SCRIPTURE: 1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
OBSERVATION: What Paul says in this verse 4 is something of which he is confident. This is something that is obvious to him.
He addresses them as “brothers loved by God.” What greater blessing can there be in the whole earth than to be loved by God. It means that God is benevolently inclined to me. It means that He intends me good. It means that he will go to any length for my good, which is obviously proved by Calvery! Knowing that God loves me is a thought to make any day a good day!
APPLICATION: What is this of which Paul is so certain? It is that they were chosen of God. They had received Jesus, God Son, as their Lord and Savior. God had looked them over and chose them. God had seen that they were created in His image and now had His Son living within them. God could not refuse His Son! They had potential for special communion with Him. How special it is to be chosen!
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, may every thought I think, every word I speak, and every action I make be a proper response to this truth—that my Heavenly Father is for me and loves me. As His child, I do not respond out of fear for what He might do to me, but out of love because of what He already did for me. He sent His Son to die for my sins!!! His Son now lives within me. Now I serve Him because I love Him. I am responding to His great love for me. Holy Spirit, help me live my life in a way that brings joy to my Heavenly Father’s heart! Amen
Pastor Leon
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