Reading for today: Judges 11:12-28 and 1 Thess. 4:11-12

“…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life…” 1 Thess. 4:11a

How good God is to give us His Holy Spirit when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  The Spirit guides us to a life focused on seeking God’s will and not our own.  When we are dependent on our Father in heaven like a little child, trust brings calm to our spirits.  This enables us to complete the work God has for us.

Reading for today: Judges 11:1-11 and 1 Thess. 4:9-10

“…for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another…” 1 Thess. 4:9b

Many people don’t understand genuine love but, they do desire to receive and give it.  Many of us have experienced loneliness and rejection.  God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to teach us how to love.  We, as followers of Jesus, can show others what this wonderful gift from our Lord looks like as we live it out: through our marriages, families, friendships and church relationships.

Reading for today: Judges 10:1-18 and 1 Thess. 4:7-8

“…so that Israel was severely distressed.” Judges 10:9c

Israel was experiencing harassment and oppression from its enemies.  Sin against the Lord robbed them of peace.  Do you continually find yourself in conflict with others?  Ask God in prayer to reveal any hidden sin.  Seek His forgiveness and cleansing, then turn away from those things that offend God.  Only He can give us victory over disobedience and restore our peace through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Reading for today: Judges 9:22-57 and 1 Thess. 4:3

“…that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.” 1 Thess. 4:4

God calls his children to submit to His Holy Spirit and not our sin nature.  He created our bodies for holiness.  When we abide in Christ, we are able to live as moral and wise people–those who are not controlled by worldly desires that harm others.  The love of Jesus which we possess empowers us to love and protect our brothers and sisters.

Reading for today: Judges 9:1-21 and 1 Thess. 4:1-2

“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God…” 1 Thess. 4:1a

When we faithfully obey teachings given to us by pastors and church leaders who have been chosen to instruct and model God’s Word, we honor the Lord.  We demonstrate respect for His authority within our church body and encourage those appointed by God to minister to His people.

Reading for today: Judges 8:22-35 and I Thess. 3:12-13

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
I Thessalonians 3:12-13

Keeping this eternal perspective is vital for God’s people on earth. We are bound for heaven, awaiting the return of our Lord Jesus, very soon. So nothing else truly matters except to live by the exhortations in these verses, and to do God’s will, fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus (Mark 16:15).

Reading for today: Judges 8:1-21 and I Thess. 3:11

“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.” I Thessalonians 3:11

Here Paul was expressing his desire to return to the Thessalonian church. He’d been driven out before by his enemies, but he was relying on the Lord to open the way for him to go back. The good news is, when God wants us to go someplace or do something for Him, He’ll open the door and prepare the way, if we’ll rely on Him. It’s not always in our time or the way we expected, but if it’s truly God’s will, it will happen.

Reading for today: Judges 7:9-25 and I Thess. 3:9-10

“…and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Judges 7:11a

Often the people who come against us and oppose us are not as confident as they appear to be. So take courage! If God is for us, who can be against us? As it says in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Amen to that!

Reading for today: Judges 7:1-8 and I Thess. 3:8

“For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.”  I Thessalonians 3:8

If Paul was this excited about the faith of these people he’d taught, imagine how much God rejoices over us when we are faithful to do what His word says!

Reading for today: Judges 6:28-40 and I Thess. 3:6-7

“The men of the city said to Joash, ‘Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal, and…cut down the wooden image…’”Judges 6:30

Even after crying out to the Lord for help, the Israelites were still ready to kill Gideon for destroying their idols. Talk about thankless! Yet often we do the same thing, wavering between doing God’s will and our own. How wonderful it is that God is faithful even when we’re not - He never gives up on us!