Bible Challenge – 2 Thessalonians 1

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.” v. 11-12 (NLT)

Have you ever had good intentions?  Have you ever had good intentions spiritually, like Reading the Bible, Praying more often, Sharing your Faith, Repenting of Sin in away that you don’t want to do it again, but then over time find that you have given up of fallen short? I know I have! I’ve had good intentions but then lacked the follow through, the commitment, the discipline, and ultimately the power to accomplish some of these things.  Why, because I tried to do them in my own power!

One of the most challenging Spiritual Disciplines for me is prayer. Yes, I pray but I wish it was more of an instinctual natural attitude instead of an, “Oh yeah, lets pray moment.” I think sometimes this causes me to rely on myself more times than I should, causing me to have several good intentions.

Paul prays that God would enable you(us) to live a life worthy of his call. Then he goes on to say that we would have the POWER, this is supernatural God given power, to accomplish the things our faith challenges us to do.  God given power!!!! What has God been challenging you to do? Are you doing that in your own power or is God given power doing that through you? This is the difference between good intentions and transformation!

Today, let’s not let our life be defined by good intentions, but let us rely on the God given power to produce in us the discipline, strength, and commitment we need to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts us to do.

Mark 3:20-30

“One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. ‘He’s out of his mind,’ they said.” v. 20-21 (NLT)

Sometimes our families are the most difficult places to be a witness for Jesus.  To be the first or only Christian may go against the grain.  Your faith may be misinterpreted as criticism.  Your zeal may be misunderstood.  You may be accused of being a hypocrite because other areas of your life still fall short of Christ’s ideals.  Uncommitted people may even view your new commitment to the Bible as unreasonable bigotry.

Sometimes, family members require the most patience.  They see us at our worst when our guard is down.  Remember that Christ’s family rejected and ridiculed him.  Jesus knows what you face by trying to be a witness for him within your family.  Stay true to your faith.  Don’t respond negatively to the attacks that may come.  Over time, your love for your family will have a positive effect.  – NLT Life Application Study Bible

Today, thank God for your family. Commit to pray for them specifically by asking God to reveal Himself to them in a powerful way.  Stay true to Christ’s teaching and set an example for them, because they are watching!

Prayer: Father help us to love our family with the unconditional love you have shown us.  When times get tough, and others don’t understand us, help us not to argue, get defensive, and blow our witness.  Allow us to look for the right opportunities to share the truth in love that we have experienced from you.  Begin now to soften their hearts and prepare to set an example for them to see Christ in us.