1 Thessalonians: Echoes

1 Thessalonians 1:8

For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

Sounded forth: to "echo" forth; broadcast

From you sounded out - As Thessalonica was very conveniently situated for traffic, many merchants from thence traded through Macedonia, Achaia, and different parts of Greece. By these, the fame of the Thessalonians having received the doctrine of the Gospel was doubtless carried far and wide. And it appears that they had walked so conscientiously before God and man, that their friends could speak of them without a blush, and their adversaries could say nothing to their disgrace. Adam Clarke Commentary

What sound does your life create? We all broadcast something. What is it that you believe in, that impacts your life in such a way that it literally echoes from your words, lifestyle, actions, attitude? 

Choose a few people, either people you know or see on TV. Then consider what they broadcast. It may be the truth, or it may be false, but since they believe it, they will echo it loud and clear. The dangers are when we look to people and take what they are broadcasting as truth, without checking the facts. 

What are you broadcasting? The people in Thessalonica broadcasted the truth of God. And their echo was heard far away. If you are not broadcasting God's truth, then changes need to be made. Echoes travel far - make sure your's is based on truth. 

What Do the Facts Support?

As I was studying Galatians 5;22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Kindness: favorable attitude — that is serviceable

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,  in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,  by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,  by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;  as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (NKJV)

Commend: referring to facts "lining up" with each other to support something

Ministers: servants, those through whom God carries on his administration on earth; the root of this word means: 'to kick up dust,' as one running an errand"

I am to be kicking up dust, as I am hurriedly and obediently sharing the love of God with others. The facts surrounding my life should be that of kindness. A favorable attitude — that is serviceable. I am not to be kind in only words, but in actions. 

Do the facts support that my attitude is put into action? Do I "do kindness"? 

My prayer is: That in all things the facts state that I am indeed actively doing what God wants — with an attitude of kindness. 

Thanks Living: Fact. Experience.

There is a difference between knowledge and experience. Knowing a fact is a good place to start, but there is something said for experiencing something. Knowing that God CAN do something is a great assurance, but EXPERIENCING God DOING something on your behalf is a blessing that exceeds explanation. (R.Sawtelle) 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2013/05/knowledge-and-experience.html 

Today, my Sunday School lesson is on "When faith fails. . ." from Numbers 13 and 14. As I was thinking about my life and the times when I faced situations that seemed totally impossible—and God proved Himself faithful. 

So many times, when I thought there was absolutely no possible way something could happen—God stepped in to prove, what was impossible to me, was very possible to Him. 

Remember. It's key to take time to remember what God has done, so that as new situations arise, we KNOW based on fact and experience, that God is fully able to accomplish His purpose. 

Fact. God is faithful. 
Experience. God is faithful. 

Thanks living is remembering who God is and what He is capable of—no matter the situation. 

Change of Perspective

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 13. Here is what I learned.

Ever have one of the days, months, weeks, when life becomes overwhelming? When you wonder, “if God loves me, why does He let this ‘bad’ stuff happen to me?” Feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and you are caring it alone? 

This is how David felt in Psalm 13:1-4 (EXB).

1 How long will you forget me, Lord? Forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I worry [or bear pain; hold counsels] and feel sad [hold sorrow] in my heart all day? How long will my enemy ·win [rise up] over me?

3 Lord, look at me. Answer me, my God; tell me [light up my eyes], or I will die [sleep the sleep of death].

4 Otherwise my enemy will say, “I have won [finished him off]!” Those against me [My foes] will rejoice that I’ve been defeated [shaken; moved].

To be honest, I’ve have days like this. Chronic pain and headaches can become overwhelming, especially when it becomes my focus. And there are times the pain is screaming so loud, that I can’t focus on anything else. 

Forgotten. Alone. Fearful. Hurting. Unheard. All are emotions that are very real and can rob us of hope. 

Thankfully, Psalm 13 doesn’t end with despair and hopelessness. David gives us the “remedy” for those overwhelming times in our lives.

5 I trust [have confidence] in your love [loyalty; covenant love]. My heart is happy [rejoices] because ·you saved me [of your victory/salvation].

6 I sing to the Lord because he has taken care of [been good to] me.

Psalm 13:5, 6 (EXB)

David was overwhelmed with hopelessness, so He turned His attention to the source of hope—God. David turned his attention and thoughts to the one “constant” in his life—God. David changed his attention from his situation and feelings to the facts about God Almighty. 

Facts:

1. God’s love is unconditional.
2. God keeps His promises.
3. God is salvation.  
4. God has proven Himself in the past—has taken care and been good to me. If He’s done it before, He can do it again. 

On those days I feel overwhelmed by pain, life, emotions, I need to stop and re-focus on the facts of God. Changing my perspective begins with a change of focus from emotions to facts. But just any random facts; rather facts about God Almighty! 

To create a positive day, I must change my perspective from me to God. Then and only then, can I rise above my situation and enjoy a positive hope-filled day! 

I can do it MYSELF!

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The Sixteenth of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 11. Here's what Treasure I found today.

“I can do it MYSELF!” Sadly this isn’t just what a child would say. It seems that I find myself saying this phrase and acting as if I can do it “all by myself”. 

In Psalm 11, David has this same struggle... “I can do it myself!” But David has a “talk with himself” and realizes that “No, I can’t do this alone. I need God!”

Psalm 11:1-3, describes David's situation of danger. Where can he go? He's afraid, in danger, and he wants to find a safe place to be. 

Fear is a powerful emotion. I wrote on my blog June 22, 2010,

“Fear is a powerful thing. It can paralyze a person from doing something great. It ignores all other facts and creates its own reality.”  

The more I think about and focus on what I fear, the greater my fear becomes. 

David realizes that in Psalm 11:1-3. David wants to run and hide. But as we all know, running and hiding doesn’t help, because we take the ‘fear’ with us.  Rather, David had a better solution to his fear. He had a “talk with himself” and realizes that “No, I can’t do this by myself. I need God!” 

David's fixed resolution to make God his confidence: In the Lord put I my trust, v. 1. Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary   

I like how Matthew Henry said that... “Fixed resolution to make God his confidence.” David set it in stone, so to speak. David knew for a fact, that he could not “do it himself”, he needed God, so He would trust God—period.

As I thought about this Psalm, I realized a few things.

1. “I can do it myself” is not a new  concept. For some reason, “doing it myself” is the stubborn, obstinate way allowing fear to take hold.

2. In order for me to  be able to “tell myself” something, I need the knowledge. That means I need to study to learn more about God and what He does and can do.

3. I need to listen to myself, when I’m speaking truth.

4. And the most important aspect... is to know whom I’m to trust the most—God.

To create a positive day, I need to “get out of the way”, give up the “I can do it myself” mentality and trust God to do what He says He will do, and is very capable of doing!