Gracepoint Devotions

Submitted by Kevin Lai, Gracepoint Hsinchu Reflect on the fact that “God is just.”  How should this reality affect the way I deal with suffering, persecution, trouble, etc? Many times, when people face suffering or difficulties, their initial response is whether God is there or why is He allowing this to happen. However, as seen [...]

vv.3-4: “The Thessalonians’ growth in faith and love (cf. 1 Thess. 1:3) was taking place under the most adverse conditions: the continuing experience of ‘persecutions’ (diogmois; cf. Acts 8:1; Rom. 8:35; 2 Cor. 12:10) and ‘afflictions’ (thlipsesin, NIV ‘trials’; cf. 2 Thess. 1:6; also 1 Thess. 1:6; 3:3, 7). The church’s circumstances do not appear [...]

Submitted by Christine Chang, Gracepoint Hsinchu What can I learn from the fact that Apostle Paul uses different words—“warn,” “encourage,” and “help”–in advising the Thessalonians on how to minister to those who are “idle,” ‘timid,” or “weak”? I learn that in order for there to be a change in those who are idle, timid, and [...]

Submitted by Andy Tung, Gracepoint Hsinchu What about Christian life can be learned from Apostle Paul’s exhortation to the Thessalonians to do “more and more” of what they were already doing? So much of growth in life comes through repetition and continued faithfulness to something. If I want to get good at an instrument, I [...]

vv.1-2  “Times and Dates” As to when the Day will occur, Paul writes that there is nothing more he can say on the point (“we do not need to write you”), since the Thessalonians already “know very well” the only thing one needs to know about “when” it will occur: It “will come like a [...]

Submitted By Grace Kim, Gracepoint Berkeley What is the heart of Apostle Paul towards the Thessalonians? Apostle Paul’s heart is that of intense concern with the Thessalonians in what they have been going through. Even though Paul is not physically present with them, as he hears about their trials & persecutions, he is deeply concerned [...]

v.3 “Being sanctified or made holy is the process of living the Christian life.  The Holy Spirit works in us, conforming us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).”[1] vv.9-10 “As exemplary as the Thessalonians had been (1:3; 3:6), however, further progress remained a goal for them (3:12). […] More love is always possible for [...]

vv.1-5 Almost from the time Paul arrived in Thessalonica, the believers had experienced “trials” as a result of their conversion to Christianity. Indeed, Paul took it for granted (to the extent that he prophesied ahead of time, 3:4) that they would experience affliction to one degree or another, simply as a result of declaring their [...]