Sep 30

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution True Peace
    As Paul closes this letter he reminds us what true peace is. True peace only exists when the Lord is with us. The world defines peace as an absence of conflict which refers to external circumstances. The peace that comes from God is just the opposite. God's peace occurs in the midst of our circumstances. No matter what we are faced with, God will give us peace at all times and in every way if we remain in Him. Read more »

Sep 29

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Treat them like a brother
    In the last part of 2 Thessalonians, Paul warns against idleness in the church. What is more interesting is how he talks about dealing with fellow Christians who are in sin. He says in v. 6 to keep away from them. Paul's words may seem harsh but his command is meant to be redemptive not punitive. Paul's desire is for the disruptive Christian to change and be restored to fellowship. In fact, in v. 15 Paul says not to treat him as an enemy but to regard him as a brother. It's im… Read more »

Sep 3

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Imitators
    Here we see Paul acknowledge the church at Thessalonica for being imitators. As Paul imitated the life of Christ, the Thessalonians imitated Paul's life both in faith and in persecution. As a result, they became a model for Macedonia, Achaia, and "everywhere." An important part of our Christian walk is to set an example to others. Our children, people we influence, new Christians will all try and model our behavior. It is important that we model our behavior after Christ. Read more »

Sep 2

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Evidence of lives changed by the gospel
    In these passages, Paul praises the Thessalonians for the evidence he sees of their transformation. He sees faith, hope, and love which are the result of lives being changed by the gospel. This transformation is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit which convicts individuals and changes lives. So if Paul was observing our lives, what evidence would he see of our transformation? Read more »

Aug 27

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution The wages of Israel's sin
    Hosea describes the spiraling downfall of the nation of Israel. Once dedicated to God and fear by other nations, Israel was now adopting the foriegn practices of other nations (idol worship) and had become weak to the point of death. The result of Israel's sin and continual sin was the death of a nation. Israel would soon be defeated by Assyria and exhiled. This makes me think how careful we need to be as Christians not to adopt worldy practices or worldly thinking. We already see the decli… Read more »

Aug 26

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Out of balance
    Here Hosea uses the example of a merchant with a dishonest scale to describe Israel's dishonest self-evaluation. In verse 8, Israel boasts of being rich, weathly, and without sin. In truth, they were completely wicked and their success as a nation was only due to God's direct intervention. How do we evalute ourselves? With an dishonest scale our do we truly see how God sees us. Read more »

Aug 25

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution What's in a name?
    Here Hosea contrasts the two names given Jacob with name of God. Jacob literally means "he grabs the heel" meaning a propensity for trickery. During birth, Jacob, the younger twin, grabbed his brother Esau's heel and struggled with him throughout his life. Jacob was also known as Israel which means "he struggles with God" which is a name he received after wrestling with an angel from God. Israel, the man and the nation of his decendants, lived up to their names by const… Read more »

Aug 19

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Double sin
    Hosea shows us a bleak picture of Israel. Where once a great nation worshiped God and grew like a spreading vine, Israel was now stuck in idolatry, political corruption, and widespread disputes. Punishment was about to fall on Israel for what Hosea calls their "double sin" (v.10). In this case Israel was guilty of woeful idolatry AND a stubborn refusal to repent and turn away from this practice. This makes me think of the sin in my life and my stubborn refusal to let it go. Both are s… Read more »

Aug 18

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution A passionate God
    Here we see how passionate God's love is for Israel. Hosea describes it as love at first sight, like finding grapes in the desert or early fruit on the fig tree (v.10). But we also see Israel's response was to repay that love with idol worship, rebellious behavior, and wickedness. Israel was like a bride who is unfaithful and God's punishment was passionate as well. From this point forward God pretty much ended the blessing that He promised Abraham that their numbers would inc… Read more »

Aug 13

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Death of a nation?
    In reading this passage, you get the feeling that Israel was nearing its end. They had abandoned God and sin had taken over the nation. Adultry, voilence, deceit, mockery, drunkeness, and theft had become the norm. Israel's leaders did nothing to stop it, in fact, they enjoyed it and participated in it. Hosea says the sin of the nation burned like a fire. As the fire of sin burned, the nation of Israel was crumbling, and it faced certain judgement of an Assyrian exile. Yet, no one ca… Read more »

Aug 12

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Shallow repentance
    In this chapter, we see Israel's weak attempt at repentance and God's rejection. Without acknowledging their sin or expressing any regret, Israel turns to God to be healed and restored as a last resort. God sees through their shallow attempt and temporary love. He calls their love, "like the early dew that disappears." Even their sacrifices were meaningless because they had not had a genuine change of heart. How many times do we do this? We sin and then run straight to God… Read more »

Aug 10

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Its not good when God has to use plan B
    Hosea now tells us of God's plan to punish Israel for their reckless behavior and disobedience. God's relationship changed from healer and protector to punisher. Even in their punishment, Israel seeks the king of Assyria for help and not their own God. God's word and His prophets couldn't change the heart of this nation, so God chose plan B, punishment. At the end of this punishment, God steps away from Israel and waits for them to see the error in their ways and turn bac… Read more »

Aug 9

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution The sins of a leader multiply
    In these verses, Hosea calls out Israel's leadership, its priests and kings, as responsible for the sins of the nation. At the time of this writing, Israel's leaderhip openly accepted pagan worship and did nothing to prevent the influence of pagan religions. God, through Hosea, calls them to task for this by saying, "this judgement is against you!" Because of their sin, they trapped the entire nation into sin. Think about this for a minute. Think about how many people lo… Read more »

Aug 6

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Reconciliation
    In this chapter we see Hosea is directed by God to reconcile with his unfaithful wife, to "go show her love again." He buys her out of slavery and then for "many days" she is punished by not being allowed to be intimate with any man. In the same way, Hosea prophesies that God will reconcile with the unfaithful Israel but there will be "many days" of punishment where Israel must remain pure. This chapter reminds me that there are always consequences to our actions… Read more »

Aug 5

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution God takes action
    In the first part of chapter 2, God lays out the punishment he has planned for an unfaithful Israel. In the second half, God (not Israel) takes action to restore the broken relationship. We see in these verses a compassionate and merciful God lovingly restoring His relationship with His people. This relationship is in the image of a loving marriage full of righteousness, justice, love, compassion, and faithfulness. He restores His covenant with Israel and they respond, "You are my God.&q… Read more »

Aug 4

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Who deserves the credit?
    In continuing the analogy of Israel acting as an unfaithful wife, Hosea now rebukes Israel for crediting Baal for their blessings. Israel failed to recognize or honor the God of Abraham was still their one and only true provider. This passage reminds me of all the false gods we credit for our success today. We credit our education, our money, our experience, our job, our efforts, even our luck for the blessings we have. How often to we take the time, recognize, and thank God for them? Does it… Read more »

Aug 3

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Adoption as sons of God
    After rebuking Israel in the beginning of this book, Hosea now makes an amazing prophesy. The decendents of Israel will become "sons of the living God!" He uses the word "yet" to divide all our sin from His amazing promise. Despite all we have done, all our unfaithfulness, God is adopting us as a son. This is no small honor. It is a distinction that we do not deserve. The question I have this morning is - Am I living a life to please my heavenly Father or am I taking my… Read more »

Aug 1

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution This is your wake-up call
    Here we see Hosea, God's prophet, sending out a warning to Israel in the story of a marriage. Hosea marries an adultrous wife Gomer, who symbolizes Israel. Israel was guilty of the "vilest adultry" - departing from the Lord. Gomer conceives two children (out of wedlock) and the name the Lord picks out for them should have been a shock to Israel (and us). This first one means “Israel is no longer loved” and “Israel is no longer my people.” Wow! This is not the end of the story… Read more »

Jul 30

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Our giving and our needs
    Over the years there has been many occasions when, as I am writing my church check, I have thought about how I would make it through the week and month financially. These passages remind me of two great points. First, Paul tells us that our gifts to God (done with the right heart) are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, and are pleasing to God. Next he reminds us that God will meet ALL our needs from his unlimited storehouse, his glorious riches in Jesus. When I think back over all… Read more »

Jul 29

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Regular giving
    We all know that Paul had learned to be content in any situation (v. 12) but that didn't mean that his missionary work did not need real financial support to continue. Here Paul thanks the Philippian church for their support over the years. From these passages we learn that the Philippean church gave early and often. They were not "fair-weather" givers. They supported Paul when things were going well AND when they were not. They were true partners is his mission. How about o… Read more »

Jul 28

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution A great example of right giving
    Giving of our time and money for the work of the Lord is an important part of our Christian walk. Here we see a great example of Christians who had it right. The Philippian church was facing extreme poverty and severe persecution but they found their joy in the Lord not their circumstances. Out of that overflowing joy, they gave generously, even beyond their ability. They saw giving as a privilege and urgently pleaded to give so that God's will could be done. This is a great example for… Read more »

Jul 24

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Welcome Home!
    Welcome Home! That's what I hear from the US border agents every time I return to the US from a trip abroad. I get that greeting because I am a citizen of the US. I am also a citizen of heaven and so is my friend Wendy. Wendy is dying of cancer. She is only 25. I've been spending a lot of time in prayer for her and this passage just gave me a lot of comfort. It reminds me that soon Wendy's body, which has been ravaged by this terrible disease, will be replaced with a glorio… Read more »

Jul 22

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Enemies of the cross?
    When I think of enemies of the cross of Christ during the time this passage was written, I think of the many groups that persecuted the church, but Paul points out another enemy. These enemies are those people who may profess to know Christ but set their sights on earthly things. They have a deep self-centerness and their appetities and desires come first. The have a world view of pleasure and materialism, living life as though there is nothing after this life. In fact, Paul says their destin… Read more »

Jul 21

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Act your "age"
    Maturity for a Christian means having made some reasonable progress in spiritual growth and stability. In these passages, Paul tells mature Christians to act their "age," to live up to (or put into practice) the truth they have already comprehended. We are to be examples for other "younger" Christians to follow. So, are we acting our "age" or being immature? Read more »

Jul 20

  • surebeatsworkin
    surebeatsworkin added a text contribution Pressing on
    This is an important passage for me personally. Here, Paul talks about the need to continue to "press on" toward our "prize" which is the crown we will receive in heaven. I'm convinced that Satan knows he has lost the battle with us, but he still has the ability to trip us up as we race toward the prize. He has the ability to knock us off course, get us feeling guilty, distract us with earthly things, and keep us busy with things that that have no value to God. In do… Read more »