Demonstrated in Action

June 27, 2010

Background Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1 – 12
Lesson Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:1 – 12

Today’s lesson is the last in this unit of study on the nature of Christian commitment. In this lesson we take a look at how Christian commitment is demonstrated through action. The text is a reminder that Christians are no less free moral agents than unsaved people. Put another way, even after we are saved, it is possible to live a life that is not pleasing to God and that goes so far as to make us allies with God’s enemies. Christians must still choose to do the right thing. Righteous living is not a byproduct of being saved. The Holy Ghost gives us the power to make the right choice. The Holy Ghost convinces us to do the right thing. The Holy Ghost convicts us when we walk in error rather than righteousness. In spite of the help that is available for us as Christians, we still must choose to receive the help that is available. When we depend on the Holy Ghost to empower and guide us, then we demonstrate who we are by our actions.

God has called us to sanctification not uncleanness. That is a nice way of saying that salvation is not a license to sin. Salvation brings us into a relationship with God whereby we have access through prayer and faith to his power to continuously deliver us from the power of sin in our lives. Sin is real and it becomes much more evident after we have been saved. God does not deliver us from sin’s presence in this life but rather he helps us to overcome sin’s power over us. Our flesh works against God’s plan for us. Our emotions and cravings constantly seek to enslave us to do their bidding. We are warned to avoid activities that serve the flesh—especially those activities that work against our fellowman. The cravings of our flesh are always self-serving. Our old nature sees life as short and therefore we must seek to satisfy ourselves at all cost and, if necessary, others’ expense. It is a nature that we are admonished to put to death daily. It is a nature that is bent on the finite and not the eternal. The new nature of Christ in us reminds us that we now have eternal life and we should set our desires on the things of God which likewise are eternal in nature. Some activities are simply not meant to be eternal and God will bring those to a permanent end. In the meantime, we should avoid them altogether.

If you have experienced walking in love as a Christian, then allow love to grow or increase in you. This is one of the ways that we avoid serving our flesh. The world is filled with those that have not experienced unconditional love. We are often presented with the opportunity to change that for many. We cannot dwell on yesterday’s good deeds but we must instead be determined to walk in love today and tomorrow.

Finally, today’s text was a reminder to the Thessalonians to mind their own business and take care of their own needs. It has been said that if we would take care of our own business, we would not have any time left to mind the business of others. Many relationships could be salvaged by applying this advice. If we have needs—and we do—then we should work for what we need. Let our religion not be in words only, but let it be demonstrated by our actions.

Robert C. Hudson
June 16, 2010

Sustained Through Encouragement

June 20, 2010

Background Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3
Lesson Passage: 1 Thessalonians 3

Today’s lesson reminds us that we all experience the need for encouragement. This passage of scripture presents the need from two perspectives. On the one hand, the Apostle Paul agonized in concern for the spiritual welfare of the Christians at Thessalonica. Perhaps his concern was further aggravated by his observation of the environment in Athens where he was when he wrote this letter. The book of Acts records that while Paul was in Athens, his spirit stirred within him when he saw that the city was totally given to idolatry. Meanwhile, his mind was still on the new converts back in Thessalonica where he had been sent away by night because of the persecution against the Christians by an angry mob created by the Jews who did not accept the gospel message. Paul was encouraged by the report of Silas and Timothy when they rejoined him. Paul had sent Timothy back to strengthen the new converts in the midst of their own persecution. Paul needed the assurance that his three week labor among the Thessalonians had not been in vain. He knew that they would suffer spiritual attack from Satan but he did not know their outcome. Would they persevere or would they give up? Timothy’s report of their spiritual growth and love was the encouraging answer to the questions that Paul, no doubt, wrestled with. Furthermore, he learned that the Thessalonians were also longing to see him just as he desired to see them. Paul’s labor was not in vain. His work did indeed bear good fruit that had remained even after his urgent departure. Paul was thus inspired to persevere through his afflictions knowing that the fruit of his labor yet remained and continued to prosper. Now his concern would no longer be if they were holding on to their faith but he desired to return to them to help in the process of their spiritual growth towards maturity. Likewise, the Thessalonians needed to be encouraged in their new faith walk in Christ Jesus. To this end, Paul sent Timothy to help accomplish in them what he himself was not able to do without placing them in further danger through their association with him. Timothy’s presence and guidance provided the new converts with much needed pastoral care in the midst of persecution. The mutual concern of the apostle and the church was satisfied through communications through the apostle’s letter and the eyewitness report of Timothy to the apostle. Both parties needed encouragement and God provided the necessary channels of communication to accomplish it. Today, the apostle’s letter to the Thessalonians encourages Christians to persevere through their own situations. Because of the immutability or unchanging nature of God, we can be sustained through the same words that encouraged others almost two millennia ago. We learn from the examples of those who lived many years ago that we can overcome situations through faith in God and perseverance in the midst of persecution. Be encouraged.


Robert C. Hudson
June 8, 2010

Pleasing to God

June 13, 2010

Background Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2
Lesson Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:1 – 13

Today’s lesson continues this month’s emphasis on the nature of Christian commitment. In this lesson we focus on the aspect of individual commitment that is pleasing to God. This is what Paul claimed as the primary motivation for him and his companions during their time of ministry in Thessalonica. Paul briefly reminded the church of the suffering and persecution that had driven them out of Philippi to Thessalonica at the beginning of their ministry to them. He further reminded them of their behavior in the presence of the Thessalonians during the time of ministry. They behaved themselves righteously in spite of the persecution they had endured knowing that it would bring the same response in that region. Furthermore, the apostle and his helpers did not impose upon the Thessalonians in any other way except to share the truth of God’s word with them. Their behavior was not out of pride or to boast before the Thessalonians. They simply did what God required of them. They worked night and day to minister the word of God to the Thessalonians. This was not done for self glory but to establish a clear conscious that they had labored so that they could not be charged with having neglected their responsibility in ministry. Again, the only one they had to answer to was God and they would be able to do so with a clear conscious.

As we reflect on the lesson passage, how many of us would inconvenience ourselves or otherwise put ourselves in harm’s way to fulfill the ministry God has assigned for us to do? It is much easier to talk, sing, and shout Christianity than it is to live it. Yet, if we are going to have a commitment that is pleasing to God, it will depend on what we do in faith and nothing else. This type of commitment requires that we mix what we know and believe with faith that God is going to see us through. Are you convinced that God will see you through whatever obstacles you are faced with in fulfilling your commitment in ministry? How has faith been a part of your ministry commitment? The bible is clear that we cannot please God without faith. We can make the grandest verbal commitment and perhaps even accomplish some worthwhile goals. But if we fail to have faith in God in the midst of it all, we will not be able to please God. Paul and his team would no doubt have found it impossible to run from persecution and then act in a way that they knew would bring more persecution if they had failed to trust God to see them through it. No amount of self pride or accolades from others would suffice to convince us to put ourselves in harm’s way for the sake of ministry. Only faith in God and the desire to please God could motivate Paul and his companions to press on in their service. Although we don’t know persecution today as they suffered then, we still have a desire to please God and therefore must rely on our faith even as they relied on theirs.

Robert C. Hudson
June 4, 2010

Visible for God

June 6, 2010

Background Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1
Lesson Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1

“May the works that I have done speak for me” has become an old Christian adage. Truer words could not be uttered. Many will remember our actions long after they have forgotten anything that we might have said. In spite of this, we still tend to talk more than we work. Nevertheless, when someone shares the sum total of our life with someone else, it will undoubtedly reflect more of our actions than our words. This is even more so for Christians. We often become targets for those who are convicted by their own consciences and would rather spend time criticizing others than correcting their own situations or addressing their own problems. There is sometimes an endless comparison of one’s words and works in search of hypocrisy. People can seem relentless in trying to see if we misstep or misspeak so that our humanity can be displayed and somehow used against us. It doesn’t always matter to others that we might misspeak as long as we do not misstep. Perhaps this is even as God would have it to be. After all, Jesus emphasized the importance of actions that flow from a pure heart. Yet we are still human and Christians do misspeak as well as misstep. As we mature in Christ, we learn that our daily struggle involves wrestling with our own flesh and striving to strengthen the spirit man within. Only when the Spirit of Christ in us is allowed to lead and guide our actions do we have the hope of success in our everyday walk. Our actions will never reflect Christ’s directions as long as we attempt to use our own strength to bring it about. It is this faith walk that Christians are called to engage in daily. It is while we walk that God brings us into the work of ministry. These are the works that matter because they serve as visible examples to others of the faith that is within us. That is the subject of our lesson today.

One of the themes of Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica shows Paul’s concern for the faith of the Christians at Thessalonica. Paul was in harmony with James in the belief that a Christian’s faith should be manifest by works rather than words. The Thessalonians’ works did not justify them before God but it did stand as a testimony of their faith before man. This was clearly evidenced in that the Thessalonians’ faith in God was widely known even beyond the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia. This reputation must have come from the observation of people’s lifestyles and not their philosophies. Apparently, the Thessalonians had believed to the point of trusting Christ to direct their lives. They did not have to brag about their belief because it showed up in their actions. Paul recognized that their lifestyle had become their testimony and he commended them for it. In fact, in some regions, Paul and his companions did not have to speak because the reputation of the Thessalonians communicated for them. The Thessalonians were not closet Christians as many were then and still are today. They openly lived what they professed and others saw it and spoke of it throughout the region and beyond.

Robert C. Hudson
May 31, 2010