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October 8, 2021

1 Thessalonians 1:2-7

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

New International Version (NIV)

When Bill Wallace and other missionaries were forced out of China in 1948, the Christian world feared that the work of Christianity would die in that country. Facing the headwind of persecution, how would the fledgling churches their survive?

After being beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, Paul ended up in another leading city of Macedonia called Thessalonica. He was forced to leave the town unexpectedly after a few weeks because of intense opposition. What happened to the believers there? They lived with faith, hope and love. Their faith worked, their love labored and their hope inspired endurance.

Paul remembered in those early days before he faced opposition, that the believers in Thessalonica received the gospel not only as words but with power and deep conviction. Later, the believers there confirmed the authenticity of their faith by enduring suffering with joy.

Decades after the missionaries left China, they received news about the church. It had grown dramatically in a time of suffering. God is doing an amazing work there to this day. Some estimates claim more Christians than Communist party members in China. How is that possible? God did the work.

Is it possible that our greatest challenges today are the way God will bring about a miracle in our lives and the lives of others? God is working all things together for good to us who love God and are called according to his purpose.

Pray with me:
Father we thank you for faith, hope and love. We praise you for choosing us in Christ. Thank you for power, the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. Let us live up to what we have already attained. Make us models of faithfulness to other believers. Restore the years the locust have taken from us, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture memorization for this week:

Acts 17:11

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Acts 17:24-25

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

New International Version (NIV)

Our 2021 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations Bible reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:

2021 Reading Plan

We would love for you to join us as we read through the Bible in one year, while still having the flexibility of reading 5 days per week. In addition, I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. We will also memorize 2 scriptures each week. As we journal together this year, Robby Gallaty’s H.E.A.R. plan is a good resource: Highlight a verse that stands out to you, Explain what it means, Apply that truth to your life and Respond to what you’ve read with an action or prayer.

Joyfully,
Duane

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555 Tallowood Road
Houston, TX | 77024 US

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