Scripture to Read: 1 Thessalonians 3:6
Good news is always enjoyable to receive. We love hearing from friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, etc…when they have good news to share. Now, as a reminder from last week’s devotions, we know that God had led Paul and Silvanus to stay in Athens, alone, and they sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the believers there. The reason Timothy went to Thessalonica was that the Christians there were going through persecution, so Timothy went back to encourage and strengthen them. Today, we find that when Timothy got back to Paul and Silvanus, he had good news to share with them about the believers in Thessalonica. Timothy told Paul and Silvanus that the believers in Thessalonica were growing in their faith in Christ and their love for Him and others. Timothy also shared the sweet news that the believers in Thessalonica thought very kindly of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy and they hoped to see Paul and Silvanus soon. As we consider how to encourage and strengthen the believers we know, we must make sure that we are growing in our faith in Christ. We must also be maturing in our love for our Lord, for His Word, and one another. The way we grow and mature is through exercising our faith and love. To exercise our faith means we must cling to Christ and His Word, especially when walking through our trials, tests, and tribulations. To exercise our love means we willingly serve those around us, even when it’s outside our comfort zone.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you about good news today and how we are to share it?
2. Who will you share some good news with this week?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!