Month: August 2023

The Kitchen Table

1 Thessalonians 4  Day 5

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you know how to possess his own  vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in  lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification            1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

The saving of our mind and body happens as we live in God’s love rather than man’s lust.  The love of God makes all things pure and makes all people priceless. 

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 4  Day 4

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you know how to possess his own  vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in  lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

We can possess our own vessel, our own lives, by love or by lust.  It’s just that simple.  We can live in love, by love, for love or we can live in lust, by lust, for lust.  Look for it!  Lust lives by always reaching for the apple, love lives by receiving it.  The mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.  Love gives us what we need but lust takes what we want.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 4  Day 3

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you know how to possess his own  vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in  lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

God didn’t just save us to go to heaven, He saved us so heaven could come to us now.  He brings salvation to our spirit but we have to let salvation come to our soul and body.  Never settle for a ticket to heaven after we die when the truth of heaven is here for us now.  Ruling with Jesus begins with ruling over our own lives first.  God is preparing us for eternity with Him.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 4  Day 2

For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  For this is the will of God, your sanctification…  

 1 Thessalonians 4:2-3

We can know who we walk with by seeing who we obey.  Obedience is at the core of true faith.  True faith obeys.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  It all begins with believing and receiving God’s word as the truth and obeying it.  Our sanctification is the will of God.  God doesn’t just want us to go to heaven, He wants heaven to come to us here and now before then and there.  Look for obedience.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 3  Day 8

For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, ¹⁰ as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10

Life begins to take share as we begin to serve and seek God from faith.  Life can be shapeless without faith, having no boundaries or defining lines.  But when we begin to serve others, rejoicing in what God is doing in their lives, and as we begin to seek God for what He wants to do in our lives, life begins to take shape.  There’s no greater joy than a life molded by God.

The Kitchen Tabe Devotions

1 Thessalonians 3  Day 7

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, ⁷ for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; ⁸ for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.                     1 Thessalonians 3:6-8

Life begins when we start standing for what we believe.  Life happens for anyone else but for those who believe enough to stand, they make life happen.  Believers, by the power of His Holy Spirit, make life happen for themselves and for others.  They think life, they live life, they speak life, and they share life.  These believers are a joy to just be around.  Make life happen today by being the life of Jesus in this world every day.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 3  Day 6

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,

1 Thessalonians 3:6

There’s something about faith and love that just satisfies the soul.  We can’t mistake amiable attention for faith and love.  One is genuine and the other is genial.   When people interact with us from faith and love, it’s a whole different relationship than one built on giving us a little attention and being nice to us at the moment, saying what they think we want to hear.  Faith and love satisfy, not just the conversation but the conscience, our spirit and soul.  Don’t replace faith and love with amiable attention.  It won’t satisfy your soul or soothe your spirit.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 3 Day 5

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,

1 Thessalonians 3:6

When we attach our feelings to faith there’s freedom to enjoy the real things in life.  There’s freedom to find joy in pain, hardship, and tribulation because faith isn’t attached to making others feel good or right or safe, it’s attached to what God does, and what God does is always good and right and true.  I long to see you, not because you feel bad but because you believe.  What a reunion that will be.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 3  Day 4

For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

1 Thessalonians 3:5

It’s rarely about our feelings.  It’s always about our faith.  Paul says he is sending someone to find out about their faith, these people who are being persecuted for what they believe.  It’s what we believe, not what we feel.  When we’re tempted to get caught up in our feelings about someone or something, we need to think about what we believe about the some One who created & saved us and all the things He wants and will do in those who believe.  Feelings follow faith.  God is faithful.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 3 Day 3

For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit;  but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts                      1 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Feelings come for those who live for more than others expect and it’s hard when you’re rejected.  If you’re going to live for something significant, there will come suffering.  Misunderstanding and mistreatment are never far from the believer standing and speaking in the authority of God, but it’s worth it.  Jesus is coming again and it’s what we’ve done in love for God and man that will make that a glorious day.