Walking Worthy of the Lord - Isaiah 43-44 and I Thessalonians 2
As Isaiah called Israel back to God, He reminded them that God had redeemed them, and they belonged to God. What a wonderful truth! Who would not want to belong to God, to be a part of His family? However, there is a responsibility that goes with having God as our Father. We are to live like His children. We are to reflect His character. We are to live by His rules, so that others will know we are His, and so we can receive His favor. The Israelites wanted to receive His blessings, but live for themselves and their idols. God does not work that way. He is a loving Father, who wants the best for His children. The best is to walk in His way and to make Him proud of us. When others see your life, do they know you belong to God?
Paul reminded the believers at Thessalonica about how he came to them to preach the gospel, and they accepted the Lord Jesus. Then, he stayed with them, and he led them. He used two analogies that are very meaningful. He said that he was like a mother to them, nurturing them to grow in the faith, and he was like a father to them, exhorting them to be obedient. Then, he urged them to continue in what they had learned from him, so they would live worthy of the Lord. Paul was the under shepherd, who was teaching the believers about belonging to God's family. He took on the role of the mother and the father, so he could show them God's will. That is the purpose of the church and the leaders of the church. Sometimes, we need to be comforted and fed. At other times, we need to be rebuked and corrected. The goal is to walk worthy of the Lord, not to live for ourselves. Look at what happened to Israel when they went their own way. The same thing will happen to us today, if we leave God, because He loves us, and He will call us back to Himself.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 45-46 and I Thessalonians 3.
Paul reminded the believers at Thessalonica about how he came to them to preach the gospel, and they accepted the Lord Jesus. Then, he stayed with them, and he led them. He used two analogies that are very meaningful. He said that he was like a mother to them, nurturing them to grow in the faith, and he was like a father to them, exhorting them to be obedient. Then, he urged them to continue in what they had learned from him, so they would live worthy of the Lord. Paul was the under shepherd, who was teaching the believers about belonging to God's family. He took on the role of the mother and the father, so he could show them God's will. That is the purpose of the church and the leaders of the church. Sometimes, we need to be comforted and fed. At other times, we need to be rebuked and corrected. The goal is to walk worthy of the Lord, not to live for ourselves. Look at what happened to Israel when they went their own way. The same thing will happen to us today, if we leave God, because He loves us, and He will call us back to Himself.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 45-46 and I Thessalonians 3.