Month: December 2024

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:10

He Comes to Increase Our Faith

Daily Devotion – December 3, 2024

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:10


See series: Devotions

You are missing something. As you are preparing dinner for your family you realize that one key ingredient is missing. Do you try to find a substitute? Do you just ignore it and hope for the best? Or do you drop everything and run to the store because you know that it just will not taste the same without it?

The world is missing something. Every day, a different “secret sauce” is marketed to make me happier and healthier, look younger, lose weight, get richer, live longer—the list goes on and on. But even if I can shed those stubborn pounds and smooth out a few wrinkles, how long before the next chocolate chip cookie or the newest line in my skin sends me looking for the next “something” that will fix all my problems?

You and I possess far greater problems than the externals that people can see and judge us by. There is One who sees the internal—our hearts and our souls. He knows our lives and what we do and say and think. And he, our God, has every right to judge us by our deeds and words.

Jesus came to give us what we lack. The perfect obedience that God demands he gives to us through faith in his Son. Jesus came to take away the sins that we commit. And then he gives us the ingredients to build us up in faith.

The Bible. Baptism. The Lord’s Supper. They seem so simple. We might want something more dramatic. We might expect we have to sacrifice or somehow do something to deserve to receive his message. We might think we have to do something drastic to find the secret sauce.

But this is how he builds us in faith. Through a steady diet of his Word, God comes to us, builds us up in faith, and keeps us strong to handle the problems that life throws at us. And through his Word, we have all that we need.

Prayer:
Lord, make me glad to worship you and seek out your Word so that I may grow in you. Amen.

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?
1 Thessalonians 3:9

He Comes to Receive Our Thanks

Daily Devotion – December 2, 2024

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:9


See series: Devotions

Have you ever waited excitedly for someone’s arrival? Maybe your spouse who was away on a trip. A son or daughter or grandchild that you have not seen for far too long. A friend separated from you over the years. But now the time has come, and they will arrive any moment. You feel joy. Excitement. Expectation.

When the apostle Paul wrote the words of today’s Bible passage, he was writing to a group of people he had only met briefly. Persecution forced him to move on from their city. But an amazing thing happened. The gospel changed hearts. People came to faith. Paul could have been tempted to pat himself on the back for the great work he accomplished in a short amount of time. Instead, he thanked God. While the gospel had brought joy to these new believers, Paul received joy in return for their faith. And he thanked God for it.

There is much excitement in our world as Christmas approaches. And much of that excitement also has little or nothing to do with the arrival of the Savior. Let Paul’s words be our guide this time of year: “How can we thank God enough?”

The answer to that is, we can’t. Not really. How can we truly thank God enough for sending us a Savior? For bringing us the joy of forgiveness? The hope of eternal life? For a Son born to take on our sins so that he can save us? No, we can’t ever thank God enough.

But what we can do, is take some time to thank God for all the joy we have as we prepare our hearts for the birth of the Christ.

Prayer:
Father in heaven, thank you for the gift of your Son. During this busy time of year, keep my head and heart focused on my Savior. Amen.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12

Hope That Increases Love

Daily Devotion – December 1, 2024

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:12


See series: Devotions

The weeks before Christmas are called Advent—a Latin word that means “coming.” Advent invites us to wait—quietly and patiently for Jesus to come this Christmas. But do you know how hard it is to wait? Holiday times are hectic and stressful. We sing “Joy to the World,” but family fighting, overspending, and physical exhaustion steal our joy and drain our love. When we get impatient or speak sarcastically, it shows our supply of love is running on empty.

But what if God could give the kind of holiday love that increases your love and patience in the coming days before Christmas? Would that help as you wait? Would that make it easier for others to be around you? God wants to fill you up with his love. Every day before Christmas, we remember why we look forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth. His tiny hands and feet born at Christmas were the same hands and feet that died on the cross. Now, the living Jesus is the proof we need that “God will always love me!”

As you head into the first weekend of December, hear the voice of Advent encourage, “Wait, slow down a bit! Don’t get entangled in the hustle and bustle of the season. Get focused instead on what really matters. It’s Jesus.” Love is God’s gift to you. Christ’s love makes it possible for our hearts to brim over with love and patience for others like our children or spouse, our siblings or coworkers, our friends and neighbors.

While you patiently wait for Christmas to come, pray that God would fill our hearts, souls, and minds that we want to share this love with someone who is empty inside and desperately in need of love. No outside love can fill that void. Only Jesus and his love can!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, as I wait for your coming, supply what you know is lacking inside me. Deepen my faith and fill me with your love so that my love increases for you and for others. Amen.