Author: Ben Bourland

“For God has not called us to impurity but to consecration [to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough purity]. Therefore whoever disregards (sets aside and rejects this) disregards not man but God, Whose [very] Spirit [Whom] He gives to you is holy (chaste, pure).” 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 ->me: Lately I have been beating myself up over not having consistent quiet times. The reason I have not had a quiet time the last 3 days is because I didn’t think I could give the Lord adequate time…time is so short these days. This is the same trap I fell into with prayer – I wouldn’t pray because I was not in my prayer closet or able to get to a quiet place. So dumb – I live a life everyday with my Lord at my side; these stipulations are self imposed and silly. I overcame the prayer one through reading ‘A Call to Prayer’ by JC Ryle. Today I spent the best 30 minutes of my week taking notes through my bible reading and pondering the above verses in the Cafeteria at work before starting work (I usually take an hour). I sometimes feel like such an idiot for putting these constraints on myself. Although they are righteous in thought they are detrimental in practice.

“FURTHERMORE,BRETHREN, we beg and admonish you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that [you follow the instructions which] you learned from us about how you ought to walk so as to please and gratify God, as indeed you are doing, [and] that you do so even more and more abundantly [attaining yet greater perfection in living this life]. For you know what charges and precepts we gave you [on the authority and by the inspiration of] the Lord Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 ->me: This is a reminder that even when I feel like I am doing a great job following the Lord and seeking Him…I can do more. What I find is the closer I get to my King, the further away I realize I am from Him. There are so many more things I need to ask the Lord to reveal to me about what keeps me from being like His Son.

“For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17 ->me: Over the last 2 weeks my accountability partner and I have been taking a passage of scripture and focusing on it all week. Last week was Colossians 1:9-10 and this week it is Romans 1:17-22. The goal is to memorize the passage committing it to memory and sending each other thoughts on the passage throughout the week. The week culminates with reciting the passage to our spouses from memory. Ok, that is the backstory and we are do ok at it. The snow has caused hiccups in our ability to connect but on the days I dive in, the passages have been so thought provoking. Let me try to put this verse into words that spoke to me. In the good news of the gift of Jesus rises a righteousness that is attributed to us by God. This righteousness not only comes from that belief in Jesus but living righteously leads us to having even more faith! The ‘As it is written’ part comes from Habakkuk 2:4 – “Look at the proud; his soul is not straight or right within him, but the [rigidly] just and the [uncompromisingly] righteous man shall live by his faith and in his faithfulness.” I love this!

“And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in [spreading] the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, to strengthen and establish and to exhort and comfort and encourage you in your faith, that no one [of you] should be disturbed and beguiled and led astray by these afflictions and difficulties [to which I have referred]. For you yourselves know that this is [unavoidable in our position, and must be recognized as] our appointed lot.” 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 ->me: Because Paul was not able to get back to Thessalonica, he accepted this and sent Timothy instead. This is huge because Timothy was such a partner and encouragement to Paul. This shows Paul’s deep love for the recently converted. What is even more interesting (after doing a little investigation) is that what Paul was really concerned about is that under the duress and persecution by the Gentiles, the Jews would come along with their smooth talk and tell them that all they needed to do was revert back to Judaism and they would avoid the torment.   Paul is telling them that this was one of the reasons he sent Timothy. Then Paul ends verse 3 with the sobering reminder that afflictions and persecution are just part of what we sign up for when we become followers of Christ. I should always expect the world to push back against my faith, to question it, and even look down upon me for putting my faith and trust in the God of the bible….but His favor is what my eyes are set upon, His favor is the ribbon at the end of my race.

“Because it was our will to come to you. [I mean that] I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered and impeded us. For what is our hope or happiness or our victor’s wreath of exultant triumph when we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are [indeed] our glory and our joy!” 1 Thessalonians 2:18-20 ->me: These last couple of verses of chapter 2 are so intriguing. ‘it was OUR will to come to you’…notice he doesn’t say it was the Lord’s will. He even reinforces in the next couple of words that it was HE PAUL who again and again wanted to come. BUT satan (sorry, I refuse to capitalize this name) hindered and impeded. I am relatively sure that if would have been God’s will for Paul, Silas, and Timothy to come then they assuredly would have. So, what do we have instead? THIS LETTER! This awesome letter that has been included into the written word of God! Maybe if they had made it the letter would never have been written and we would not have it today. Lastly, I love how Paul signifies that their Hope, Happiness, and victors wreath even, is the Saints whom they have been teaching, admonishing, and encouraging. This is a view I need – that investment in people is the greatest one we can make here on earth…an investment that has huge dividends when we enter the Kingdom of God!

“And may the Lord make you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you, so that He may strengthen and confirm and establish your hearts faultlessly pure and unblameable in holiness in the sight of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) with all His saints (the holy and glorified people of God)! Amen, (so be it)!” 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 ->me: When I read this I have this takeaway -> The strengthening, confirmation, and establishing of my heart in purity and blamelessness before God comes through loving and caring for my brothers and sisters in Christ as well everyone around me. I was also taken by the word ‘make’ in the first verse. This would give me the sense that through prayer God can MAKE me increase my love for others; probably through life events/circumstances or through just the almighty power of His word. Lord God, I give of my will so that You might ‘make’ me to increase, excel, and overflow in my love towards others. It is through love that all goodness flows; for You are Love.

“So, being thus tenderly and affectionately desirous of you, we continued to share with you not only God’s good news (the Gospel) but also our own lives as well, for you had become so very dear to us. For you recall our hard toil and struggles, brethren. We worked night and day [and plied our trade] in order not to be a burden to any of you [for our support] while we proclaimed the glad tidings (the Gospel) of God to you.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8-9 ->me: As much as I have read the letters of Paul I really never put together that he worked in trades (tent maker) and commerce to earn money. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were so loving of the Thessalonian church that they preached and proclaimed the gospel to them (building their number), they encouraged and spent time with them; sharing in each others lives, and on top of that earned extra money on their own in order not to be a burden on the church for support. What a picture of generosity, love, and caring heart for the saints. I am motivated and inspired by Paul’s, Silas’, and Timothy’s thoughtfulness. The more the Lord uses me in furthering His Kingdom and coming along the side of others I pray that I can keep this mindset as I engage in service to those in my garden, pouring into them but not becoming a support burden. I think this can take more forms than money or provisions.

“For as you well know, we never resorted either to words of flattery or to any cloak to conceal greedy motives or pretexts for gain, [as] God is our witness. Nor did we seek to extract praise and honor and glory from men, either from you or from anyone else, though we might have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 ->me: What a great passage for the church preacher or evangelist. Paul spends the first ~6 verses of this chapter reaffirming his, Silas’, and Timothy’s innocence in the face of false accusations from persecutors who seek to stop them from preaching the gospel. What I have walked away with this morning is a renewed confidence–When I share the gospel with a nonbeliever I might be put down by them and even accused falsely by others in earshot. However, if my heart remains committed to the Lord in truth and obedience, He is the only witness that matters. I must strive to please my Everlasting Creator not any man who is earthly and temporal.

“For they themselves volunteer testimony concerning us, telling what an entrance we had among you, and how you turned to God from [your] idols to serve a God Who is alive and true and genuine, and [how you] look forward to and await the coming of His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, Who personally rescues and delivers us out of and from the wrath [bringing punishment] which is coming [upon the impenitent] and draws us to Himself.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 ->me: I want a reputation like the Thessalonians had to those churches far and wide. 1) They were known for spreading the gospel. 2) Known for having a super strong faith (they were constantly under persecution). 3) They were known for turning from dead idols and to the Living God. 4) They were known for their servant service (as a slave) to the will and purposes of God. 5) They were known for how expectantly they waited for the second coming of Christ. All of these ways of living are indicative of a people drawn by God and sold out. Paul, Silas, and Timothy didn’t even have to expound on the lives and impact of the Thessalonians to others; those people already knew. The Thessalonians were heavily persecuted and I read a commentator who said “if Christ our King wore a crown of thorns, why should we expect to wear crowns of roses?”.