“We are ever giving thanks to God for all of you, continually mentioning you in our prayers, recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith and service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [O] brethren beloved by God, we recognize and know that He has selected (chosen) you; For our [preaching of the] glad tidings (the Gospel) came to you not only in word, but also in [its own inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction and absolute certainty.” 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5a ->me: Yesterday I finished up Micah and have now moved onto Thessalonians. Primary takeaway from these verses today -> When I am involved by God to reach the lost, I must stay engaged in their lives, petitioning the Lord on their behalf, thanking God for them, reaching out and encouraging/furthering their sanctification because of my confidence in knowledge, through the Holy Spirit, of their election. I also love that Paul says the preaching of the gospel does not entirely rest on my delivery when approaching an opportunity to share – I must also have complete confidence that the power of the gospel alone [the Power of Salvation] will grab the person who is drawn by Him. If the preaching of the gospel falls flat on that person then the Lord is not yet drawing that person to Himself. This is so encouraging as I pray for courage to witness.
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