Verse of the Day 10/16

Verse of the Day 10/16

1 Thessalonians 2:13  This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

As I read this verse, this passage yesterday in the read through the Bible plan I'm following, the phrase at the end of the verse caught my attention "which also works effectively in you".  It is talking about God's message, the gospel, the good news found in His Word that He has for us and how it works effectively, it accomplishes His purposes in us.   In order to work effectively, it must be in us, in must be in front of us, reading it, absorbed and digested by us as we consider what we read or what we here in a message, and it is then applied in our lives.

John MacArthur notes that God's Word  "Which also effectively works in you who believe," 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 read through that list prayerfully think of 3 things, three areas in your life that may need His work today.  It may be restoring, nourishing or strengthening, but take a few minutes, look up the corresponding passage, "welcome it", dwell on it for a few minutes, take His words to heart and allow them to "effectively work in you" today.

His Word has power to free us, to bring down strongholds, and enable us to be overcomers in the challenges that face us today.

Blessings,

Mike

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!