Verse 1. "Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren,
you have no need of anything to be written to you."
The words for "times" and "epochs" (or "seasons" in
some translations), are also linked together in Acts 1:7, where the Lord
responded to His disciples with the words, "It is not for
you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority."
The word translated "times" denotes time without
regard to circumstances. "Epochs" or "seasons" refers to a definite point in time. Jesus also
said, "of that day and hour no one knows, neither the
angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Mark 13:32).
We don't need to constantly worry about precisely when the hour and day of
the Lord's return will be because God the Father, in His wisdom, is not
revealing it to anyone. The Thessalonian readers of this letter addressed to
them had no need for any of this to be told to them, and neither do we. As to
the Thessalonians, Paul included the words in this verse for a simple reason:
While Paul was with them at Thessalonica, he already had told them that WHEN the
Lord would return was not to be known by any in humanity.
Verse 2. "For you yourselves know full well that the
day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night."
The phrase, "the day of the Lord" was used in
the Old Testament as an expression to warn hearers that God's Judgment was about
to come upon them. An example is Joel 1:15 - "The day of
the Lord is at hand; it shall come as destruction from the Almighty."
Virtually the same words are seen in Isaiah 13:6. The suggestion of the words
in these verses is that the "day of the Lord" in
this context can refer to not only the resurrection of the Christian dead and
the "rapture" of the church, but also the day of
Judgment upon this world.
The idea of the "day of the Lord" being like the
action of a "thief" was used by Jesus Himself, who
said, "... two men will be in the field; one will be taken
and the other left... you do not know what hour your Lord is coming"
(Matthew 25:39-44, Luke 12:37-40). It is interesting that you can find similar
language in Revelation 16:15 - "Behold, I am coming as a
thief..." The idea is that the Lord will return SUDDENLY and without
warning, when the world least expects Him.
Verse 3. "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!'
then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with
child, and they will not escape."
We've been reading in the last two verses that the day of the Lord's return
to this earth will come suddenly, at a time when He is least expected. The
elements of that "day of the Lord" (Verse 2), will
not only include the rescue of God's people, whether living or dead (1
Thessalonians 4:16-17), but also "destruction" will
fall on those who do not want the Lord, as seen in this verse. It will happen "suddenly" and they "will not
escape."
Note that the Lord's return will be at a point in history when it will seem
that many of the world's problems will be solved. It may be at a moment of
medical breakthrough, possibly involving a dramatic extension of human life
spans. The word "peace" in this verse also
suggests strongly that some group or individual will come up with a plan to
eradicate war. Humanity will feel they don't need the Lord anymore, and it will
be at that moment He will appear. You and I NEED our Maker, for He is the One
who really loves and will help us.
Verse 4. "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that
the day would overtake you like a thief;"
The word "darkness" in this context, suggests
dimness of understanding. Not only is ignorance implied, but also it will be "darkness" in the sense of moral depravity, a time when
the darkness of sin rules the world. The human race will be surprised and
shocked when the Lord suddenly appears (as we saw in Verses 2 and 3), but that
will not be the case with God's people who are alive at that time. They will
not be surprised.
Notice that God's people do not know precisely WHEN the Lord will return.
The exact year, day, hour and moment will be just as much a surprise to them as
to anybody else. What Paul and the Lord intends when it is said, "the day would (not) overtake"
us in such a manner, is that we KNOW the Lord WILL return. We don't know when,
but we do know with assurance that He WILL come back to this earth. He is
not like a "thief" to those who love Him.
Verse 5. "for you are all sons of light and sons of
day. We are not of night nor of darkness;"
As observed in the commentary on Verse 4, "darkness"
can mean dullness of understanding, an ignorance of the things of God. It also
denotes an absence of the love of God in the hearts and lives of people. John
the Apostle said, "He who hates his brother is in darkness"
(1 John 2:11). Some who purport to know the Lord really don't, as revealed by
the darkness in them: "He who says he is in the light, and
hates his brother, is in darkness" (1 John 2:9).
A great key to what it means to be "sons (and
daughters) of light" is how we feel and act toward
others. John also said, "He who loves his brother abides
in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him" (1 John 2:10).
The imagery of these verses is clear that the "darkness"
of this world is clearly shown by a lack of love. Our understanding of theology
and doctrinal issues can be minimal, but if we have the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus, we've got what's really important in the sight of God.
Lord, we give ourselves to You. We trust in You now. Please fill us with
Your Holy Spirit. Bring both love and "light" into
our lives. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - 1 Thess. 5:6-10
Verse 6. "so then let us not sleep as others do, but
let us be alert and sober."
There are basically three kinds of "sleep" in
Scripture. The first is the natural "sleep"
that is typically done at night; offering the rest that restores our energy for
the following day. The second is the "sleep"
of death which we saw in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 & context. The idea of that
kind is that a deceased person resembles someone who is asleep. The third kind
of "sleep" is seen in this verse and in its
context, referring to "the sluggard," who "is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly"
(Proverbs 26:16).
The latter person may be thought of as "wise" in the view of the world, but
they "sleep" in the sight of God. Jesus
Christ has come to this world, but the world is not awake in relation to Him.
We all need to wake up to our need and look to the Son of God. He died for
our sins and what we need is TRUST in Him to not only be saved forever, but
also to become alert to the fact that God is preparing us to help others in THEIR need.
We must be "alert and sober" for every opportunity
as led by the Spirit of God.
Verse 7. "For those who sleep do their sleeping at
night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night."
Paul, in this verse, is describing the tendency of people all over the world.
Those who are tired often "do their sleeping at night"
and those who "get drunk" on some substance or
another, also tend to do it "at night." This verse
does not carry some deep philosophic meaning, but instead it is simply an
observation about the typical way that the people of this world tend to act.
He will develop the idea in the verse that follows this one.
Part of the reason Paul makes this comment is because of a widespread custom
of the time, among both the Jews and the Romans. It was considered to be a
disgrace not only to get drunk in the daytime, but they also felt the same about
sleeping during the day. It's similar today. Wakeful, sober activities are
typically accomplished during daylight. "Sleeping" and drunkenness usually
occur at night.
Verse 8. "But since we are of the day, let us be sober,
having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of
salvation."
Paul is now developing his comment of the preceding verse, taking it from an
observation about the culture around him, into a look at the way we are
supposed to be when we are in Christ. We are to be "sober," which he
relates to being a people "of the day." And in doing it, he uses a
favorite analogy of his, in which he compares our walk in Christ to the uniform
worn by a Roman soldier.
We see this imagery in more detail within the context of Ephesians 6:10 and
forward, in which the "breastplate" refers to "righteousness" and "faith" is
described as a "shield." Notice the slight differences. The idea is
not that we will see "faith" as precisely a "shield" or a "breastplate," but
instead we are to understand that we are to be "sober" people "of the day," who
recognize that faith, love and hope are more important to us than life itself.
Verse 9. "For God has not destined us for wrath, but
for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
"Why am I here?" many have asked. "What is my purpose in life?"
"What am I called to do?" We hear questions like that all the time.
People shout from their hurt and pain, wondering why things are as they are.
Within such questions is a subtle recognition that God exists and that He will
ANSWER. And He does answer in His Word; what we call the Bible. In
this verse, for example, we have a great explanation of what life is all about.
Many think they are experiencing the "wrath" of
God because they suffer in some manner or another. But that's not His
purpose in what happens to us. As it says in John 3:17, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved." The
difficulties you are experiencing, though they may be terrible, are not
indicators of God's "wrath." He intends "salvation," which is to say a "happy ending" for your
life and for all who read these words and trust in the Lord.
Verse 10. "who died for us, so that whether we are
awake or asleep, we will live together with Him."
Jesus did more than merely die. He "died for us."
His death is the cause of our salvation. We would have known God's "wrath" (Verse 9), for "all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). But Jesus
"died for us." As the prophet said of Him in
Isaiah 53:5, "He was wounded for our transgressions..."
Hundreds of years after those words in Isaiah, Jesus died as Isaiah said He
would, bearing
the sins of the world, our sins, so that we might live.
And note this is whether "we are awake or asleep."
The word "awake" in this verse, in this context,
means to be animated, to be alive in this world. The word for "asleep," on the other hand, means to be dead.
People FIGHT for life, and we should, for God intended us to live or we would
not be here. But "whether we are awake or asleep,"
whether we live or die, we who trust in the Lord Jesus "will
LIVE together with Him" - forever. We do not need to be afraid.
Instead we are to trust in the Lord.
Lord, we bring our fear and our sins into Your safekeeping and give them
to You. We trust in You, Lord. Set us free in Christ so that,
whether we live or die, we will be with You - forever. Thank You for
forgiving and saving us. In
Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - 1 Thess. 5:11-15
Verse 11. "Therefore encourage one another and build up
one another, just as you also are doing."
You might wonder - HOW do we "build up one another" in
ways that are truly effective? There are helpful suggestions within these verses.
For instance (and this is very important): Note that "God has not destined us for
wrath, but for obtaining salvation" (Verse 9). No matter how
bad things may be, you can remind others that God intends good for them.
We are being led to "seek after that which is good for one
another and for all people" (Verse 15). When you see others who love the Lord and are responding to His Spirit, "ENCOURAGE"
them. The Lord will be pleased when you do.
You can help others understand that God is shaping us so we can "rejoice
always" (Verse 16), "pray" with
all
we've got (Verse 17), and become people who "give thanks"
in "everything" (Verse 18) and more. And we
don't have to do this in our own strength, for it also says, "Faithful
is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass" (Verse 24).
God can and will do what we cannot; "Therefore encourage
one another," for He is wonderful and He loves those who trust in His
Son.
Verse 12. "But we request of you, brethren, that you
appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the
Lord and give you instruction,"
"Those who diligently labor among you" are the
ones called by God to be pastors, teachers, deacons, elders, and others within
the churches and various ministries of this world. You may not have always
thought of it this way, but the one who responds to the call of God and enters
full-time Christian service, has actually taken a vow of poverty. They
have given up the right to be employees or business owners who earn a living;
risking their own security and the security of their families to help others.
Some are called to give up their sources of income, and others, like Sunday
School teachers, can still have jobs or businesses. But whatever their
financial status, you are to "appreciate those" who
have chosen to follow the call of the Lord and help those who are in
need. It takes EFFORT to adequately prepare a Sunday School lesson, and
you are to be thankful for those who do it; honoring them for what they have done on your
behalf.
Verse 13. "and that you esteem them very highly in love
because of their work. Live in peace with one another."
It is supposed to be humorous, but it's also sad - You may have heard it said
that some within Christianity feel "called to criticize others." The
unfortunate reality is that all too many seem to
really believe they must exercise that "call." People criticize their
pastors and other church leaders, and then amazingly continue to attend the very
same churches they don't like. Or they leave and they still continue the
criticism. There is an old saying that is appropriate: "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything!"
The reality of it all is that our true call from God is to love one another.
As Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). In this
verse in Thessalonians, we find that such love is to extend to those God has
placed in charge over us, to "esteem them very highly in
love because of their work." And as to ALL that God has put into
our lives, we are to "live in peace with one another."
Verse 14. "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly,
encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone."
It seems, from this verse and the next one, that not all the Thessalonians
were what we would call "strong Christians." Apparently, some among them were "unruly... fainthearted...
weak" and others were impatient. In the next
verse we see Paul's concern about those who would repay "evil
for evil." Many of the Thessalonians were alive and growing in the Lord,
but Paul had received reports that not all were doing quite so well.
The word translated here as "unruly" was
originally a military term denoting those who would not stay in formation - they
kept breaking ranks. They were to be admonished when such behavior was
being exhibited. Notice that those who are "fainthearted"
are to be encouraged. The "weak" are not to
be scorned, but instead they are to be helped by the strong. And all of us are
to be "patient with everyone."
Verse 15. "See that no one repays another with evil for
evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all
people."
In the Law of the Old Testament, we find words like these: "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn
for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe," etc. (Exodus 21:24-25).
In the verse right before that, it said, "Life for life"
(Exodus 21:23), which is another way of describing capital punishment. In the
Law, whatever you do to another person, it shall be done to you.
And you have to wonder, what is the difference between Israel at the time
those words were written, and the time of this verse in Thessalonians, which
includes the words, "See that no one repays another with
evil for evil?" The answer is in the circumstances. In the
one instance, God was creating Israel as a nation and was establishing a system of
JUSTICE in that country. In the other, God is revealing His heart of
mercy. He has been "good" to us in the Person
of Jesus Christ and He reasonably expects we will be "good"
to "one another" as well.
Father, let us indeed be good to one another, encouraging each other in
the power and love of God. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - 1 Thess. 5:16-20
Verse 16. "Rejoice always;"
The next few verses have been subject to controversy during
the centuries since these words were written. All of us are normal human
beings and as such, we tend to become periodically sad, depressed, angry and upset.
The demand of this verse is humanly impossible. And that's the point.
In order to "rejoice always," we always need the
Lord. We must pray about everything as we will see in Verse 17.
Paul, the principal writer of the words in these verses, had plenty of reason
to be unhappy. He had been "beaten... stoned...
shipwrecked... in perils... (he suffered) false
brethren... in weariness... toil... sleeplessness... hunger... thirst"
and more (2 Corinthians 11:25-27). And yet he could "rejoice" continually as it says in this verse. His
secret is in Verse 24 - "Faithful is He who calls you, and
He also will bring it to pass." It is the Lord who enables us to "rejoice," even when life is hard.
Verse 17. "pray without ceasing;"
This verse, along with Verses 16 and 18, have concerned a lot of people.
We are busy, distracted and we are merely human. HOW can people like you
and me possibly "pray" about every aspect of
life? The reality is that events happen faster-and-faster these days and
we just barely have time to react to what's going on. Most would say that
in a tense situation, if they prayed it would slow them down. So what do
we do?
There is a "method" we all need to know about that enables us to "pray without ceasing." It's called "faith" (Verse 8). We must BELIEVE that He will 1)
hear and 2) answer. Most people, when they're in trouble, tell others
(such as a friend) about the problem. "Prayer"
is simply telling God. When something goes wrong, we are to tell God about
it. We don't have to kneel, speak out loud, lift our hands or anything
else. We just breathe the need up to Him. And like a muscle that can
be developed, we will find ourselves growing in faith to the extent that, like
Paul the Apostle, we can "pray without ceasing."
Verse 18. "in everything give thanks; for this is God's
will for you in Christ Jesus."
The "prayer" that we read about in Verse 17 can take many forms.
It may include what is called "praise," where we
adore God in words and in love, as Daniel the Prophet did, in places like Daniel
4:34-35. It can be a time when we "confess"
our sins, as John the Apostle taught us in 1 John 1:9. It can take the
form of "supplications," which is asking God for
our needs, as Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:1. It can be
intercession, which is praying for others as James urged us to do in James
5:14-15.
And it can and should be the giving of "thanks"
as we are taught in this verse and in places like Philippians 4:6. In that
verse it says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
to God." He has given you your food and everything else - thank
Him. If you pray with a thankful heart, any anxiety you have will begin to
lessen. "For this is God's will for you in Christ
Jesus."
Verse 19. "Do not quench the Spirit;"
There are many who believe in the Lord, but they also honestly believe that the
miracles of the Old and New Testaments were for those times only. To believe in
the Lord is everything for us, as seen in places like Romans 10:9, where it
says, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you WILL be saved."
That's it - nothing more is needed except our honest belief.
However, in addition to that, we are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and
He
may manifest Himself differently in your life than He does in mine. Paul
asks, "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of
miracles? Do all have gifts of healings?" (1 Corinthians 12:29-30). And he continues with more
examples, but note
that the implied answer to all of those questions is - No! We do NOT all
have the same gifts and we must be careful to not deny the work of the Lord in
the lives of other people, for by doing so we may "quench
the Spirit" of God.
Verse 20. "do not despise prophetic utterances."
The gift of prophesy was presented to the Church on the Day of Pentecost
(Acts Chapter 2) along with the other gifts of the Spirit. That gift had
previously been manifested through God's prophets to Israel and the surrounding
nations. It has been given to ordinary men and women since the beginning
of time. Abraham was called a "prophet" in
Genesis 20:7. Peter called David "a prophet"
(Acts 2:29-30).
The gift of prophecy is partially defined in 1 Corinthians 14:3, where it
says, "He who prophesies speaks edification and
exhortation and comfort to men" and women. To edify someone is to
build them up. To exhort is to urge them toward better conduct, and "comfort" in this context includes speaking to them with
tenderness. Many have comforted others without realizing they have the
gift of prophesy. Note you are not to "despise"
this gift. Be very slow to speak negatively of those who come to you in the name
of the Lord.
Lord, enable us to look to You always. We want Your help so we can
rejoice and be thankful in everything. And we ask Your assistance to become
able to RECEIVE those who come to us in Your Name. Help us, Lord.
Thank You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - 1 Thess. 5:21-25
Verse 21. "But examine everything
carefully; hold fast to that which is good;"
In Verse 20, we were told, "do not
despise prophetic utterances." In other words, if
there is a person among you who seems to be speaking words
that come from God, be very slow to condemn that person.
This verse, however, is an important qualification on what
we were told in Verse 20: we are to "examine
everything carefully." In other words, we don't
blindly accept everything we are told, even if it is of a
"spiritual" nature.
Jesus said something very much the same in Matthew 10:16
- "Behold, I send you out as sheep in
the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and
harmless as doves." We are to be gentle and
accepting, like sheep. We are to be men and women of peace,
like doves. In that manner, we are to be very slow to
condemn others who have accepted Christ, but don't see
things just as we do. We are to "hold
fast to that which is good." But we are also to be "wise as serpents," looking to the Lord at all times
to show us what to believe and what to accept.
Verse 22. "abstain from every form
of evil."
This verse is a continuation of Verse 21, where we saw
the positive statement, "hold fast to
that which is good." Those words were deliberately
contrasted with the statement in this verse which is placed
into a negative format - "abstain from
every form of evil." Underneath it all, everyone
knows the difference between "good"
(Verse 21) and "evil," as in
this verse. All know, but unfortunately most lack the will
and the strength to choose the "good."
The reason is because the great majority of people in the
human race want to do things their way, not God's way. We
will see the secret of doing things "without
blame" in the next sentence (Verse 23). The "God of peace Himself (will)
sanctify you entirely." In other words, we "abstain from every form of evil" (this verse) and "hold fast to that which is good" (Verse 21) in HIS
strength, not in our own. We must look to Him.
Verse 23. "Now may the God of peace
Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul
and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ."
The phrase, "may the God of peace"
was often used by Paul at or near the close of his letters.
We see something very similar to these words in Romans 15:33
and 16:20, Philippians 4:9, 2 Corinthians 13:11 and 2
Thessalonians 3:16. For God to "sanctify
you entirely," is a process that unfolds in your life
as described in the preceding two verses. God intends to
deliver you from "every form of evil"
and turn you into someone who is "without
blame."
This is a process that begins to unfold in the heart and life of every
believer in Jesus Christ. And the intention of God for your life is very
interesting - your "spirit and soul and body"
are each to
be "preserved complete." Your
physical body as-well-as the non-physical will live in
eternity. As Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me,
though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). You will live -
forever! And when you appear before God after the Lord returns, you will be "without blame" in His sight.
Verse 24. "Faithful is He who calls
you, and He also will bring it to pass."
Though we are called to be faithful to the Lord and to
one another, it is important to note that our salvation and
subsequent walk with the Lord are each much less based in
our own personal faithfulness than it is in His faithfulness
in us. One of the key verses in Scripture on this subject
is Hebrews 12:2, where it says about Jesus that HE is the "author and finisher of our faith."
In Galatians 5:22, Paul specifically said that "faithfulness" is what he termed a "fruit of the Spirit." In other words, the Son of
God and the Spirit of God are each active participants in
our faith. You are not alone in your Christian walk. God
is with you when you trust in His Son, and as it says in
this verse, "Faithful is He who calls
you, and He also will bring it to pass." His faith
in you "will bring it to pass."
We are to trust HIM who is "faithful."
Verse 25. "Brethren, pray for us."
Do you need prayer? It's interesting to note that "Paul, Silvanus and Timothy" are the "us" who needed prayer in this verse. Compare this
verse with 1 Thessalonians 1:1. These great men of God
needed prayer just as much as we do. It's likely that they
needed it even more than others, for the enemy likes to
attack those whom God has gifted into His service.
In another place, Paul said, "Let
every soul be subject to the governing authorities"
(Romans 13:1) and all us do well when we not only respond to
our leaders and obey the laws of the land, but also pray for
those who are in authority over us. There are great
temptations for those who are in authority and whether they
know it or not, they NEED our prayers.
Father, help us to "abstain
from... evil" and be sanctified by God. Enable us to
discern what is good in life and hold to it. Help us to be
men and women of faith in God and to pray for one another.
Thank You, Father. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Verse 26. "Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss."
The custom of greeting "all the brethren with a holy
kiss" has largely disappeared from the body of Christ, the church. Hugging one another
in the church, however, has exhibited a relatively recent return as
a sign of the holy, "agape" love we are to have for one another. Note the "kiss" mentioned in this verse was
to be "holy" which means, in this
verse, "separated from sin." Such separation, such purity in our
thoughts and relations with one
another is of utmost importance in our Christian walk.
As Paul said to the Roman believers, "Let us walk properly, as in the day,
not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in
strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision
for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:13-14). We are to openly
and truly love one another, but in all the purity and holiness intended for us by the Lord.
Verse 27. "I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter
read to all the brethren."
From the words in this verse, you can see the Lord's intention in relation to
Scripture, the Word of God, as represented by this Book of First Thessalonians -
it is to be "read to" (and by)
"all the brethren." If you love the Lord,
He will be pleased if you give yourself to a lifetime of reading and enjoying
this Book we call the "Bible." As it says in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness."
The thought continues in 2 Timothy 3:17 - "that the man (or woman) of God may
be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." Paul, the human
writer of much of the New Testament, was referring essentially to the same Books
of the Old Testament we have today. And at the time this letter to the
Thessalonians was being written, he also had some of what we call the "New"
Testament at his disposal. The Lord wants us to read (and be blessed by)
ALL of what we call the "Scriptures."
Verse 28. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
you."
This is a favorite salutation of Paul, which is found at the close of all his
letters. "Grace" in the language and culture of the time, essentially
meant "unmerited favor." The word was
used when something of great value was freely given to someone who did not earn
or deserve what was given. Especially in that culture, it was used when
someone of nobility, a slave owner, gave freedom to a slave.
Slavery was fully accepted as an institution within the Empires of Greece,
Rome, and everywhere else as well. And once a person became a slave, they
lost not only all their rights, but they also lost all possibility, all hope of
freedom. To be set free from such a state was a miracle, and that is
precisely the "grace" we are given in "our Lord Jesus Christ." It is a
miracle - we are set free from the slavery of sin and death. And we can
extend grace to one another by giving them freedom to be all they can be,
without criticism or undue censure.
Father, thank You for the grace we are given in Christ Jesus. Help
us to respond with holiness and with love, not only to our God, but also to
those in humanity You place into our lives. Give us love for Your
Scriptures and love for one another. In Jesus Name. Amen.
