There are many things on my plate, Father, enable me to focus on what’s important in Your eyes! Amen.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 (<<click here to read the passage)

Lord, a serious question I must ask myself is: What do people think of You from watching me? Am I a good or a poor reflection of You? Do You shake Your head at my antics?

Verse 7 of this passage reads,

As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you.

Paul points out several things that will help me to better focus my reflection of You in my life. First, I am called to act as a child. Now my Life Application Study Bible points out that this doesn’t mean I am to be “immature or untrained. Rather…like children” I am to be “honest, straightforward, and without guile” in living out the Good News through my life. Lord, enable me to live a life of transparency  –  that people never have to guess what I am up to but know that what they see is who I am. And may You continue to buff and sand off all the rough edges in me so I will become more and more like You.

Secondly, verse 9 asks,

Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you?

Lord, help me to be diligent – giving my best effort throughout my daily walk with You. Be it at work or home or church, may I always be “devout and honest and faultless toward” others. v10 I am like everyone else – I get weary, I get apathetic. But Lord, again, help me to keep my focus in the right place – on You! You deserve my all, not half or three-quarters. You deserve my best! If I strive to please You in all I do, others will be taken care of, too!

Lastly, then, verse 12 says,

We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.

So, if I live as I should, I will be able to encourage others to do the same. We will all then be able to live our lives in ways worthy of You! Amen – so be it!

(July 12th,  2015, Sun, 6:20 am)
Dec 1st, 2022, Thurs, 5:48 pm