Hey everyone, sorry I'm a bit in the catch-up mode, so I just now got around to reading 1 Thessalonians...but here's what I think about it.
First, when I started reading the chapters of this book, I started to think of my grandpa for some reason (he passed away in January). I don't even know why, but it was just all of a sudden my mind drifted to that topic. But then - I kept reading and came across the last part of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which talks about "Hope for the Christian Dead." Not only was that something that I completely needed right then and there to make me feel better, but also that passage was one of the readings read at my grandpa's funeral. And my grandma put me in charge of picking out each reading, so stumbling across this when I randomly needed it really made me smile! Man guys...He works; He's always there right when you need Him, and each moment I feel farther away from Him, each moment He proves to be there, pulling me closer.
Anyway, then I got to 1 Thessalonians 5: 9-11! "For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, ENCOURAGE one another and build one another up, as indeed you do." Wow - awesome verses! Basically, they say that it doesn't matter if you don't even know God at all because God will always be with you no matter what (no matter if you "asleep" or "awake," He's always there). So many people in our world haven't encountered God yet, but they don't realize that He's with them at this very moment! And then the next part of the verses....encourage each other, build each other up. We are all here (especially on this blog) to help each other - don't bring people down, lift them up. (:
May God make you strong today (stolen from Cameron...).
You're in my prayers,
Haley
haley,
ReplyDeletethat's awesome that you can feel God working in those small but monumental ways. something as simple as having you stumble across a verse that has such deep meaning to you-- it's like God tucking in little surprises or glimpses of Him and His provision. i love it. i'm glad you can see it too. :)
i love what you wrote about encouraging one another and building each other up too. i think this blog is such a good tool for us. every time i get on here, i am instantly encouraged. thank you for being a part of that encouragement haley!
you are stellar. may God make you strong tonight and always.
i know, i love when things like that happen. when it comes to faith in the Lord, something so small can mean so much. everything counts; everything matters; everything happens for a reason. (:
ReplyDeleteand thanks whitley! i love reading your comments!