Day 4 – Let the Holy Spirit Supply the Power
Read: I Thessalonians: 1: 1 – 10
Paul realized that daily life in Thessalonica for these young believers was very difficult as they faced constant and severe persecution. He commended them for their faith, their love, and their endurance. In verses 5 and 6, he wanted to make sure they understood and never lost sight of the source of their faith and ability to live genuine Christian lives. Christ followers must always remember that a positive response to the gospel and successful living of the Christian life always comes from the power of the Holy Spirit working in the life of the believer.
The Holy Spirit reveals the gospel message to us and enables us to do great things for the Lord. But in order for God to accomplish His will for our lives, we must follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit – turn to God, serve Him, and patiently wait for His return with great hope and anticipation.
Living a life that reflects genuine Christianity is one way we express our gratitude to God for including us in His family. Praising God and telling others about the gospel; giving generously to the Lord’s work; praying and thanking God daily for what He has done in our lives; daily reading of God’s word to seek the truth that He wants to reveal in our lives. These activities in our lives confirm that we are living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
It is easy to allow idols to slip into our lives. Anything we place in front of God in our devotion and attention is in essence an idol – our jobs, our children, the pursuit of material possessions, leisure time, sports, our spouse, especially ourselves. Before we realize it, we can find ourselves worshiping these things instead of God. When this happens, we are no longer living a genuine Christian life that reflects sincere gratitude for all God has done for us.
Prayer time: Lord, I will forever be grateful that you made the gospel available to me. I certainly want to live a life that is worthy of the gospel truth that has been revealed to me and I want my life to reflect the glory of the great God I serve. Reveal any activity or thing in my life that I am allowing to push you off the throne. Make my devotion and service to you dominate my life.
Final thought: Faith, love, and hope are eternal qualities that believers receive from God for specific purposes. Faith produces works; love prompts tireless and endless labor for His kingdom; hope inspires endurance that allows us to rest in God’s promise of eternity and the Lord’s second coming.