Today's Passage - 1 Thess 2:13-16

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16   And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.  For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews...   Paul said that the believers of the Thessalonian church set good example for us.   First of all, they respect the servants of God.  When they heard the word of God, they received it as the word of God.  They did not reject the word of God or the work of God because of the who the messenger was.  Many people have a misconception towards ministers, believing that ministers should be completely blameless.  Certainly that is the wish and desire of all ministers, but no one is completely perfect, so ministers could make mistakes too.  May God help us not to deny the ministry of a minister just because he made a mistake, just like we won't deny a minister because his ministry is not effective enough.  May God help us to discern what is from people and what is from God.  Actually, we can learn a lot from everyone, and God can teach us through everyone.  May God let us hear His word from people and be able to discern and accept the word of God, because when we finally stand before the judgment seat we must be responsible for the state of our own spiritual life.  God has already given His word to us, and He also wants to give His Spirit to us so that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to discern the truth.  As long as we are careful and have a sensitive heart, God will always guide us.  May God help us to follow the example of the Thessalonian believers, to respect God's servants and receive God's word.   Second, they are willing to be persecuted for the Lord.  Persecution is the testing ground for faith.  We may do just fine in our daily life, but as soon as we encounter trial and persecution, many of us would withdraw.  Are we willing to come out and bear witness for the Lord?  Believers in North America often lack the determination to be strong for the Lord.  We often are afraid of acknowledge that we are Christians, to the point that sometimes we are even afraid of saying grace when eating with other people.  May God give us a courage heart, to be determined to stand up for the Lord no matter how others see us, and be willing to bear witness for our glorious Lord.  We may not end up suffer for the Lord, but we must have the same determination to endure suffering for the Lord like the Thessalonian believers.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, please give us the determination to suffer for the Lord.  Prepare us to witness for your glory in our daily life.  May the Holy Spirit guide us  to learn the lessons that we need to learn from the ministers, brothers and sisters, and the circumstance around us.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!   Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow the project on Facebook ! Help us to reach our Phase I Target, and witness how God expands His Kingdom on earth!  Click here to donate online.