Verse of the Day 9/14

Through the Bible - Proverbs 27-28, 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

 

Good morning,

in Christian circles these days, we don't hear much talk about being " converted, more often we may hear and use the term being saved.  The words can be used interchangeably but something may be lost in the translation.

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said that "unless you are converted" and become as little children you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.

John MacArthur writes, "Jesus' phrase "are converted" translates a form of the Greek word that elsewhere in the New Testament is always rendered with the meaning of "turning" or "turning around".  The idea is that a person must make an about-face and head in the opposite direction.  Peter used a form of the word twice in his sermon shortly after Pentecost as he urges his audience to "repent and return, so that your sins might be wiped away" and said of Christ that "God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."

 

For today's verse we'll go to 1 Thessalonians 1 where Paul uses the same word encouraging the Thessalonians to turn from idols and return to God.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 (Amplified Bible)  For they themselves volunteer testimony concerning us, telling what an entrance we had among you, and how you turned to God from [your] idols to serve a God Who is alive and true and genuine,

Yesterday we considered our own "glory days" compared to God's unfading glory.

 

The things that we may find ourselves glorying in, in this world, will fade.  The sooner we turn our attention to our Lord and Saviour, the sooner we'll find and serve the God who is true, alive, and genuine.

 

Read the passage below.  Consider today that we don't need to look back, we as Christians, need to turn, look forward to a future glory that gives incentive to live for Him today while we await His coming.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

The Faith of the Thessalonian Believers

1 Thessalonians 1:2  We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. ³ As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 ⁴ We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. ⁵ For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. ⁶ So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. ⁷ As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.

 ⁸ And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it, ⁹ for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. ¹⁰ And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.