Get the app1 Thessalonians: A 7-Day Devotional Sample
Empowerment Isn’t Accidental
Information is cheap. We can fill our minds with anything in seconds—from amazing recipes to effective exercise tips. But information alone won’t cook our meals or get us through a marathon. Information is only valuable if it leads to action.
The same principle applies to our relationship with Jesus. It takes more than knowledge in our heads to change our hearts. Transformation begins when we act on what we believe.
It takes more than knowledge in our heads to change our hearts.
Paul tells us that the church of Thessalonica received the Gospel “not simply with words but also with power” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). They not only accepted Jesus’ message, they were empowered by it. Empowered to:
- Fulfill their calling; love others; and endure in hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
- Have joy in spite of suffering (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
- Share their faith (1 Thessalonians 1:8).
- Turn away from sin and serve God (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
As followers of Jesus, we have access to that same power. We can find freedom from the sin that entangles us, experience healing from our past, forgive those who hurt us, and live with purpose.
A life of supernatural empowerment doesn’t happen by accident. After we ask Jesus into our lives, we have to choose to move forward in our walk with Him. Following Jesus is a journey that happens one next step at a time.
Jesus has more planned for our lives than we could ever imagine. But He won’t force us to cooperate. Will we treat our faith like those unused recipes and exercise tips that populate our Pinterest boards? Or will we take our next steps with Jesus and experience His power at work in our lives? The choice is ours.
Reflect:
- What next step is Jesus calling you to take?
- What is one area of your life where you feel a greater need for Jesus’ power?
- Look at how the Thessalonians were empowered. Which of these can you relate to?
Scripture
About this Plan
The apostle Paul spent just a few weeks in Thessalonica, and there he started a church and shared the good news about Jesus’ resurrection and return. But once Paul left, misconceptions about Jesus’ return started creeping into the church. 1 Thessalonians is a heartfelt letter from Paul that provides hope while explaining how to live in the in-between, knowing Jesus will return but not knowing when.
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