Welcome!
Date: Thursday, October 14, 2010
Today: Consistency matters
Passage: 1 Thess 1: 2-3 NIV
2We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3We continually 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.(emphasis added)
Starting a thing is one thing; continuing it is another
Many people start, but don’t continue
Paul mentions two special words in these verses: always and continually
Thanking God always, is not easy; we don’t thank God many a time, even after receiving something from God
But when we look at people who go through lot of sufferings than us and still calling upon God, how much more we should be thanking God!
Nick Vujicic is familiar to many of you; this young man has no hands and limbs like we have, yet he goes around the world proclaiming the love of God and praising God!
We fail to give God the praise and glory due unto Him; instead, we give God our list of complaints and wants!
Paul did not fail to give thanks to God continually, in the midst of his very busy schedule. Consistency matters!
Thank God at all times, in all situations. It is not about how we feel, but about what He has done. Sometimes, we have to thank God by faith, for that which He is going to do. Children sometimes ask us things and thank us immediately
They know that when they say “daddy, thank you for getting me…….”, we will feel “compelled” to get it for them!
Paul goes on to say, “we continually remember before God, your………”
Aren’t we so much concerned about our own things that we don’t even remember to pray for others in our own family?
But Paul’s prayers were rarely about himself. He would continually remember others, in prayer
How are we doing in our prayer? Do we pray for others> Do we pray for our city/nation? Do we pray for our leaders?
God is not looking for Pray-ers, than prachers!
30 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 22:30-31, NIV)
God is looking for someone; can you be that person?
Our prayers and tears mean much to God
Once, a team of missionaries complained to their leader about “no results” in the field. The leader replied: “Try tears”
Try it. Try tears, before God. Give Him thanks and praises, more often
God bless you
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for all that you have done for me and others. I praise you for who you are. Forgive me for being thankless. Help me to pray nad praise more often. Amen