Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NLT)

11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

12
Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I believe that the ultimate achievement that any of us can desire is to live our lives pleasing to God and that He would be honored because of the way we live. However, as we consider this we realize that He is perfect, and that we are far from being perfect. Notice that Paul, Silas and Timothy promised that they were all praying for their church members to live such lives with anticipation of God enabling them to live such lives. Often we get so hung up on praying for medical conditions of our brothers and sisters that we seldom stop to pray for their spiritual wellbeing, unless we notice something very obvious going on in their lives. Notice also that for us to live holy lives that represent the Savior, we must not forget where the power source is for such a desirable objective. In verse 11 it is very plain that it takes God enabling us to live such holy lives. While the results of living such lives might obviously be to encourage others to live similar lives or even provoke them into asking about the source of our strength to live such lives, I was encouraged by the words in the middle of verse 12 – that in living such a life honoring to the Lord Jesus, that I might be also be honored with Him. Wow, imagine hearing God honor His Son, and in the same breath honor one of us for also living a life pleasing to Him? I can hardly imagine that! Let’s not forget friends, we live our lives pleasing to God so that He might receive glory and honor, not that we might get puffed up. Do it for Him!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, You know better than I do how challenging it is to live a holy life here on this earth. Thank You for reminding me this morning of the power source that would enable me to meet such a desirable feat. Please glorify yourself through my actions that lift up the name of Jesus. Please enable me to overcome the weaknesses of this earthly life and give me strength, wisdom and fortitude to pursue righteousness and holiness in all that I attempt to do. Lord, may You receive honor and glory through my actions today!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
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