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Photo by Jungwoo Hong on Unsplash In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul gives us 15 guidelines for holy living – concrete action steps that keep us open and available to God. Scripture:        1 Kings, chapter 1; 1 Chronicles, chapter 28; Psalm 91; 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 (CEB): Brothers and sisters, we ask you to respect those who are working with you, leading you, and instructing you. Think of […]

Photo by chris liu on Unsplash “What is God’s will for me?” People often ask this question. Scripture gives us a direct answer: God’s will is for us to be holy. But what does that mean? Scripture:        1 Chronicles, chapters 25-27; 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (CEB): So then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to keep living the way you already […]

Photo by Nik on Unsplash Paul prays that God would “fill in the gaps” for the Thessalonians by strengthening their hearts in love. He says this will make them “blameless in holiness.” What’s the connection between holiness and spiritual development? Scripture:        1 Chronicles, chapters 22-24; 1 Thessalonians, chapter 3 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (CEB): Now Timothy has returned to us from you and has given us good news about your faithfulness […]

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash David said, “I won’t offer an entirely burned offering that costs me nothing” (1 Chronicles 21:24). He insisted on paying for what he would sacrifice to God. What does it mean to “sacrifice”? Scripture:        2 Samuel, chapter 24; 1 Chronicles, chapter 21; Psalm 30; 1 Thessalonians, chapter 2 1 Chronicles 21:18-27 (CEB): The Lord’s messenger ordered Gad to tell David that he should go […]

Photo by magnezis magnestic on Unsplash On the cross, Jesus cried, “My God, why have you left me?”  Why do we sometimes feel forsaken by God? Scripture:        2 Samuel, chapter 18; Psalm 56; Matthew, chapter 27 Matthew 27:45-54 (CEB): From noon until three in the afternoon the whole earth was dark. At about three Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my […]

Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash In Psalm 32, David tells us how to be happy: “The one whose wrongdoing is forgiven, whose sin is covered over, is truly happy!” Scripture:        2 Samuel, chapters 15-16; Psalm 32; Matthew, chapter 25 Psalm 32 (CEB): The one whose wrongdoing is forgiven, whose sin is covered over, is truly happy! The one the Lord doesn’t consider guilty – in whose spirit there is […]

Photo by Austin Curtis on Unsplash As followers of Jesus, we’re servants; God has given each of us a job to do in his Kingdom. How can we fulfill his purposes as “happy servants”? Scripture:        2 Samuel, chapters 13-14; Matthew, chapter 24 Matthew 24:36-46 (CEB): “But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the heavenly angels and not the Son. Only the Father knows. As it was […]

Photo by Joshua Sukoff on Unsplash David committed adultery with Bathsheba, then arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. God calls that “utter disrespect” (2 Samuel 12:14)! Scripture:        2 Samuel, chapters 11-12; Psalm 51; Matthew, chapter 23 2 Samuel 12:7-14 (CEB): “You are that man!” Nathan told David. “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I anointed you king over Israel and delivered you from Saul’s […]

Photo by Ana Municio on Unsplash When the Philistines attacked, did David rush out to battle? No; “David asked God for advice.” Do we seek God’s direction in every area of our lives? Scripture:        1 Chronicles, chapters 14-15; Psalm 132; Matthew, chapter 18 1 Chronicles 14:8-17 (CEB): When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all marched up to find him. David heard this […]