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⁶ If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.⁷ Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; ⁸ for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ⁹ The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. ¹⁵ Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. ¹⁶ Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

REFLECTION

1. Many people go to gym to work out in order to develop themselves physically.  Christians are to “work out” to develop spiritually.  A weight lifter develops his skill by lifting weights.  A Christian develops his ability to live a godly life by making godly choices.  To grow spiritually, you need to concentrate on those acts which show your love for God and for others.
2. On a scale of one to ten – one being spiritual flabbiness and ten being spiritually fit – how would you rate your spiritual fitness?  Why?  How could you make your life a better example for others “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (v12)?
3. Write these five words on an index card: speech, conduct, love, faith, purity.  Ask God’s help to live out these areas throughout the day.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 24:10-12

¹⁰ If you faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.
¹¹ Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
¹² If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not repay man according to his work?

¹The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ² Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, ⁵ for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷ Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

REFLECTION

1. In this passage listed the qualifications for elders/pastors who are charged with spiritual oversight of a local congregation.  Read this passage a few times slowly and carefully noticing the moral expectations presented in this passage.  Let each instruction direct your thoughts to areas in your life that is to be examined by the Holy Spirit.  In which areas does your life look different from the model Paul presented?  (You don’t need to work through the whole passage.)
2. Ask God to help you make small changes so that the transformation may begin in you and that you may display qualities of genuine spiritual life.
3. Pray for the leaders of your church: pastors, ministry committee members, cell leaders, etc.  Pray that their lives may continue to be transformed by God.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 24:5-9

⁵ A wise man is full of strength,
    and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
⁶ for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
    and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
⁷ Wisdom is too high for a fool;
    in the gate he does not open his mouth.

⁸ Whoever plans to do evil
    will be called a schemer.
⁹ The devising of folly is sin,
    and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

¹ First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ² for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ³ This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. ⁷ For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

⁸ I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.

REFLECTION

1. God “desires all people to be saved” (v4).  This is an important verse if you’ve prayed for unsaved loved ones, and been discouraged by their lack of response.  We know from Scripture that not everyone will be saved. But we also know that God desires all to come to know Christ.  This means that when you pray for any individual’s salvation, you can be confident that what you are praying for is definitely in harmony with God’s wishes and desires.
2. The most effective evangelism is supported by the evidence of “a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (v2). The most powerful aid to the gospel is not sudden fear created by danger, but a growing hunger for the peace and goodness observed in the lives of ordinary Christian.

1. Sit quietly before God and wait.  If you will, lift up hands and pray earnestly for those people and needs that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 24:1-4

¹ Be not envious of evil men,
    nor desire to be with them,
² for their hearts devise violence,
    and their lips talk of trouble.

³ By wisdom a house is built,
    and by understanding it is established;
⁴ by knowledge the rooms are filled
    with all precious and pleasant riches.

¹² I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, ¹³ though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶ But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷ To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁸ This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, ¹⁹ holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,²⁰ among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

REFLECTION

1. In this paragraph, Paul presented a “before” and “after” of his own life.  Before he met Jesus, he was “a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (v13).  After he met Christ and experienced the overflow of his grace, Paul became a different man.  Violence is changed into compassion, blasphemy to praise, persecution to brotherly love.
2. This is what is unique about the truth of the gospel.  It isn’t just a collection of true facts, or a compilation of doctrinal data.  The truth of the gospel is vital, transforming, and dynamic.  It can change your life into more vibrant and more like Jesus.
3. Close in prayer by putting your own name in place of the general word sinners in verse 15. Then read verses 16-17 as your own prayer of thanks to God.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 23:33-35

³³ Your eyes will see strange things,
      and your heart utter perverse things.
³⁴ You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
      like one who lies on the top of a mast.
³⁵ “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt;
      they beat me, but I did not feel it.
    When shall I awake?
      I must have another drink.”

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

¹³ As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.¹⁴ If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: Paul requested the Thessalonians to pray for him and assured them that he was praying for them. He also encouraged them to deal with problems that needed correction in their church.
2. Some in the Thessalonian church had quit working because they thought Jesus would be back any moment and didn’t see any reason to work hard. Others were taking it easy and lived off the charity of some wealthier members in the church. Paul admonished such laziness, and set the rule “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat “.  How can our laziness affect the work of Christ? What can we do about the laziness of others?
3. Are you idle, a busybody, a worrier, or a workaholic? What is God’s word to you in this passage? Pray that like Paul you will be a good example to others in your attitude toward work.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 23:29-32

²⁹ Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
    Who has redness of eyes?
³⁰ Those who tarry long over wine;
    those who go to try mixed wine.
³¹ Do not look at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup
    and goes down smoothly.
³² In the end it bites like a serpent
    and stings like an adder.

¹ Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,² not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. ³ Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. ⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, ¹² in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: Paul warned them that the Day of the Lord will be marked by the appearance of a “lawless” one and counterfeit miracles.  Till then believers are to engage in “every good deed”.
2. After Paul responded to the fear of missing the joy Christ had for the Thessalonians if they died before Christ returned (1 Thess 4:13-18), someone apparently tried to convince them that the day of the Lord had already come.  So, Paul stressed the events that must take place at the beginning of the day of the Lord and the lawlessness of that period.
3. The man of lawlessness is referred to a person commonly referred to as the Antichrist. Here Paul picked up the emphasis seen in Daniel (9:25-27) and in Christ’s teachings: the Antichrist arrogantly “opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship”.  He even “takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God”.
4. Paul also warned that the end times will be marked by the sudden emergence of the supernatural into the realm of nature.  Miracles will be performed, but this time, by the Antichrist, through power of Satan. Our only protection against Satan is found in Christ.  But in Christ, our protection is guaranteed.  The Lord Jesus will overthrow the Antichrist and Satan as well “by the appearance of his coming.”
5. Even for Christians, the lawless one will bring fear and testing. What can you do to prepare yourself to withstand him?  Talk openly with God about any fears or concerns you have regarding the future.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 23:26-28

²⁶ My son, give me your heart,
    and let your eyes observe my ways.
²⁷ For a prostitute is a deep pit;
    an adulteress is a narrow well.
²⁸ She lies in wait like a robber
    and increases the traitors among mankind.

¹ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.⁴ Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

⁵ This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— ⁶ since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels ⁸ in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,¹⁰ when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. ¹¹ To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, ¹² so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: Paul thanked God for the tremendous growth in the faith, love and perseverance of the Thessalonians.  They kept their faith while going through much persecution, this is evidence that God is just.  God will repay the persecutors but grant relief to the believers.  Paul prayed often for them that God may be glorified in them.
2. The Thessalonians endured persecutions and afflictions.  And this became evidence that God’s judgment was right because God did not leave them to their own resources but provided strength to endure, and this in turn produced spiritual and moral character.  It also proved that God was on their side and gave a warning to their persecutors.
3. How can God’s justice encourage you when things are “just not fair”?
4. If someone were to pray for you as Paul did in verses 11-12, what is one specific way in which you would want God to change your life?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 23:22-25

²² Listen to your father who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.
²³ Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
²⁴ The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
    he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
²⁵ Let your father and mother be glad;
    let her who bore you rejoice.

¹² We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.¹⁵ See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

²³ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.²⁴ He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

²⁵ Brothers, pray for us.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: In view of Christ’s imminent return, Paul reminded the Thessalonians to be ready to meet the Lord at any time. He then closed this letter with various specific instructions.
2. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, giving thanks in all circumstances”, these three teachings are totally contrary to our human nature.  However, as we learn to obey God’s word wholeheartedly, we will develop different perspectives toward people, and things, and we will then discover that to be joyful and thankful isn’t that difficult after all, but rather is the natural outpouring of our hearts.
3. Write down three things you are thankful for and offer your praise and thanksgiving to God!

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 23:19-21

¹⁹ Hear, my son, and be wise,
    and direct your heart in the way.
²⁰ Be not among drunkards
    or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
²¹ for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
    and slumber will clothe them with rags.

¹ Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

⁹ Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, ¹⁰ for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, ¹¹ and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, ¹² so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: Paul urged his readers to continue living as they have been instructed by Paul.  They are to live with a motive to please God by obeying God’s will – to avoid sexual immorality, and to love fellow-Christians.  All who belong to Christ will be raised at Christ’s return.
2. The call to holiness is a call to sever ties with sin and follow Christ in our daily life.  As we go along our journey of following Jesus, we are called to seek after a life of holiness—one that is different than that of the world—and one that we can only live by God’s grace and Spirit at work within us.
3. Take a moment to consider your surroundings, the competitive workplace, the stressful family life, or busy studies.  Pray that the Holy Spirit work within you to teach and guide you and show you specific aspects in your life that you need to seek to live out a life of holiness in all areas of your being.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 23:15-18

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
    my heart too will be glad.
¹⁶ My inmost being will exult
    when your lips speak what is right.
¹⁷ Let not your heart envy sinners,
    but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
¹⁸ Surely there is a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

¹ Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ² and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. ⁴ For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

⁶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷ for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹ For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ¹⁰ as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: Paul expressed his great desire to see the Thessalonians again and explained how news of their continuing steadfastness gladdened his heart. He said these things to encourage them further to persevere in their faith and service.
2. The Thessalonians’ testimony of faith and love comforted and encouraged Paul.  Similarly, your testimony can also provide much needed encouragement to fellow believers, your cell leaders, Sunday school teachers, and your pastors.  We can also be encouraged by the stories of other members of our community of faith.
3. Have you had the privilege of hearing the testimony of a fellow believer?  Is there anyone at church you’d like to share your experiences or reflections with?   Pray that God will use your sharing to encourage that person.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 23:12-14

¹² Apply your heart to instruction
    and your ear to words of knowledge.
¹³ Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
¹⁴ If you strike him with the rod,
    you will save his soul from Sheol.

¹ For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. ² But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. ³ For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. ⁵ For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ⁸ So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

⁹ For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.¹⁰ You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ¹¹ For you know how, like a father with his children, ¹² we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: Paul reminded his readers that he had been persecuted for his preaching and claimed that his message was true, his motives pure, and his methods straightforward.  He encouraged them not to abandon the gospel.
2. For Paul, evangelism was always delightful and exciting.  He has been a faithful servant of God with the motive not to win the approval of the Thessalonians, but to please God who knows our hearts and our motivations.  His attitude toward the Thessalonians was gentle and unselfish like a nursing mother.  Paul gave himself, not just his message, to the Thessalonians out of love for them, not for personal gain.  This is the secret of Paul’s success—the continual and selfless giving of his all to people whom he loved dearly.
3. How do you feel about telling others about your faith? Talk with God about any fears or guilt you experience.  Ask God to give you encouragement to be a gentle and loving evangelist.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 23:9-11

⁹ Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
    for he will despise the good sense of your words.
¹⁰ Do not move an ancient landmark
    or enter the fields of the fatherless,
¹¹ for their Redeemer is strong;
    he will plead their cause against you.

¹ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

² We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, ³ remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,⁵ because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. ⁶ And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸ For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: Paul praised God for the Thessalonians’ steadfastness and evidences of their true conversion.
2. For Christians, faith, love and hope are not just abstract ideas.  We see in the example of the church of Thessalonica that their faith, love and hope were very real and were manifested through their actions.  These actions then became an example and a source of joy for Paul and other churches who heard about what God was doing among the Thessalonians.
3. What do you think your reputation is with non-Christians?  How can your faith (and the faith of your church or small group) become more of a witness to others?
4.  Ask God to make you a genuine witness, and pray for the witness of your church.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 23:5-8

⁵ When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
    for suddenly it sprouts wings,
    flying like an eagle toward heaven.
⁶ Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy;
    do not desire his delicacies,
⁷ for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.
    “Eat and drink!” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.
⁸ You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten,
    and waste your pleasant words.

² Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

⁵ Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: In this last chapter, Paul shows that witnessing involves prayer, living and speaking. His closing greetings illustrate many ways Christians help and encourage each other.
2. Expressing Christ in our lives is vital to an effective witness.  But it is not enough.  The gospel is a message delivered in words, and authenticated by life.  Both word and life must be shared and accompanied by fervent prayers before the Lord.
3. How well are you in sharing the gospel?  Which do you need to improve (in word or life) to become more effective in advancing the gospel?
4. Use verses 3-4 to pray for yourself, your church leaders and missionaries. Ask God to make you aware of every opportunity to encourage nonbelievers to consider Jesus.

Proverbs for Today 23:1-4

¹ When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
    observe carefully what is before you,
² and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to appetite.
³ Do not desire his delicacies,
    for they are deceptive food.
⁴ Do not toil to acquire wealth;
    be discerning enough to desist.

¹ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. ¹¹ Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: True spiritual reality is experienced and expressed in rejection of evil and a transformed character. We recognize Christ in the Christian’s life by the love and mutual submission expressed in every relationship.
2. Read the passage and consider these segments included in the process of putting on the new life.

–           A new life is possible (vv3-4)

–           Get rid of the old life (v5)

–           Put on the new life (v12-14)

–           Inner thoughts and behavior needed to put on new life (vv15-17)

1. Which part speaks to you most right now?  Why?  How does that idea relate to the other parts?  How does it relate to love “which binds them all together in perfect harmony”?
2. Pray to God the part that speaks to you, personalizing it.

Proverbs for Today 22:26-29

²⁶ Be not one of those who give pledges,
    who put up security for debts.
²⁷ If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should your bed be taken from under you?
²⁸ Do not move the ancient landmark
    that your fathers have set.
²⁹ Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

⁶ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹ In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.¹³ And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

¹⁶ Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, ¹⁹ and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: Understanding life in Christ, and we won’t be taken in by substitutes for true spirituality.
2. In v8, Paul criticized the Colossian false teaching that is not based on God’s revelation in Christ but the “misleading philosophy and empty deception based on traditions fabricated by mere mortals. These are sourced in the elementary principles originating in this world and not in the Anointed One (so don’t let their talks capture you)”.  (The Voice)
3. In this passage, it was clear that the “elemental spirits of this world” refer to the rituals and rules of the Old Testament (vv16-17).  The legalistic false teachers were probably advocating obedience to the Law of Moses for justification and sanctification.
4. Silently reread verses 9-15, inserting your name every time Paul says you or us. How do these facts affect your view of yourself?
5. Consider the fact that we are made complete in Christ. Let your prayer and praise to arise out of that fact.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 22:22-25

²² Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or crush the afflicted at the gate,
²³ for the Lord will plead their cause
    and rob of life those who rob them.
²⁴ Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
    nor go with a wrathful man,
²⁵ lest you learn his ways
    and entangle yourself in a snare.

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

²¹ And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Reflection

1. Chapter in a Glance: Without Christ, Christianity is nothing.  Paul offered prayers for the Colossians (vv3-14), and made a profound affirmation of Christ’s supremacy (vv15-23) and his living presence in the believer (vv24-29).
2. We often hear: “All roads lead to Rome. Everyone is eventually going to the same place. How can Christians say Jesus is the only way to God?” What is your response?
3. In this passage, Paul adamantly declared Christ’s supremacy over every being and every idea. It is the central truth of Christian faith.  Christ is Lord over all creation and is the reconciler between God and his creation.  Our lives are built upon it, shaped in every way by it.  Through Christ’s reconciliation we may be given back to God holy, blameless, and irreproachable.  God is the all-powerful ruler of heaven and earth.  God expresses his supreme power in this world in the person of Jesus.  God still expresses His supreme power in this world – through us!
4. Silently reread verses 21-23, inserting your name every time Paul says you. What emotion, phrases, or thoughts come to you?  What insight do you have about Jesus Christ, your new life in Him?  Talk to God, wait and listen to Him speaking to you.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 22:19-21

¹⁹ That your trust may be in the Lord,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
²⁰ Have I not written for you thirty sayings
    of counsel and knowledge,
²¹ to make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?