NOVEMBER 16, 2021 READINGS... Acts 17:16-18:3 & 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:13 & 4:1-5:11
Paul’s journeys continue, he is now in Athens. Athens was a great religious center of the world. They were much like the modern day “progressive Christians” who are open to every religious system under the heavens, except biblical Christianity. As Paul spoke to these philosophers and religionists he spoke of the hill in Athens called Mars. On that mountain were shrines to every false god known to man…and there was even on shrine to the “unknown god”. Paul used their own shrine, built in ignorance, to tell them about the unknown God. Paul even told them of the cross being payment for man’s sin, and he spoke to them of the resurrection. Their response was the same three responses you and I will get when we share the Gospel of Jesus in our lost, dark world. Some will mock…some will believe…and some will put off deciding, wanting to hear more. Paul left Athens and traveled to Corinth…it was there that he met Aquila and Priscilla. These two were tent makers, who had been deported from Rome by Claudius Caesar.
We read almost the entire book of 1 Thessalonians. My wife, Teresa, noted from the readings the heart that Paul had for the believers in the Thessalonica church. She said that what was describe in this book ought to be the heart of every Pastor for the church…I agree. This book is one of the “church epistles”. Paul loved this church…prayed for them always…commended their faithful work for the Lord…the way they showed their love for one another…and their enduring hope in Jesus. This was a missionary church…for they were spreading the Word of God beyond Macedonia and Achaia. Timothy’s report to Paul about the church was glowing. He was sent there by Paul, and return with the good reports about the believers in Thessalonica. Of course, this filled the Apostle’s heart with great joy. Paul encourages the church to remain holy in their conduct…to treat each other with respect and to remain true to their own spouses. They were instructed to live a quiet life, mind their own business, and working with their hands. Paul encourages them that the Lord Jesus would be returning…Paul explains the order of events when Christ comes back. He speaks to them of the hope of those who have died in Christ…and the “catching away” (rapture) of those who are alive when Jesus comes back for His church. These were great words of hope for the church in that day…these are great words of hope for us today!
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READINGS… 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 & 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3:18 &
Acts 18:4-23
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