More Than Enough

When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.  For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.  So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.  Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.  But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:3-11

My wife and I were on vacation last week, and we had an opportunity to listen to Lakewood Church the week after the floods in Houston.  Although I am not a huge fan of the prosperity gospel, I did choose to listen this past Sunday.  It was great as I listened to a story of one of the pastors whose house had been flooded.  He said something that just shook me at my core.  He said although I have lost everything, I have everything.  I realized at that moment something powerful.  Although there are things that are tough and there are challenges ahead of me, I have nothing to complain about for I indeed have everything.  God has given me so much, who am I to complain?  In fact if someone who has ‘seemingly’ lost everything can rise and say with conviction and confidence, “I have everything,” I must learn to encourage others in all circumstances because I have more than enough.

When we have salvation through Jesus Christ, we do have everything indeed.  In reading the final chapter of Thessalonians, it is a reminder of how we are to live our lives in expectation of Christ’s return.  We do not live in darkness, but instead, we know that there could be calm one day and rain flooding us the next.  No matter what may be happening, we have surety that when we committed our lives to Jesus, we have victory.  That is only half of the story.

The other is to be encouragement to others.  I have heard so many negative stories about floods, politics, and viewpoints that it could drown out everything else two and threefold.  The biggest concern of all of this is that these are Christians who are being negative.  We must not stand for this anymore.  We are the light, and as representatives of Christ, any tendency to jump to conclusions, attack before hearing the full story (ex. Lakewood Church), or lack of showing love and empathy for His children is unacceptable.  He expects better of us.

The greatest encouragement of all comes from understanding the gift of God’s grace.  Jesus died to ensure we will live with Him forever.  How could we not be filled with His love and strength to carry not only ourselves but others?  Let us vow to end the air of negativity and ill will.  Let us show the light to all who may see us being encouragers and wearers of the armor of faith and love.  Where are you failing to assume the best with others?  How can you be more encouraging and less judgmental?  My prayer is that we move forward filled with love and encouragement knowing that even when it seems we have nothing, through Jesus Christ we have more than enough.  Amen.

Including You

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

You ever had a day where you just were not feeling the spirit?  I have had some days where writing a devotion was work and not inspiring.  The words were not there and the spirit was not in me.  I focused on God’s words, and tried to make sense of it.  However, something just was missing.  Nonetheless, I willed myself to figure out what to say, and then put it all together.  As I hit the ‘send’ button, I prayed, “God, I am not sure if what I wrote was your intent, but I pray that it is your words that can help someone.”  Low and behold, a person wrote me back saying, “Thank you, Kent!  That is just what I needed to hear.”  At that moment, I felt the spirit in me come alive, and this feeling of humility came over as the encouragement motivated me throughout the day.  None of this would have happened if that one person had not said to me a simple ‘Thank you’ note. 

We should never underestimate the power of our words to positively impact others. The words of Paul in today’s verses is a simple but powerful reminder.  First, it reminds us that there was a choice.  God, who is ever righteous, could have chosen to write us off for our sinful ways.  However, He chose to send His son instead so that we can be saved.  Second, it gives us hope saying even should tomorrow be our last day that we will have our day with Christ, and we will live with Him not for a day or a year but forever.  Thus, we should be already be filled with joy knowing this will happen.  Understanding this, Paul says we being already encouraged are to remind others so as to encourage and build them up.  It does not say to question, reject, or criticize.  We tend to fall to the latter because that is always the most noticeable and easiest to point out.  We can always find fault in something.  However, Paul says to look toward the positive for as I have found, just one positive mention can awaken the Spirit that dwells within us and can make someone whose lost hope inspired and make a person who is empty whole again.

We are not made to live this life alone.  While people may fail us, God never fails, and in Paul’s words, encouraging and building each other up can strengthen us for as David said:

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint. (Psalm 40:30)

So if you are not feeling encourage, encourage others because in it, you yourself may find encouragement.  How can you look to build someone up today?  Who can you partner with that can be a source of encouragement when you are lost?  My prayer is that we fight through our circumstances to encourage others with the hope that they are not only encouraged but also be a source of encouragement for others . . .  including you.  Amen.

Appreciation Station

I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.  Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.  This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true.  Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 1:4-7

The other day, someone asked me how do you stay young?  That’s a pretty loaded question considering that I will soon turn fifty, but nonetheless, I took it as an opportunity to share some of the things that have helped me maintain a youthful attitude.  One of those things focused on the appreciation of others.  Why would that be important to my own youthfulness?  You see, it is very easy to focus on the things that go on in your own life.  However when you focus on the wonderful and brilliance of others, you go beyond affecting your own life.  You directly impact the mood and ambitions of someone else as well.  There is nothing more powerful to say to another person than I love you, and yet, I believe there is nothing more motivating to another person than to say, “I appreciate you.”

God expects us to appreciate the potential of all people through Jesus Christ.  When reading the words of Paul, I love how great an encourager he is.  At the beginning of 1 Corinthians, he displayed an ‘attitude of gratitude’ to the church of Corinth and its people.  Reading his words, you have the feeling of a deep relationship he has with them.  Paul shows genuine love and appreciation for them, and if we were members of that early church, we would feel a great deal of encouragement and strength from him.  Furthermore, Paul himself gained strength from them as well.  Thus, the relationship between Paul and the church was mutually beneficial.  As such, our words of appreciation for others have similar effects.  They can strengthen relationships, inspire others, and break down barriers!  What can be more encouraging to a person struggling with something than to hear they are loved and despite their struggles, they are appreciated for what they have brought in your life.

We are to appreciate others for it is paramount to building God’s Kingdom.  Peter, who correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah, had to feel encouraged as Jesus responded to him in appreciation saying, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.  Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” (Matthew 16:17-18)  Appreciating others is necessary for and if we accept and love Christ, our hearts will be transformed such that we will see the greatness of not only others but also within ourselves.  And what can be better than seeing how great we can be through Christ?  Who could you show greater appreciation for?  How can you allow God to help you appreciate others?  My prayer is that we open our hearts where we become an ‘Appreciation Station.’  Amen.

Encouraged and Motivated

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

Yesterday, my wife tells me that I do not want to spend time with her.  I look incredulous.  This is the woman I have spent over thirty years my life getting to know, and I absolutely have so much fun talking and being with her.  But I must have done something wrong that I need to address, right?  Then, my daughter decides she does not want to talk to me about school.  Parents, you might know this drill very well.  Kent asks, “How was school today?”  Daughter answers, “Fine.”  Kent asks, “What happened?”  Daughter responds, “Nothing.”  Great!  She is in ‘one word answer’ mode.  This sounds like fun!  So I am now coming home to a wife who feels unloved and a daughter who looks at me like I’m Hannah Montana now converted into Miley Cyrus.  And now I’m supposed to write a devotional?  What could I possibly write about?  Let’s try . . . encouragement and motivation?

We are to be both encouraged and motivated always knowing that we have been given this most precious gift of eternal life.  Some of us might ask ourselves why life is not fair or why we are dealing with such anguish and strife.  However as Paul points out, it could be far worse.  God did not choose to pour out His wrath on us like the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, the floods of Noah’s time, the fall of Israel at the hands of Babylon, or other possibilities.  In fact, he chose to offer His son so that we might be able to live up to the hope that He has for each and every one of us; that our faith and love might be on fire like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego for Him sharing the message of Christ and encouraging others.  So while we may lament in the troubles of this world, we serve a most awesome and almighty God, who would look at each of us and say, “I believe in you even if you might not yet believe in yourself.”  How can one not be encouraged knowing this?

It is incredibly difficult to be enthusiastic when there are so many things working against us, but we should not be discouraged.  Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b).  So while you may have trials and sorrows, I would encourage you saying God is with you every step of the way.  He is true to His word, and will never either leave or forsake you.  Furthermore as Paul says, be encouraging to others for God may be prompting you for His purpose.  How can God’s undying love and faith in you be of encouragement today?  Who can you encourage with the message of Good News?  My prayer is that God’s faithfulness be of both encouragement to you and motivation for you.  Amen.