As christians, aside from eternity in God’s presence, we are also destined to experience afflictions and trials of different kinds to tempt us to abandon our faith. “Just as it has come to pass, just as you know.”

What is this “joy” that Paul is describing? He talks about being worried, having fear. He is not worried nor fearful about the afflictions, but about the faith of the Thessalonians – “that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ESV)”

When he found out that they were standing firm in the faith, in love, Paul and the others were filled with joy.

How can you encourage your spiritual fathers/disciplers? By letting them know, through your life, that their labor was not in vain.

The first part was a passage for this year’s midyear prayer and fasting. Here’s what I wrote then.
Why spend Money, Energy, and Time, on that which does not satisfy? Why indeed. Definitely not as wasteful as before, definitely. But I have my moments.. Short-sightedness, Low stamina to persevere (due to lack of exercise) leading to quick-fixes or “junk-food”, Laziness.

You think the wine and milk you have now is good? What God offers is so much better. And it’s free. Only that you come to Him, listen to Him, and stay on His side.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭6-9‬ ESV)

The last part of that passage is sometimes taken out of context. It is often quoted without the first part, to say that man is not able to comprehend the mind of God. Although that is true, I believe the passage talks about two things we will not be able to “predict”: 1) God’s time-limit when it comes to repentance and 2) the abundance of His compassion. As people, we have our own ideas, usually contrasting, when it comes to these two things. Our thoughts, even our greatest or collective minds, cannot be fully trusted because of our humanity. We can trust God’s thoughts and ways. He is the Master Designer, sovereign over all creation.

You think you’re stressed? Moses is stressed. What a stressful situation to be in – an angry mob you have been leading wanting to undermine you on one side, an all-powerful God you have been trying to obey wanting to vindicate you on the other. At this point I don’t know anymore what is going on in Moses’ head.
Maybe that is what leadership is. Servant Leadership. In obedience to your Master and Maker, you bring man – in good times or bad times – from death to life.
There are strategies and techniques for effective leadership, but when push comes to shove, the real leader is the one who actually does the hard work and perseveres. When all around him is failing and falling away, he stays true to his Mission. He stays close, even closer, to his Master.
The question is why. I can understand the God of great and immeasurable love doing something like this. But a man of finite mind, finite love, finite life? I can understand man doing it for his family, the close circle of the people he loves. But for a disrespectful, thankless, angry mob? How?
The only reason is if, when, the finite man is transformed by the infinite God. That is the only way – he knows some things we don’t know, he understands and sees much more than we do, he is given power relative to the responsibility.
This power is not to be demanded, like how Korah rebelled, it is given to those chosen by God’s infinite wisdom and grace.

Praise (preɪz)
— n
1. the act of expressing commendation, admiration, etc
2. the extolling of a deity or the rendering of homage and gratitude to a deity
3. the condition of being commended, admired, etc
4. archaic the reason for praise
5. sing someone’s praises to commend someone highly
— vb
6. to express commendation, admiration, etc, for
7. to proclaim or describe the glorious attributes of (a deity) with homage and thanksgiving

[C13: from Old French preisier, from Late Latin pretiāre to esteem highly, from Latin pretium prize; compare prize ², precious ]

praise. Dictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/praise (accessed: July 10, 2014).

It is not enough to just say/sing “Praise the Lord”. It has to follow, or be followed up with the “Why”.

And there are many many reasons why!

The level of boldness and urgency messengers have is dependent on the following :
• The authority and power of the source of the message
• The messenger’s connection to the message
• The implications of the message to others

Paul understands all three very well. He has experienced the power of God in the road to Damascus. He was given a special charge to be the apostle to the Gentiles. He understands that people can be saved and changed through Jesus.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ESV)

Working to make a living is not an excuse to not proclaiming the gospel and actively obeying the Great Commission…

I understand these things in my head… I’m not sure how much of it has reached my heart..