“You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere.”
-1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (NIV)
The people that Paul is writing to were baby Christians. He had been with them a few weeks, taught them about Jesus, and then had to leave--but he (and the other missionaries with Paul) had become mentors to these new Christians. You see, it wasn’t enough for the leaders to tell them to act like Jesus and to do what’s right...they modeled it in such a way that the Thessalonians could “imitate” them. That’s the best formula for teaching and learning:
1. I do.
2. I do--you watch.
3. You do--I watch.
4. You do.
5. You do--others watch etc...
When it comes to really living out a Christian walk and having Spirit-filled joy, it’s difficult. We can learn, however, from the example of Paul and the Thessalonians that if we look to Godly people as mentors (and small group leaders) to imitate and follow--that we can not only learn and grow strong, but our words, thoughts, and actions will ring out for a lost and dying world to see and hear! We can give people the hope that we have in Christ Jesus!
-Shane McKinzie
---
Reflection…
Who are the top two or three Godly mentors you have had in your life?
Is there someone you are being mentored by now? If not, I encourage you to ask somebody you respect or to get involved in a small group.
On the flip-side, is there anyone that you can be mentoring and pouring your life into? Pray that God puts someone in your path to share Jesus with today.
---
Prayer...
Pray that God brings the right people into your life for you to be able to help grow, and brings the people that will help you grow.
Unreached People of the Day - Darjee of Nepal
---
Read the Bible in a Year...
Joshua 1
Isaiah 7
1 Thessalonians 1-2
05.10.11
“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted. “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
-Mark 15:12-14 (NIV)
Have you ever been blinded by passion? Have you ever done something or said something in a group of people that you'd never say or do alone? I've been out on Black Friday morning once in my life for shopping. I can tell you that anger and frustration reaches fever pitch when the doors are about to open. People begin to shove, and say things that normally they never would.
The same is happening here in this text. The people are crying out for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate tries to point out their inconsistency by explaining that Jesus was an innocent man. Yet they continue to scream out "crucify him!" They don't want to hear Pilate's reasons for not doing it. They simply want Jesus crucified. There is no motive checking, no moment to reflect, just a mob acting like a mob calling out for blood.
Don't get caught in the mob mentality. Today as you live your life, take a moment now and then to check your motives, to pause and ask if this is the right thing to say or do. It just might change some of your actions.
-Seth Caddell
---
Insights...
When do you get most caught up in the crowd mentality?
When in your life do you see the crowd pulling you away from what Christ wants for you?
---
Prayer...
Pray that God would give you the strength today to stand up against the crowd. Pray that He gives you clarity and focus on your goals.
Unreached People of the Day - Rabari, Hindu of India
---
Daily Bible Reading...
Mark 15-16
-Mark 15:12-14 (NIV)
Have you ever been blinded by passion? Have you ever done something or said something in a group of people that you'd never say or do alone? I've been out on Black Friday morning once in my life for shopping. I can tell you that anger and frustration reaches fever pitch when the doors are about to open. People begin to shove, and say things that normally they never would.
The same is happening here in this text. The people are crying out for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate tries to point out their inconsistency by explaining that Jesus was an innocent man. Yet they continue to scream out "crucify him!" They don't want to hear Pilate's reasons for not doing it. They simply want Jesus crucified. There is no motive checking, no moment to reflect, just a mob acting like a mob calling out for blood.
Don't get caught in the mob mentality. Today as you live your life, take a moment now and then to check your motives, to pause and ask if this is the right thing to say or do. It just might change some of your actions.
-Seth Caddell
---
Insights...
When do you get most caught up in the crowd mentality?
When in your life do you see the crowd pulling you away from what Christ wants for you?
---
Prayer...
Pray that God would give you the strength today to stand up against the crowd. Pray that He gives you clarity and focus on your goals.
Unreached People of the Day - Rabari, Hindu of India
---
Daily Bible Reading...
Mark 15-16
05.05.11
"Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand."
-Mark 6:41-44 (NIV)
Have you ever eaten a tiny meal and left hungry? When I lived in Kansas I went to a place one Sunday after church and had lunch with a friend. We ordered some sort of pasta dish and what came out looked like what I'd feed a child, not a grown man. We ate our samples left the restaurant and went and got a pizza. Seriously.
In today's passage we see Jesus feed 5,000 men with 2 fish and 5 loaves. Yet, the men ate their fill and there was even 12 baskets of leftovers. No one left hungry for food. Jesus had satisfied their hunger.
When Jesus shows up in a big way in my life though it does leave me hungry for more. I get a taste of what it means to follow him and I want more. I can't help but want to continue to follow Him. Continue to see Him work. Continue to see Him move in powerful ways. When was the last time you felt that way?
-Seth Caddell
---
Reflection...
When was the last time you experienced Jesus? What was it like?
How did you respond to the experience? Did you freak you out? Make you want to know Him more? Make you want to cry?
---
Prayer...
Pray that God shows up today. Pray that He does something mighty in your life and gives you that hunger for His presence.
Unreached People of the Day - Somali of Somalia
---
Daily Bible Reading...
Mark 6-7
-Mark 6:41-44 (NIV)
Have you ever eaten a tiny meal and left hungry? When I lived in Kansas I went to a place one Sunday after church and had lunch with a friend. We ordered some sort of pasta dish and what came out looked like what I'd feed a child, not a grown man. We ate our samples left the restaurant and went and got a pizza. Seriously.
In today's passage we see Jesus feed 5,000 men with 2 fish and 5 loaves. Yet, the men ate their fill and there was even 12 baskets of leftovers. No one left hungry for food. Jesus had satisfied their hunger.
When Jesus shows up in a big way in my life though it does leave me hungry for more. I get a taste of what it means to follow him and I want more. I can't help but want to continue to follow Him. Continue to see Him work. Continue to see Him move in powerful ways. When was the last time you felt that way?
-Seth Caddell
---
Reflection...
When was the last time you experienced Jesus? What was it like?
How did you respond to the experience? Did you freak you out? Make you want to know Him more? Make you want to cry?
---
Prayer...
Pray that God shows up today. Pray that He does something mighty in your life and gives you that hunger for His presence.
Unreached People of the Day - Somali of Somalia
---
Daily Bible Reading...
Mark 6-7
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)