From the Kitchen Table

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 2  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

Never trade the approval of God for the approval of man.  It sounds simple but it’s not.  There’s a world that doesn’t hear or honor God’s word as truth, but only His word can bring light, love, and liberty to any soul who can believe.  Those entrusted with God’s word are those who have trusted in God’s word.  God knows our hearts.  Trust Him!

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 2  Day 2

For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; ⁴  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

Let God go deeper in you so that He can work greater through you.  The right message from a wrong motive will end in a warped ministry.  Paul says, “we have be approved by God.”  Paul had let God test His heart, go deeper so that he could go greater for the glory of God.  There’s a boldness for things greater with our lives as we let God work deeper things in our lives..

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 2  Day 1

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our  coming to you was not in vain, ² but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much  opposition

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2

A worthwhile life has a worthwhile mission with a worthwhile motivation from a worthwhile message.  It’s filled with value rather than vanity.  That’s the gospel life.  Where there is the worthwhile, there will be the wherewithal to live boldly and bravely for Jesus.  Know what you believe, who you believe, and why you believe, and make it where you believe in the power of God.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 1  Day 10

and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:10

The real believer lives looking for Jesus, motivated by His promises.  There’s no bad ending for those who have had a new beginning in Jesus.  Live looking up, with your eyes on the horizon, Jesus is coming back.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 1  Day 9

For they themselves report about us what kind of a  reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve  a living and true God                      1 Thessalonians 1:9

A living faith in a living God will result in a living life.  People will always talk about other people but when they talk about you, let it be because of your faith in a living God.  But we can’t grab hold of life without letting go of what is dead.  Turn to God and trust Him.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 1 Day 8

For they themselves report about us what kind of a  reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve  a living and true God                      1 Thessalonians 1:9

Faith fills the room, it always does.  We cannot hide what we believe in our hearts but faith in God will not be hidden.  Faith grows because God’s word is a seed that grows and grows and produces fruit.  When God speaks, something happens.  If there is no fruit, there is no faith in God’s word.  Faith in God has the power to change any heart at any time we begin to believe, and people will see before they hear. 

The Kitchen Table Devotional

1 Thessalonians 1: Day 17

For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth so that we have no need to say anything.

1 Thessalonians 1:8

The word of God is powerful to produce life and we cannot stop it.  If the word of God is planted in our hearts, we cannot stop it from showing up in our lives.  There is never a need to pretend when it comes to the work of the Holy Spirit and the word of God in our lives.  Never!

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 1  Day 6

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,  so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.                                           1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

There is power in the Holy Spirit to leave who we used to be to become who He & we want us to be.  We cannot hide what the Holy Spirit is doing, nor can we pretend what the Holy Spirit isn’t doing.  There is peace, pleasure, and power in what the Holy Spirit is working in our lives.  Believe it & receive it in Jesus’ name.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

1 Thessalonians 1  Day 4

knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

1 Thessalonians 1:4

Remember, you are His choice.  He chose you and He chose us.  We had to surrender to Him, but we are His choice.  We ran into His love that creates this hope and inspires our faith and we surrendered to Him.  But He came looking and He came choosing us before we even knew anything about it.  We are His beloved, His pleasure.  God is so good!

The Kitchen Table Devotional

1 Thessalonians 1 Day 3

We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; ³ constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and  steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Living a life of resting and rejoicing in God follows living a life of faith, hope, and love from God.  Let faith inspire you, hope move you and love identify you as a follower of Jesus & child of God.  There’s rejoicing in the heaven because there is rejoicing in the heart; God lives here.