1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. New International Version (NIV)
Once again we'll go to today's New Testament read through the Bible plan for today's verse. It centers on a common theme of my posts, the importance of the Word of God. Reading this verse I was first reminded of Psalm 103:2 which states, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,". (ESV)
Many times as we go through God's Word we realize that quite often these "benefits" come to us through God's Word and the impact it has in our lives, leading us to prayer, leading us to change course in our lives and reaping the benefits of it working in us.
John MacArthur reminds us -" The work of God's Word includes:
saving (Rom. 10:17; 1 Pet. 1:23);
teaching and training (2 Tim. 3:16, 17);
guiding (Ps. 119:105);
counseling (Ps. 119:24);
reviving (Ps. 119:154);
restoring (Ps. 19:7);
warning and rewarding (Ps. 19:11);
nourishing (1 Pet. 2:2);
judging (Heb. 4:12);
sanctifying (John 17:17);
freeing (John 8:31, 32);
enriching (Col. 3:16);
protecting (Ps. 119:11);
strengthening (Ps. 119:28);
making wise (Ps. 119:17–100);
rejoicing the heart (Ps. 19:8);
and prospering (Josh. 1:8, 9)."As you went through the list can you identify some of the areas of your life where you need "the work of the Word" today? May you be able to look back on identify others that cause "an artesian well of thanks" (The Message) to spring up in your heart and mind.1 Thessalonians 2:11-13The Message (MSG)
9-12 You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn't have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God's Message to you. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren't freeloaders! You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life.13 And now we look back on all this and thank God, an artesian well of thanks! When you got the Message of God we preached, you didn't pass it off as just one more human opinion, but you took it to heart as God's true word to you, which it is, God himself at work in you believers!
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