could once again offer their praises to God (v. 2).

The people also needed to admit the futility of turning to Assyria for help. They had to recant from their dependence on military fortifications, horses, and chariots in accordance with a commandment issued through Moses—before Israel had even asked for a king, God anticipated their desire to assemble an army like Egypt's (Deut. 17:16). God's people were to depend on the superiority of their God instead of their artillery.

Finally, Israel needed to acknowledge that they would follow God alone, never again giving their worship to manmade objects. God connected commitment to Him with a statement about His compassion. God wasn't standing at a distance demanding allegiance from His lowly subjects. God's command for exclusive worship came from a heart of compassion, loving the most humble inhabitants of His kingdom. Israel could never receive forgiveness if they persisted in their adultery of spirit.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Asking for forgiveness from God seems simple, but it often doesn't feel easy. It can be tempting to try handling sin ourselves. We think that if we just discontinue our sinful actions, we won't have to bring God into the picture. But, like Israel, we aren't very good at dealing with sin on our own. The only way to true freedom comes from admitting your sin to God and asking Him for forgiveness. Acknowledge how your wrongdoings are an offense to God and tell Him that with the help of His Spirit, you will no longer persist in sin!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 14:4-9
The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. - Hosea 14:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The winds were furious. Waves rose far above the boat, dumping water onto the disciples. In a panic, the frightened men woke up Jesus. Calmly, He spoke a few words. Then everything went completely still; everything, that is, except the racing hearts of the disciples, who wondered who could calm a storm through His words.

The shift between Hosea 13 and 14 is equally dramatic. The squall of furious judgment against Israel subsided; the instant repentance and forgiveness entered the picture. As Hosea recorded these words, Israel had not even approached the point of confession yet, but God spoke of their repentance as if it had already happened. His anger was gone, and now He was prepared to bless them as He had always intended. We see the eternal perspective of God, that He could speak such tender words of forgiveness and compassion while His people were mired in rebellion.

The fruitfulness of Israel had returned. Instead of being influenced by the cultural tide, the Israel that God envisioned was an instrument of blessing to the rest of the world (v. 7). God compared Himself to the dew, no longer in reference to its quick disappearance but rather to its consistent provision day after day. It's amazing how quickly the picture completely changed at the mere expression of genuine repentance.

Many theologians believe this passage refers to the millennial kingdom of Christ, a time when Jesus will rule in righteousness, healing the chronic condition of man's sinfulness (v. 4). But the message has powerful, practical implications for us today. Hosea concluded his message to Israel with the perfect, simple synopsis. The ways of the Lord are right! Our success or failure in following His ways determines the end results of our lives. It's that simple. Rebellion brings destruction and downfall. Those who stray from the Word of God are doomed. But obedience brings the flourishing promises of God into our lives, and the benefits are passed on to the people around us!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The verse for today makes things clear cut for us—live according to God's ways, and He will pour His blessings on us and use us to accomplish His goals and establish His kingdom. But if we give our heart to some other object, any other authority created by God or fashioned by man, we will face dire consequences. The biggest punishment is the absence of a personal, loving relationship with Him! Thank God for the wisdom of His Word and renew your commitment to follow Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 17:1-15; 1 Thessalonians 1:1
We boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. - 2 Thessalonians 1:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
On November 9, 2007, Christianity Today interviewed Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA, part of the organization founded in 1955 by Brother Andrew. Moeller shared: “I just became aware of a story of a family in Indonesia whose daughter was one of three girls who were attacked by Muslim extremists in 2004. . . . [The mothers'] effort on behalf of the cause of Christ to forgive those who had done the most horrible things to their families and their daughters is a testimony of the way the Christians are called to respond. . . . When people die in the name of Jesus Christ, it presents a strong testimony to the culture. . . . The church is correspondingly growing.”

For two thousand years, persecuted Christians have attested the reality of the gospel. Consider today's reading. Thessalonica was a commercial city located on a major Roman road. Paul's efforts here reflect his pattern of planting churches in strategic cities. Thessalonica had a large Jewish population and at least one synagogue. It's unclear how long Paul stayed in Thessalonica. Acts 17 mentions three Sabbaths, but it's likely that Paul was in Thessalonica a bit longer. The Philippians sent at least one monetary gift to Paul during this time (Phil. 4:16), which also suggests a longer stay. Paul's success in Thessalonica, however, was not without opposition. Some Jews became jealous of the number of Gentile converts to Christianity. Because Thessalonica was a free city, its rulers were eager to avoid any disturbance that would threaten its independence from Rome. The pledge required of Jason may have included some type of guarantee that Paul and Silas would leave the city.

The Thessalonian church was formed in such circumstances. Paul's two letters to this church—our focus this month—were likely written from Corinth around a.d. 50 or 51. Although he was forced to leave Thessalonica, Paul deeply cared about this young church, as these two letters reveal.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The opening verse of 1 Thessalonians contains valuable insights. First, notice the importance of team ministry. Written by Paul, the letter's salutation shows the important part played by Silas and Timothy in the work of the gospel. Next, despite persecution, the position of the Thessalonians—in God and in Christ—was secure. Finally, consider the greeting “grace and peace.” Grace is God's unmerited gift, which results in peace. Grace and peace come only from being in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5
Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. - James 2:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
“I can't imagine a happier life than the one I have now,” says Lilya, a divorced mother of three. Given her background, this is remarkable. Born in an atheist home in Moldova during the Soviet era, Lilya had never heard about Jesus Christ. After her divorce, she ended up living with an abusive boyfriend. She left him and moved to her mother's village where she met Christians who loved her and shared God's Word with her. Now she, her mother, and her three sons attend church each week. Lilya exclaims, “I want to tell others about His boundless love! I want to tell them how God freed my heart.”

Lilya's story shows why testimonies are such powerful evangelistic tools. Faith, love, and hope can't be seen physically in the way that height, eye color, or hair style can be. Yet these three qualities are clear evidence of lives changed by the gospel. In the opening verses of 1 Thessalonians, Paul praises God for such evidence of the gospel among the Thessalonians.

Their obedient trust in Jesus Christ was manifest in their actions. Later on, we'll see that this included contributing to the relief fund for the Jerusalem church. Next, we see that their true Christian love prompted an intentional effort that Paul here describes as “labor.” Finally, the Thessalonians persevered, indicating their hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

These three qualities—faith, hope, and love, —occur together frequently in the New Testament. Their manifestation among the Thessalonians confirmed to Paul that God had chosen and redeemed them and was working through His Spirit to develop Christlikeness. In God's sovereign purposes, believers aren't chosen and redeemed because they are better than others or have more intrinsic goodness than those people who reject the good news of God's salvation. Rather, God calls His people so that they might serve Him and bring Him glory. Today's passage also makes it clear that salvaton proceeds from God's love, not our goodness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like Lilya, the gospel came to the Thessalonians with life-changing power. The triad of faith, love, and hope is only possible with another triad—power, the Holy Spirit, and deep conviction (v. 5). It's the gospel's power working through the Holy Spirit that convicts individuals and changes lives. In preparation for our study this month, prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there are any attitudes or habits that block the expression of faith, love, and hope in your life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
Blessed are you when men hate you . . . Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. - Luke 6:22-23
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a recent TIME magazine poll, 17 percent of Christians surveyed aligned themselves with some type of a prosperity theology movement. Sixty-one percent believed that God wants people to be prosperous—31 percent agreed that if you give your money to God, He'll bless you with more money. In their September 10, 2006 article on Time.Com, David van Biema and Jeff Chu write that prosperity theology claims, “a God who loves you does not want you to be broke. Its signature verse could be John 10:10: ”˜I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.'” Yet as Martin Luther once asked, “If Christ wore a crown of thorns, why should His followers expect only a crown of roses?”

Not every Christian experiences persecution, but the New Testament makes it clear that those who follow Jesus don't always experience material abundance. In fact, conversion may lead to physical loss, as with the Thessalonians. When Paul spoke of the Thessalonians being imitators of him, he likely meant both their faith and their being persecuted for that faith. Like Paul, the Thessalonians experienced persecution as a part of their walk with Christ from the beginning.

Despite suffering, the Thessalonians received the gospel with joy. Not only that, they became a model not just in Macedonia, where Thessalonica was located, but also in Achaia, the region to the south. It's easy to miss the fact that “you” in verse 7 is plural. Thus the entire Thessalonian church, not just individuals within that church, was an example. This is unusual in Paul's writing, which tells us quite a bit about this church!

This suffering church was also a model of proclaiming the gospel. The joyous effects of turning from idols to serve the living God and the glorious hope of Christ's return echoed forth from the Thessalonians like a trumpet ringing out (v. .
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Verses 9 and 10 present two keys of the Christian life. The first is to turn from idols. As fallen humans, we're drawn to various idols, those things we believe essential to our survival, such as financial success or career advancement. Even good things can become idols if they compete with our allegiance to God. The second is to hope in Christ's return. It's easy to hope in things that will eventually pass away and to lose sight of the only hope that never disappoints, Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4
If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Since it was selected for Oprah's Book Club, New-Age spiritual leader Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, has sold over 3.5 million copies. When Tolle and Oprah launched a series of “webinars,” over two million people participated. Tolle preaches a message that many people want to hear. According to Tolle, our basic problem is living out of our “false” self, which is ego-centered. Overcoming our false self involves discovering our “oneness” with God, who is everywhere and in everyone. Thus finding God and finding our true self is essentially the same thing, because God is in us, just as He is in everyone. It's easy to see why Tolle's message is so successful: the hard truth about sin and judgment is nowhere to be found.

The situation wasn't much different in Paul's day. There were plenty of traveling philosophers who went from town to town preaching whatever people wanted to hear and often making good money by doing so. Speakers were considered to be good if they could persuade, not necessarily if they told the truth. Such individuals often used clever-sounding arguments or trickery, but when their deception was discovered, they frequently had to leave town quickly. Apparently, some in Thessalonica were accusing Paul of doing the same thing. They may have noted that Paul had to flee Philippi just as he had left Thessolonica. This probably explains why Paul defends himself and his ministry at several points in 1 Thessalonians, including today's passage.

In this passage, Paul sets the record straight. Despite the insult of being beaten and imprisoned in Philippi—punishment that was illegal for Roman citizens—Paul didn't hold back from sharing the gospel in its entirety when he arrived in Thessalonica. As was always the case for Paul, his message was the true gospel from God and not any fancy, but deceptive, argument. Unlike those who spoke to earn approval or money, Paul spoke because he wanted to please God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Yesterday we noted that 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 contains foundational truths, such as the need to forsake idols and to hope for Christ's return. Verse 10 also presents our rescue from the coming wrath of God: Jesus and His righteous response to sin. The glorious hope of the gospel can never be separated from this understanding of God's just judgment on sin. This message is never popular, neither today nor in Paul's day. But praise God for people like Paul who have been entrusted with the gospel and dare to proclaim it fully.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:5-8
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. - 2 Peter 2:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Thanks to the second-century satirist Lucian we have a good picture of some of the traveling teachers who exploited unwary listeners during Paul's day. In Alexander the False Prophet, Lucian writes about one Alexander and his unscrupulous companion: “They readily discerned that human life is swayed by two great tyrants, hope and fear, and that a man who could use both of these to advantage would speedily enrich himself.”

What a contrast to the apostle Paul! As we noted yesterday, more than likely Paul's opponents in Thessalonica tried to persuade the new Christians there that Paul was just like these charlatans—out for quick profit. In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Paul is probably confronting apparent rumors about the reasons he left town so quickly. It's likely that some were calling Paul a coward: he came, preached, won some converts, but skipped town at the first sign of trouble.

To counter these false charges, Paul reminds the Thessalonians about his actual conduct while being with them. Unlike unprincipled tricksters, Paul and his companions were not just pretending to preach good news while at the same time covering up impure motives. The greed mentioned in verse 5 may have been both monetary as well as seeking to make a name for oneself.

But even receiving money itself wasn't the issue, as Paul made clear in 1 Corinthians 9:14: “those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” We also know that Paul received a least one monetary gift from the Philippians while he was in Thessalonica. So, in spite of the fact that Paul could have expected the Thessalonians to have provided for him, he reminds the Thessalonians that he had actually provided for them, just as a mother who tenderly cares for her children. As Bible scholar Leon Morris writes, the actions of the apostle Paul and his companions “show that they had been more conscious of their responsibility than of their privileges.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Rather than impersonal duty, we see Paul's deep affection for his spiritual children. Rather than some memorized script, we find Paul sharing his very life. Hearts are won when we share our lives, not just the right answers or doctrine. This is a real challenge to the impersonal atmosphere present in many churches today, where individuals remain anonymous, never experiencing the tender love and intimate care that is pictured in this passage. What a model for ministry today's verses give us!