March 16, 2020
1 Thessalonians 3:8-13
For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.  How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.  May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.  May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

New International Version (NIV)
They couldn’t worship together.  Does this sound familiar?  Paul and his companions were cut off from their friends in Thessalonica.  Remember earlier Paul described the Thessalonian believers as family, and in verse 17 of chapter 2, he describes their separation as being “orphaned.”  Twice Paul says, “When we couldn’t stand it any longer . . .”  Finally, he sent Timothy to check on them.

Imagine Paul waiting to hear.  Like a grandfather waiting for his baby granddaughter to come safely home, Paul waited for news.  Right on God’s Standard Time, Timothy returned with a good report.  The new believers in Thessalonica were doing fine.  Paul was euphoric with joy.

Once again we see the heart of Paul the Pastor.  “Now we really live . . . how can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?”  Paul prayed night and day to be reunited with them.  He also prayed that they would be blameless and holy when Christ returned.

Our experience of live-stream worship this weekend connected so many of us electronically and spiritually.  But we long for the day we see each other face to face.  The church is our hope, joy and crown.  God knows when, but soon we will join together and sing together and pray together and preach together in our buildings again.  Until then, separated by a virus, we get to be the church wherever we are.  Far from being diminished by the waiting, we are enlarged.  We will never take corporate worship for granted.  

Pray with me:       
Father, as we wait to spend time together again, we pray for each other.  We ask on behalf of your people everywhere that you will preserve lives from this virus.  Help us to love our neighbors well.  Let us be driven not by an abundance of caution but by an abundance of compassion for others.  Let us love each other sincerely and deeply for your glory alone.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 5:23-24
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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