October 10

Jeremiah 14:11-16:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 25:1-5

Who made it through Jeremiah today without cringing? It was a little rough, was it not? Maybe more than a little rough. God truly seems so angry at Israel. And then what a contrast we come to when we get to Thessalonians. It's so full of joy and happiness and applause for those who are walking in God's ways.

Let's focus on the happy today. We have been posting a bit about Jeremiah the last couple of days, so I'm going to take the easy way out (can you really blame me?) and focus on the happier content in today's reading. 

"For we know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory" (1 Th. 2:12). I can truly hear Paul's fatherly overtones in these two chapters. He so wants good for this church. He is anxious about them. He wants to go and check on them. He fears they are going to fall away and not hold fast to the true gospel first preached to them. 

"When I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that is one way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love" (1 Th. 3:5-6).

Doesn't Paul just sound like an anxious father, pacing back and forth in his living room, wondering how his child is doing? Maybe this father thinks about picking up the phone to call his child, to check in and make sure everything is okay. But he doesn't want to hover too much. But he really wants the child to be well and thriving. So he paces and prays and hopes the best for his dearly beloved child. This is the image I get with Paul and the church when I read these passages.

It's beautiful. This is how our concern for the church should be these days. We should pray night and day for the flourishing of the church, much as we do for the flourishing of our own children. We should long for the purity of the church, being free from pollution, defilement, and false doctrines. 

We do this easily for our own children. It's so easy to want their lives to reflect holiness, righteousness, and the well-being that comes when you walk in right relationship with God. We pray for our children to have their "love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else" so that their hearts will be strengthened and they "will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father" (1 Th. 3:12-13).

May we pray with the same fervor and desire for the purity and holiness of our churches. We need healthy, thriving churches in America and around the world. The tempter is very much as active today as he was in Paul's day. May others rejoice when they see our churches faithfully reflecting and living out the truth of the gospel.

- Mary Matthias

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.