Live by Example

1 Thessalonians 1:1b-10

May God give you grace and peace.

2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.

8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, 9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. 10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.

I too want to offer you God's grace and peace today. I do thank God for you and pray for you. I pray that your faith will increase and your work with the faith will be evident to all. I pray for your love to show through your deeds all to the glory of God through Jesus Christ.

If you didn't know it, God does love you and has chosen you to be a part of His family. Again, I say that God loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family here on earth and in heaven. The Holy Spirit awaits your invitation to Him so He can bring you power and assurance of what the bible says about you and about your Savior, Jesus Christ. Receive this message with joy and thanksgiving. You will suffer attacks from the devil for accepting and walking in these truths. Count it all joy because Jesus Himself suffered these attacks as well. He will give you strength and endurance through the Holy Spirit to combat all the attacks of the enemy. As a result of your victories you will be an example to all the believers.

Your faith and the exploits of what God does through you will be told in far off lands and will hep encourage and strengthen other believers. They will be speaking of what the Lord has done for you and you will be an example to them. They will know that by your actions you are showing the love, grace and mercy of God the Father through Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. You are looking forward to Jesus coming again and are conducting your lives as such.

Father, this is my prayer for anyone who reads this today. If they don't know You and they don't know that You love them may they come to that knowledge. May they make a decision to follow You and accept the work of Jesus on the cross for their sins. May they confess this belief with their mouth and live their life for You. May they accept the power of the Holy Spirit to change their life and allow them to fully understand and follow what Your Word says about them. I thank You that You first loved us so that we could also love You. I praise You name today and will follow wherever You lead me. Amen.

Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

Published by Erik L. Vakula
Daily Bread From the Word
Copyright © 2009 Erik Vakula, All Rights Reserved