1Thessalonians 4:1-12

What am I saying to God?

I struggle to stay pure, in my thoughts and actions. I screw up so often. It seems impossible to be able to live a Holy life, no matter how hard I try.

What is God saying to me?

It’s God’s will I should be sanctified, holy, set apart. He intends me to be pure.

I can learn to control my lustful feelings, it just takes better discipline.

My daily life should been seen by outsiders and win their respect because of the way I conduct myself, not hypocritically, but real, true and honourably.

How will I apply this to my life?

More accountability to friends, more eye bouncing and no second glancing. Remember “it is God’s will that you should be sanctified, avoid sexual immorality, and learn to control his own body” to control thoughts.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-9

I studied the chapter before this with my actiongroup last week, so I thought it would be a good place to continue studying from in my own personal time.

v1-2: Paul talks about how even though he suffered in the past (before he went to thessalonica) it did not detract him from doing what he knew was God's plan for his life. He knew it would not be easy and likely he would persecuted again, but he went anyway. And the story of Paul in Thessalonica from Acts talks about how he was driven from the town from Jews who wanted to kill him. But the important message from these first few verses is that doing what is right is more important than our fears. When we know what is right we should go for it because we have "the help of our God." Let us dare! Dare to tell the good news to those who haven't heard it, dare to live as who we are not as the world says we should be, dare to stand alone for what is right!

v3-6 It's never about pleasing people, it's about doing what is right before God. And to be honest, God knows our hearts and there's no way we can please Him by our actions when we're doing it to please Him. Stop Trying to please people. Paul knows who he is in Christ and that is enough. "a man approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel" And so should we think that knowing God and His good news about the price he has paid for us to know him freely be enough. Let us never forget who we are and who made us who we are. Forget the rest.

v7-9 To have a postiton of power is great, but it should never be abused or taken advantage of. Rather, open your life up and let people in, because they will see God in your life, and the work you do to keep yourself right before men and right before God. Paul worked to keep himself on the road for Christ. It's important we don't just commit completely to the Church and doing God's work so that we avoid having to work for a living. Don't let laziness and complacency creep into your life so that you lose the desire to work. A father doesn't want his children to mope around all day doing only things they want to because it doesn't prepare them for life. We need to be realistic and live life, not just dissociate from the world we are in but do not belong.

1Peter3:1-7

Reading the first 6 verses of this it feels like it does not apply to me, because I am a man. And the last verse seems slightly inappropriate too as I am not married. However I feel that every verse can be used by God to speak to us. So here is what I am getting out of this verse.

In context, the book of 1 Peter is written to Christians facing persecution in a world where they have little or no rights. In particular regarding women who were bound to their husbands' wills and those who were Christian suffered not only in the pain of loved ones not knowing the gospel, but also in that they were not allowed to freely express their love for their Creator in their own homes. The first 6 verses of this text (1peter3) are an encouragement to continue persevering through these hard times, being submissive to that authority which seems to restrict them from living as who they truly are. Why? Because that perseverence, when it comes to God, will create fruit that change not only their lives, but also the lives of those around them. "that they may be won over without words [but] by the behavior of their wives."

So maybe this doesn't just apply to "wives" but to anyone who is in a situation where they cannot express their love for Christ without persecution. We need to keep persevering and the fruit we will reap will change lives!

The last verse is to men. Husbands. A reminder to those who are blessed with a family knowing Christ. We have an incredible blessing, but that blessing does not just belong to us, but to those with us as well. We are all heirs to the "gracious gift of life." So perhaps this verse is not just to men, but to anyone who has forgotten what we are blessed with. The people around us and the relationship we have with Christ, and no matter what our circumstances regarding lifestyle, riches, time, looks, we have so much and we need to respect what we have and be so incredible thankful for it.

For those men with women, treat them with respect, love them, do not poke the fragile glass which has put all its trust in you to keep it whole, and your blessings will continue to shine in on you as you look to the sky and thank God for all he has done for your life!

Bible Study

I guess because I don't really use this blog much for its purpose, I'll also add to it (make the main role of this blog), the topics discussed in the Bible Studies.

Bible Studies are at 7am @ flat 5 - 63 Opoho Road, North East Valley, Dunedin. Monday - Friday.

This is not an exclusive Bible Study! Anyone is welcome.

The Mission of the Bible Study is to provide a time to help grow relationships between the attendees and to develop a more solid relationship between ourselves and God.

Feed your body. Feed your soul.

Billboard to heaven

Like blades of grass
so many
some withered away
some full of life
and hope
of a beautiful tomorrow
Maybe it won't be
when I'm dead to this world
But if that's what it takes
to show
the beauty
of the world after it
then I'll stand
as a billboard to Heaven
with piles of junk
thrown from car windows
lying at my feet.

Rayd

24-11-06

Key word(s)
Bible, persecution, wrath of God, Satan, converts.
Trials, Life, love.

saying in context
Lives are changed by God, not us. The word of God brings people to Christ, not the word of man. Christians will face persecution but the persecutors will face the wrath of God. Satan does all he can to bring Christians down, he is active physically and spiritually. It is when people convert to Christ and become more Christlike that brings life, joy and glory to Christians.
It's not always Satan that tempts, sometimes God tests us, for our benefit. As Christians our love overflows to others by our actions.

What is God saying to us
We need to live the life not only preach it. And when we preach it, it's not for our glory, It is God who brings people to Him, not us! Live through trials and attacks, it will make you stronger!

What am I saying to God
Help me to get through struggles in life, Lord. Help me to speak your name by my mouth AND my actions!

8/11/06

Key word(s)
Punishment, wastrels, west people, pits, judgement

saying in context
The whole earth will be punished by God, people will waste their lives away. People in the West will convert the East and the Islands. People will run from God but fall into traps and God will judge the world.

What is God saying to us
We need to be standing against people drinking and wasting their lives away. Western culture is an example to the world, we need to show the world how to live life to the fullest.

What am I saying to God
New Zealand is the third most stingy country in the world. Let's change that by giving to other countries because I know that whe we give in God's name, He will bless us for it.

2/11/06

Key word(s)
Live, die, Christ

saying in context
Whether we live or die, we do it for Christ. He is Lord of the living and dead

What is God saying to us
Don't fear death, don't fear life! Live for me.

What am I saying to God
To live is Christ, to die is gain.

1/11/06

Key word(s)
lamb, worship, praises, wedding

saying in context
All who worship the Lord will praise His name when He calls them to sing on Christ's wedding day.

What is God saying to us
Stand up for me, openly praise my name.

What am I saying to God
Help me to do good deeds for you Lord, so I can contribute to your wedding linen.

24/10/06

Key word(s)
prayer, betrayal, convicted, denial

saying in context
Jesus prayed "Do what you want, [Lord,] not what I want." He was betrayed by a close friend, convicted though innocent and His friends ran from Him and denied they knew Him.

What is God saying to us
Sometimes God's way does not seem like the best way, but we need to follow it anyway because it is. Our destiny is the best life we can live.

What am I saying to God
Do what you want Lord, not what I want.

19/10/06

Key word(s)
hypocrites, actions, priorities, intergrity, calling

saying in context
Don't follow hypocrites' actions, they will not enter heaven. Make your priorities your intergrity, justice, mercy, faithfulness. You will see Jesus when you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord."

What is God saying to us
Live your life, don't just say how to live it. Call upon my name and I will be with you.

What am I saying to God
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Help me to go out into the day and shine your radiance by the way I live my life. Amen

18/10/06

Key word(s)
prayer, faith, healing, accountability

saying in context
Pray to the Lord, He will heal you if you have faith. Ask others to pray for you because their innocent prayers are so powerful.

What is God saying to us
Be accountable to others and to Me.

What am I saying to God
Give me the faith to heal others, Lord, and others the faith to heal me.

16/10/06

Key word(s)
steward, guest

saying in context
We are called to be stewards and to look after others, those that do not will be thrown out of the banquet room and others will take their place.

What is God saying to us
Look after others

What am I saying to God
Help me to be a good steward, Lord!

15/10/06

Key word
desecration, faith, authority

saying in context
We should stop people from desecrating God's world. If we have faith we can do anything and our prayers will be answered. The Authority of Jesus is given by God, no man can take that away.

What is God saying to us
Don't lose faith in the things I have promised you, believe because my authority is above any man's.

What am I saying to God
I believe but help me with my unbelief!

13/10/06

Key word
divorce, singleness, children, Kingdom of Heaven

saying in context
When people join in marriage they join by God, therefore divorce is wrong, Some people are blessed by being single they should not try to marry. If we come to Jesus like children we will get to the Kingdom of Heaven where the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

What is God saying to us
If you make a lifetime committment, you have to stick to it. Money and wealth is not important in My Kingdom.

What am I saying to God
Can I leave the decisions up to You? They're too hard for me to make.

12/10/06

Key word
children, sin, humility, community, forgive

saying in context
We must be like children in humility but in maturity like adults, letting others sin is bad, we should build communities of faithful followers and forgive limitlessly.

What is God saying to us
Talk to Him with others, the Christian journey is hard to do alone.

What am I saying to God
I like community

28-09-06

Key word
Faith, follow

saying in context
Faith heals, following Jesus is more important than anything

What is God saying to us
Have faith and you will sit with your ancestors in heaven

What am I saying to God
Sometimes faith is hard, it reminds me of C.S.Lewis who said, "I believe in God like I believe in the sunrise, not because I can see it, but because I can see all that it touches" Let me see your work in lives Lord because that is how I see you.

27-09-06

27-09-06

Key word
Judge, ask, deeds, integrity

saying in context
We shouldn't judge others, we should ask God for things we want because He knows how to look after us, our actions show our integrity and that is how God judges us.

What is God saying to us
Child of mine, ask and you shall receive

What am I saying to God
I want what you want for me, I want a fulfilled life, in your time Lord

26-09-06

Key word
humility, in secret, faith

saying in context
In everything, be humble, don't let people know about your good deeds, God will reward you. Have faith God will look after your life.

What is God saying to us
Don't worry about people not noticing your deeds, it's a good thing because I'll reward you so much more than people can. Don't worry about your future, It's under my control.

What am I saying to God
It's hard to put my faith in you and forget about tomorrow, it's hard to do good things and have people not notice; but I know that I will be rewarded

21-09-06

Key word
Rich, content, pain, religion

saying in context
We need religion, it allows us to become content with what we've got. We shouldn't be striving to get more money

What is God saying to us
Follow God, He will give you eternal life. Do good things and enjoy life.

What am I saying to God
I need an enjoyable, everlasting life. I want contentment.

20-09-06

Key word
Sin, anger, love, heal

saying in context
Sin has caused us to fall but God is no longer angry, we need to come back to Him to be healed

What is God saying to us
When we turn to God we grow so much, and we become the people God wants us to be

What am I saying to God
Keep my heart devoted to You, grow me, make me yours

Beginings...

This is the beginning of what I hope to become a daily devotional where I not only share what I get out of verses from the Lectionary readings in the morning, but also for others to read my thoughts and comment, debate or argue their own interpretations of the verses. The blog will also, or atleast I hope, keep me accountable to doing a lectionary reading every morning and thus make more of an effort to start my day in the early hours of the morning so I make the most out of each day God has given me.

Each morning will follow the lectionary reading for that morning. For Opawians, the lectionary readings can be acquired from the church. I believe the pastorial team use the lectionary for their daily devotions (and perhaps also others). So watch this blog.

Devotions should start Sunday or Monday (I intend to buy my Laptop on Saturday or Sunday afternoon)

Each Devotional will be set out so that the Lectionary reading is given.
This will be followed by the heading: Key Word or Phrase
Which will then followed by the heading:What is it Saying in Context?
the third heading will be:What is God Saying to Us?
And the fourth and final heading:What Am I Saying to God?