Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - The Global Church of the Nazarene's The Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City Missouri United States for Sunday, 4 February 2018 - "Hope for the Church" by Robin Radinski "Hope for the Church" by Robin Radinski - 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - The Global Church of the Nazarene's The Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City Missouri United States for Sunday, 4 February 2018 - "Hope for the Church" by Robin Radinski
"Hope for the Church" by Robin Radinski - 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

1 Thessalonians 2:13 Another reason we regularly thank God is that when you heard the Word of God from us, you received it not merely as a human word, but as it truly is, God’s Word, which is at work in you believers. 14 For, brothers, you came to be imitators of God’s congregations in Y’hudah that are united with the Messiah Yeshua — you suffered the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Judeans who 15 both killed the Lord Yeshua and the prophets, and chased us out too. They are displeasing God and opposing all mankind 16 by trying to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles, so that they may be delivered. Their object seems to be always to make their sins as bad as possible! But God’s fury will catch up with them in the end.

17 And as for us, brothers, when we were deprived of your company for a short time — in person, but not in thought — we missed you and tried hard to come and see you. 18 We wanted so much to come to you — I, Sha’ul, tried more than once — but the Adversary stopped us. 19 For when our Lord Yeshua returns, what will be our hope, our joy, our crown to boast about? Won’t it be you? 20 Yes, you are our glory and our joy!

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Children are the pride and joy of their parents. Their giggles, first steps, wobbly finger paintings, and crushed flower bouquets all produce a jolt of pride in our soul. In the same way, those we mentor on their spiritual journey fill us with hope as we see them grow.
Much of our spiritual frustration is due to our refusal to mentor others. We go to church, receive the Word, and try to apply it, but we do not give the Word to others. The more we invest in the lives around us, the less frustration and stagnation we feel. We will begin to understand the rewarding joy of seeing others grow. It is worth the struggle and tears, the fasting and praying, the advice and listening, because we know we are a part of building the kingdom in them.
This is crucial to our spiritual growth that we step outside of our own lives and invest in the lives of others. Selfish people are unhappy. In the same way, those who love, give, and sow in other lives are filled with hope and joy, the hallmark of a healthy spiritual life.
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Hymn for Today: "Lord, Lay Some Soul Upon My Heart" by Leon Tucker

1. Lord lay some soul upon my heart, 

And love that soul through me; 

And may I nobly do my part 

To win that soul for Thee.

Refrain: Some soul for Thee,

some soul for Thee, 

This is my earnest plea;

Help me each day,

on life’s highway,

To win some soul for Thee.

2. Lord, lead me to some soul in sin,

And grant that I may be

Endued with power and love to win

That soul, dear Lord, for Thee.

Refrain: Some soul for Thee,

some soul for Thee, 

This is my earnest plea;

Help me each day,

on life’s highway,

To win some soul for Thee.

3. To win that soul for Thee alone

Will be my constant prayer;

That when I’ve reached 

the great white throne

I’ll meet that dear one there. 

Refrain: Some soul for Thee,

some soul for Thee, 

This is my earnest plea;

Help me each day,

on life’s highway,

To win some soul for Thee.

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Thought for Today: heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those afflicted with tzara’at, expel demons. You have received without paying, so give without asking payment.(Matthew 10:8b).

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Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Spain.
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